Search for depth at LB continues
The Miami Dolphins apparently aren’t done addressing their most troublesome unit from last season.
Despite already signing veteran inside linebacker Lawrence Timmons to a two-year $12 million deal and giving Kiko Alonso a first-round tender worth $3.8 million, the Dolphins have expressed interest in former Buffalo Bills starting inside linebacker Zach Brown, who is scheduled to visit the team, according to a league source.
Brown, who has started 49 games in his five-year NFL career, had a careerbest 149 tackles to go with four sacks, an interception and two forced fumbles for Buffalo last season. However, the Bills are positioning Reggie Ragland, the team’s second-round pick who missed last season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury, to replace Brown.
The former North Carolina standout is a rangy 6-foot-1, 248-pound athlete who can play all three linebacker spots. He was a second-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2012.
Brown, 27, averaged 102 tackles in the four seasons in which he’s played all 16 games, and he has 14 sacks and seven interceptions for his career. But his personality has turned off some teams, according to league sources.
The Raiders hosted Brown on a visit last week, and Oakland signed former Dolphins starting linebacker Jelani Jenkins on Monday.
Jenkins, who struggled with injuries last season, played for the Dolphins for four seasons and has career totals of 53 games played with 34 starts, 219 tackles (156 solo), 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and five passes defensed. Last season, Jenkins played in nine games, starting seven of them, and recorded 29 tackles (15 solo), and had one pass defensed.
The Dolphins have Timmons and Alonso penciled in as the two linebackers who would play every down, but the linebacker unit does need more depth.
Spencer Paysinger and Donald Butler, who each spent time as starters in Miami last season, remain free agents.
If Koa Misi remains part of Miami’s plans — which isn’t certain because of the neck injury that forced him to miss all but three games last season — the Dolphins should have a solid trio of starting linebackers, considering Misi has served as a starter since 2010.
However, Misi has struggled with injuries for the past three seasons, missing 21 games, and he’s due a $4.2 million base salary in 2017.
Neville Hewitt, who contributed 64 tackles and one sack in limited action his second season, is worthy of a continued investment, but he’s more suited to play weakside linebacker.
The Dolphins also have Mike Hull, Trevor Riley, Deon Lacey, Lamin Barrow and Brandon Watts on the roster, but those five linebackers are viewed as either core special-teamers, or long-shots to make the 53-man roster. The Dolphins typically carry seven linebackers on the 53-man roster.
Brown has the versatility to play all three spots, but it is possible he could be looking for a multi-year deal.
There are still a number of respectable free agent linebackers available. So Brown could be the first of a few the Dolphins host on a visit.