Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Dolphins ink deal with rookie Jones
The Miami Dolphins have agreed to terms with seven of the 11 players selected in April’s NFL draft.
A flurry of signings have occurred within the past week. The latest to get a deal done is former Texas standout Brandon Jones, whom the Dolphins have given a four-year contract worth $4,873,102.
As a third-round pick Jones, a versatile defensive back who will likely compete for the starting strong safety spot vacated by the release of Reshad Jones this offseason, will receive a signing bonus that pays him $1,104,072, according to a league source.
Brandon Jones, who contributed 233 tackles, one sack and four interceptions during the 47 games he played for the Longhorns, will compete with Bobby McCain, Eric Rowe, Steven Parker, Adrian Colbert and veteran free-agent signees Clayton Fejedelem and Kavon Frazier to determine who mans the two starting safety spots in the secondary.
Jones joins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, one of Miami’s three first-round picks, offensive lineman Solomon
Kindley, long snapper Blake Ferguson and defensive linemen Raekwon Davis, Jason Strowbridge and Curtis Weaver as the members of the 2020 draft class who have signed their rookie deals.
Offensive linemen Austin Jackson and Robert Hunt, cornerback Noah Igbinoghene, and tailback Malcolm Perry are the remaining draftees who haven’t signed their contracts. Jackson and Igbinoghene are both first-round picks, which means like Tagovailoa their rookie deals will feature a fifth-year option that the Dolphins can trigger in 2023.
The Dolphins’ total pool of funds needed to sign their 2020 draft class is $17,517,278, but less than $14 million will be needed in cap space because only the top 51 salaries on the team’s 90-player training camp roster counts against the salary cap.
The Dolphins had roughly $28 million in cap space after releasing defensive end Taco Charlton, who was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs; trading pass rusher Charles Harris to the Atlanta Falcons for a 2021 seventh-round pick; and restructuring receiver Albert Wilson’s contract, which trimmed his 2020 salary from $9.5 million to a max of $4 million.