Jones returns to Dolphins — and with a lot to prove
Defensive tackle Benito Jones left the Dolphins as a seldom-used developmental project, a player who seemed destined to spend his career on the proverbial bubble.
He returns as an established NFL starter on a playoff team.
The question now is whether Jones can beat out fellow veteran addition Teair Tart and become a pretty good part-time starting nose tackle for Miami, comparable in quality to former Dolphins nose tackle Raekwon Davis.
It’s not a particularly high bar; though Davis had some very good moments, metrics sites rated him middle of the road or worse among NFL starters.
Jones returns to South Florida with one season as an NFL starter on his résumé (in Detroit), but with a lot to prove, too. And he also now has formidable competition in Tart, who has made 36 NFL starts.
“I think I grew a lot,” Jones said of his 34 games and 15 starts with Detroit in two seasons there. “Just going out and being with another organization and seeing how they play” was helpful.
One reason why Jones was viewed by the Dolphins as a better fit than Davis: Money.
Jones agreed to a oneyear, $1.79 million deal (all guaranteed). Tart signed for $1.2 million.
Both Jones and Tart were considerably cheaper than Davis, who landed a twoyear, $16 million deal ($7 million guaranteed) with the Colts after starting seven games for Miami last season and 48 over four seasons. Davis wanted to return, but the Dolphins weren’t interested at that price tag.
How did Davis and Jones and Tart compare on the field last season?
PFF rated Davis 79th,