Dolphins Re-Sign Cornerback Brent Grimes
DAVIE (CBSMiami) – The Miami Dolphins went a long way toward shoring up the secondary Monday when the team re-signed cornerback Brent Grimes to a four-year contract.
There had been reports that Grimes was a prime candidate for the franchise tag if a long-term contract hadn't been worked out, but the deal was struck before Monday's 4 p.m. deadline to hit players with a franchise tag.
Terms of the deal, according to CBSSports.com were four years and $32 million with $16 million guaranteed. Grimes told ESPN Monday that he "wanted to be back, but you never know in this business. When it all worked out, I was happy."
Grimes played last year on a one-year contract while he was coming back from a torn Achilles tendon. Grimes was a Pro Bowler before the injury and returned to his Pro Bowl form in his first year in Miami.
Grimes finished the season with 60 tackles and four interception while not allowing a touchdown to be caught by a receiver he was covering, according to CBS4 news partner the Miami Herald. Overall, Pro Football Focus rated Grimes the second-best cornerback in the NFL last year.
The Dolphins now have Grimes, Dimitri Patterson, Jamar Taylor, and Will Davis under contract. Patterson may not be around for long because he's owed $5.4 million in salary this season. If he doesn't take a substantial pay cut, he may get released.
Assuming the Dolphins cut Patterson, the team will still have upwards of $35-40 million in salary cap space heading into free agency.
