Dolphins’ Day 3 free agency blog: Miami signs Needham, four others, finalizes Ramsey deal

Welcome to Day 3 of our Dolphins free agency blog.

11 p.m. update: The Dolphins are bringing back cornerback Nik Needham, according to a league source.

Needham, who sustained a torn Achilles’ tendon in the sixth game last season, agreed to a one-year deal for just under $2 million, per NFL Network.

Needham said after the season that the team told team that they wanted to re-sign him.

Needham started five of six games before his injury last season. An undrafted success story out of UTEP, Needham has six interceptions in 51 games, including 27 starts, in four seasons.

The Dolphins now have seven cornerbacks under contract: Jalen Ramsey, Xavien Howard, Kader Kohou, Needham, Trill Williams, Keoin Crossen and Noah Igbinoghene.

7 p.m.: The Dolphins officially announced the release of cornerback Byron Jones and the addition of wide receiver Freddie Swain, who was claimed off waivers.

Jones’ release will free up about $13.6 million in cap space as a post-June 1 designation. That cap space cannot be used until June 1. After that point, Miami can use it on its draft class, to sign any veteran or undrafted rookies through the end of the 2023 season or simply carry it over to 2024.

Jones missed all of last season after his recovery stalled following March surgery in the ankle/Achilles’ area. He recently tweeted that he’s unable to run or jump.

Jones signed a five-year, $82 million contract with Miami in March of 2020 but ended up playing only 30 games for Dolphins. He had 95 tackles and two interceptions.

5 p.m. update: The Dolphins signed veteran tight end Eric Saubert, who 33 catches for 280 yards and 2 TDs in 74 games and 15 starts over six seasons. A former Falcons fifth-round pick out of Drake, Saubert has played for Atlanta, Chicago, Jacksonville and Denver.

He spent the past two seasons with Denver, catching 15 passes for 148 yards last season in 17 games and six starts. He had four starts for the Broncos in 2021.

Saubert played 27 and 35 percent of Denver’s offensive snaps the past two seasons. So Miami now has three tight ends under contract: Durham Smythe, Saubert and Tanner Conner. The draft is deep in tight ends.

4:20 p.m. update: The Dolphins have added a starting safety on a value contract, agreeing to terms with DeShon Elliott, according to a source. He agreed to a one-year deal for $1.77 million, per Jordan Schultz.

Elliott started 13 games for Detroit last season, came off the bench in one other game and had an interception, 96 tackles and three passes defended.

A sixth round pick out of Texas in 2018, Elliott spent his first four seasons in Baltimore. He spent his first season on injured reserve, started 16 games for Baltimore in 2020 and started all six games he played in 2021.

He was limited to those six games in 2021 after sustaining a season-ending biceps and pectoral injury in a Week 8 game.

He has two career interceptions and 3.5 sacks.

So Holland, Elliott and Brandon Jones look like top three Miami safeties, with Elijah Campbell and Verone McKinley III also competing for playing time.

4:40 p.m update: The Dolphins are keeping running back Myles Gaskin, meaning they resigned all four of their running backs from 2022.

Gaskin, a former Dolphins seventh-round pick, had only 10 carries for 26 yards last season but 361 carries for 1355 yards (a 3.8 average) over four seasons. He’s also a skilled receiver, with 101 catches for 701 yards and six touchdowns during his Dolphins career.

Running backs Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr., Salvon Ahmed and Gaskin all are back from the 2022 team.

4:35 p.m. update: The Dolphins claimed receiver Freddie Swain off waivers, his agent Jeff Ostrow said. He spent some time on Miami’s practice squad last season and appeared in one game for Miami before the Broncos him in mid-December.

He caught four passes for 74 yards for the Broncos last season. He caught 38 passes for 502 yards and six touchdowns for Seattle during his first two seasons (2020 and 2021), appearing in 33 games and starting nine.

A sixth-round pick out of Florida in 2020, Swain also is a skilled returner. He has averaged 8.2 yards on 23 NFL punt returns and 22.8 on six career kickoff returns.

4:10 p.m. update: The Dolphins announced the completion of the Jalen Ramsey trade. The Rams get a third-round pick in 2023 (via New England, 77th overall) and tight end Hunter Long.

Rams coach Sean McVay, in a statement, said: “Jalen has been instrumental in our team’s success during his time with the Rams and it was privilege to be able to coach such an elite competitor and teammate. His versatility, intelligence, and leadership put him in a class of his own. We will always be grateful for his impact on our organization and for his efforts in the Los Angeles community.”

1:22 p.m. update: Aaron Rodgers told the Pat McAfee Show that “since Friday, my intention was to play and play for the New York Jets.”

New York and the Green Bay Packers are reportedly negotiating a deal to send the four-time MVP quarterback to the AFC East. Here’s an in-depth look at how Xavien Howard, Jalen Ramsey and Kader Kohou have done when targeted by Rodgers.

12:55 p.m. update: Safety Jordan Poyer, who had expressed interest in the Dolphins if he left Buffalo, instead is re-signing with Buffalo, per multiple reports. Poyer did not attract any big outside offers; there was never any pricey push by Miami to sign him.

But there are a bunch of starting safeties still available, led by Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, who could stay with Philadelphia.

Among other starters available: Julian Love, Juan Thornhill, Nassir Adderley, Taylor Rapp, Kareem Jackson, Adrian Amos, Rodney McCloud, John Johnson III, Mike Edwards and Nick Scott (there’s reportedly a strong market for the Rams starter).

The Dolphins can sign either a starter and make Brandon Jones their No. 3 safety, or keep Jones as a starter and sign a solid No. 2. Incumbent Eric Rowe remains a free agent.

12:50 p.m. update: The Dolphins are re-signing Kendall Lamm, who played well in 32 snaps at left tackle in the Jan. 1 game against New England before leaving with an injury. That was his only appearance for the team; he has played in 87 games and started 29 in eight seasons, mostly for Houston and Cleveland.

He could end up backing up left tackle Terron Armstead.

Miami also officially announced the re-signing of running back Raheem Mostert, who agreed to terms on a two-year deal on Tuesday.

9 a.m. update: The Dolphins’ deal with Tennessee free agent linebacker David Long should become official after 4 p.m. today, as should their trade for Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey.

Miami has filled its top four priorities over the past 72 hours: 1) finding a top-flight cornerback (Ramsey), 2) a starting inside linebacker who’s skilled against the run and pass (Long), 3) signing No. 1 and No. 2 running backs (Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson) and 4) adding a backup quarterback (Mike White).

But at least a dozen veterans must be added at some point in the days, weeks or months ahead. The Dolphins have at least $10 million in cap space, can clear out more with contract extensions for Christian Wilkins and others and will add $13.6 million in space on June 1, when Byron Jones comes off their books.

The dozen jobs that still need to be filled:

▪ A veteran right tackle who can compete with Austin Jackson for the starting job. It’s one thing for the Dolphins to give Jackson a chance to win the job; but it would be far too big a risk to not have a proven, skilled right tackle under contract.

There are a half dozen options, including Matt Feiler, who was cut by the Chargers on Tuesday. He has played well as a starter at right tackle (for Pittsburgh previously) and left guard (for the Chargers the past two years). He worked with Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith with the Chargers in 2021.

Other options include incumbent Brandon Shell (this remains in play) and Cameron Fleming (who played for new Dolphins offensive line coach Butch Barry in Denver last season), among others.

Orlando Brown is the top right tackle on the market, but he views himself as a left tackle (where he has been a good starter) and is seeking a big contract. So he’s not at option at this point.

▪ At least two other veteran linemen besides the right tackle signed to compete with Jackson. This means finding a backup center (re-signing Michael Deiter or someone else) and at least another veteran tackle who could back up Terron Armstead. Kendall Lamm, who played well in the Jan. 1 Patriots game before an injury, remains a possibility.

Miami has seven linemen with NFL experience under contract: Armstead, Connor Williams, Jackson, Liam Eichenberg, Robert Hunt, Rob Jones and Lester Cotton (who started the playoff game).

▪ At least two tight ends. Only two of the 42 free agent tight ends have signed. All of the top ones remain available - Dalton Schultz, Hayden Hurst, Mike Gesicki, Foster Moreau, Austin Hooper and Robert Tonyan, among others. [Update: Cincinnati’s Hayden Hurst is signing with Carolina, per NFL Network].

Dallas reportedly has shown interest in Schultz, who wants a big contract.

Gesicki’s return, once unfathomable, cannot be completely ruled out if he cannot snag a good deal in the open market.

Durham Smythe and Tanner Conner are the only tight ends under contract.

▪ At least one veteran receiver, probably two. This could be as simple as re-signing Trent Sherfield and/or River Cracraft or looking for a cheap option elsewhere.

▪ Two backup edge players. Andrew Van Ginkel has a visit lined up and is likely departing. Melvin Ingram remains a possibility, but probably only if he’s willing to take less than the $5 million he earned last season.

The Dolphins have told people that they cannot spend a lot of money on backup edge players behind Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips and Emmanuel Ogbah.

▪ A backup defense tackle. There has been some contact with free agent John Jenkins, but he could end up elsewhere. This would likely be a low-money contract, unless Vic Fangio decides he wants competition for Raekwon Davis.

▪ A veteran safety. This could either be a certified starter to replace Brandon Jones in the starting lineup or an experienced No. 3. Update: [Bills free agent Jordan Poyer is staying in Buffalo, per reports.]

▪ One or two more cornerbacks. Miami’s top three corners seem set (Xavien Howard, Jalen Ramsey and Kader Kohou), but the Dolphins need depth beyond Keion Crossen and Noah Igbinoghene.

This could be as simple as re-signing Nik Needham (who could battle Kohou for the No. 3 job) and special teams ace Justin Bethel.

The Dolphins could fill two of those jobs with the 51st and 84th picks in the draft, but I’ll be surprised if they don’t add veterans at all of these positions.

Keep checking back all day for updates.