Dolphins Day 5 free agency blog: Miami signs punter and receiver, explores tackle market

Welcome to Day 5 of our Miami Dolphins free agency live blog. Please keep checking back for updates all day:

4:29 p.m.. update: The Dolphins officially announced the re-signings of cornerback Nik Needham, receiver River Cracraft and fullback John Lovett. Needham missed the final 11 games after sustained a torn Achilles’. Lovett spent last season on injured reserve.

3:52 p.m. update: The AFC East’s musical chair punter exercise ended Friday with the Dolphins signing the Patriots’ former punter, and the Jets’ snagging Miami’s former punter.

Jake Bailey, who was the Patriots’ punter for the past four years, agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Dolphins after visiting earlier in the day.

Thomas Morstead, the Dolphins’ punter last season, announced Friday that he has joined the New York Jets -- about 20 minutes before the Dolphins added Bailey.

Morstead averaged 46.4 yards per punt last season; Bailey averaged 42.1.

Mostead averaged 40.5 net punting yards last season; Bailey averaged 35.1.

Morstead pinned 28 punts inside the 20 (45.9 percent) last season; Bailey pinned 12 punts inside the 20 (32.4 percent). But in his career, Bailey has pinned 45.9 percent of his punt attempts inside the 20.

Drafted by New England in the fifth round out of Stanford in 2019, Bailey has averaged 45.9 yards on 58 career punts over four years for New England.

Bailey, 25, was a Pro Bowl and All Pro selection in 2020. He punted in nine games last season and spent part of the year on injured reserve with a back injury. He was released last week.

Bailey signed a four-year, $13.5 million extension last August but was placed on the suspended list in December, voiding future guarantees. His agent filed a grievance to contest the suspension.

“While Jake Bailey was on IR, he never missed a single treatment, meeting or practice,” agent Doug Hendrickson said in a statement at the time of the suspension. “He was hoping to come off IR to play last weekend, but Jake was informed he was being suspended these last two games. This comes as a surprise given his full participation during injury reserve. We have filed a grievance to fight this unknown suspension.”

3:50 update: The Dolphins formally announced the signing of receiver Braxton Berrios.

3:05 p.m. update: The Dolphins formally announced the signings of guard/center Dan Feeney and safety DeShon Elliott. Feeney started seven games for the Jets over the past two seasons after starting 48 games for the Chargers from 2018 to 2020.

Elliott, who started for Detroit last season, could compete with Brandon Jones to start opposite Jevon Holland.

2:15 p.m. update: The Dolphins formally announced the signings of linebacker David Long and tight end Eric Saubert, as expected. Long likely will start at inside linebacker. Saubert joins Durham Smythe and Tanner Conner as tight ends under contract.

12:30 p.m. update: The Dolphins are re-signing wide receiver River Cracraft to a one-year deal, according to a source.

He had nine catches for 102 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games last season, playing 159 offensive snaps. He understands the offense well, having worked with Mike McDaniel and receivers coach Wes Welker in San Francisco and Miami.

He has 16 catches for 187 yards in 35 games and one start in five years for Denver, San Francisco and Miami.

The Dolphins now have eight receivers under contract: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Cedrick Wilson Jr., Braxton Berrios, Erik Ezukanma, Cracraft, Freddie Swain and Braylon Sanders.

12:25 p.m. update: Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou received $705,584 bonus as part of the NFL’s performance-based bay distribution. A former free agent, Kohou had a base salary of $705,000 in 2022.

10:30 a.m. update: The Dolphins are hosting Patriots punter Jake Bailey on a visit on Friday, a league source confirmed.

Drafted by New England in the fifth round out of Stanford in 2019, Bailey has averaged 45.9 yards on 58 career punts over four years for New England.

Bailey, 25, was a Pro Bowl and All Pro selection in 2020. He punted in nine games last season and spent part of the year on injured reserve with a back injury. He was released last week.

Bailey signed a four-year, $13.5 million extension last August but was placed on the suspended list in December, voiding future guarantees. His agent filed a grievance to contest the suspension.

Incumbent Dolphins punter Thomas Morstead is a free agent.

9:30 a.m. update: The Dolphins have reached out to several right tackles with considerable starting experience, according to multiple sources.

Among them: George Fant, who has started 60 games, including 36 for the Jets over the past three seasons.

Miami hasn’t ruled out re-signing Brandon Shell and there are several other players they’ve been closely studying and/or contacted. Shell appeared in 13 games and had 11 starts for Miami last season.

Our understanding is that the Dolphins are open to signing someone who can compete with Austin Jackson at right tackle, as opposed to a player who would automatically be a backup.

Fant was a good starter for the Jets in 2020 (primarily at right tackle), then played very well at left tackle in 2021, allowing only one sack in 840 snaps.

Last season he missed eight games due to a Sept. 25 injury and missed the regular season finale against the Dolphins. He played 309 snaps at right tackle, 207 at left tackle.

Fant, who turns 31 in July, went undrafted out of Western Kentucky in 2016 and has played four years for Seattle and three for the Jets. He missed the 2017 season with an ACL injury.

Shell remains another option. He signed with Miami in September and capably filled in for Jackson, who missed 15 games with ankle injuries.

Pro Football Focus rated Shell 52nd of 81 tackles, but 14th as a run blocker. And while he allowed a sizable number of pressures (40), he permitted only two sacks in 472 pass blocking chances.

According to spotrac.com, 36 offensive tackles have signed during free agency this week but 78 are still available.

Among players with right tackle starting experience who are still available: former Dolphins Billy Turner and Ja’Wuan James, David Quessenberry, Germain Ifedi, Marcus Cannon, Josh Wells, Cameron Fleming, Isaiah Wynn and Dan Skipper.

Matt Feiler, cut by the Chargers this week, has starting experience at right tackle and left guard.

The Dolphins, as of Thursday, hadn’t pursued incumbent free agent Greg Little, who began last season as the Dolphins’ No. 3 tackle.

Among the 10 or so realistic options, general manager Chris Grier and coach Mike McDaniel ultimately will pick who they view as the best right tackle at the right price. Offensive coordinator Frank Smith and new offensive line coach Butch Barry likely will give input.

Whatever the decision, it’s a critical one because even though the Dolphins believe Jackson can be an effective NFL right tackle, there’s not enough game-tape evidence to say he can or cannot.

Jackson played just 81 snaps last season after injuring his ankle in the opener and then injuring it again when he returned in December.

The Dolphins have eight experience offensive linemen under contract: offensive tackles Terron Armstead, Jackson, Kendall Lamm and Geron Christian, guard/center Dan Feeney (who started seven games for the Jets over the past two seasons) and guards Robert Hunt, Liam Eichenberg and Rob Jones.

A ninth veteran who can play right tackle assuredly will be added at some point.

8 a.m. update: Dolphins tight end Mike Gesicki agreed to a one-year, $9 million contract with New England. Here is our story on that.