Dolphins sign former Alabama offensive lineman
The Miami Dolphins are signing former Alabama standout D.J. Fluker, adding a hulking offensive lineman who has started 96 of the 108 NFL games he’s played since 2013.
Fluker posted the signing on his Instagram account, and sources confirmed to the South Florida Sun Sentinel that the transaction will likely become official on Tuesday.
Fluker, who was taken in the first round by the San Diego Chargers, where he spent his first four seasons in the NFL, has played both right tackle and right guard throughout his career. While he’s bounced around the NFL — playing for the Chargers, New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks — he spent last season with the Baltimore Ravens, where he started eight of the 16 games he played.
Fulker allowed two sacks and committed nine penalties in his 531 snaps last season.
The Dolphins were in the market for a backup offensive tackle after Julien Davenport, who served as the primary reserve last season, signed with the Indianapolis Colts as a free agent.
Listed at 6-foot-5, 342 pounds, Fluker is a yet another hulking offensive lineman added to Miami’s roster, which could mean the Dolphins haven’t abandoned the idea of building a power rushing attack.
The 30-year-old will likely serve as a backup to Robert Hunt, the team’s 2020 second-round pick, who settled into the starting right tackle spot last season, and started 11 games as a rookie. It is also possible that Fluker could also end up playing right guard, which is where Solomon Kindley, another 2020 draft pick, and Jesse Davis split reps most of the season.
Fluker becomes the second offensive lineman added this offseason, joining center Matt Skura, who also came from the Ravens organization.
Fluker’s signing will make him the only 30-year-old on the Dolphins roster heading into training camp, and indicates that Miami could be leaning toward selecting a playmaker, and not an offensive lineman with the team’s two first-round picks in next week’s NFL draft.
Oregon’s Penei Sewell and Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater are viewed as this draft’s premiere offensive linemen, and the Dolphins will likely be in position to select either if they keep the No. 6 pick. However, Miami invested three picks on young offensive linemen last season and hope they take the next step in their development this year.
Earlier this spring, the the Dolphins traded for former first-round pick Isaiah Wilson, but cut him two weeks later because of some behavior issues, which contributed to him only lasting one season with the Tennessee Titans.
