NFL Free Agency: Dolphins sign safety T.J. McDonald

With punishment from the NFL now clear, the Miami Dolphins moved quickly to sign safety T.J. McDonald.

The market for free agent safety T.J. McDonald moved very slowly this month. The Los Angeles Rams showed no interest in re-signing him, after he started all 16 games for them last season, and just in the last few days he finally took a visit with the Miami Dolphins.

The virtual certainty of a suspension from the NFL, stemming from a DUI arrest in May of 2016, explains the tepid interest in McDonald thus far. On Thursday an eight-game suspension for violating the league’s substance abuse policy was announced, and with that clarity it stood to reason any interested teams could re-visit signing McDonald. Indeed, a team moved quickly to do so on Friday.

According to ESPN.com’s James Walker, the Dolphins have agreed to a one-year deal with McDonald. He actually learned of his suspension while on his visit with the Dolphins earlier this week, so the team is clearly comfortable with McDonald otherwise.

Via Twitter, the Dolphins have officially welcomed McDonald to Miami.

The Dolphins committed big money to Reshad Jones earlier this month, but they need some safety depth opposite him. Isa Abdul-Quddus was released following a neck injury last season, and free agent signing Nate Allen is in line to open the season as a starter. McDonald should easily step right in as a starter, once he’s eligible to take the field.

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McDonald started 43 of 48 games for the Rams over the last three seasons, highlighted by 105 total tackles in 2014, a career-high two interceptions last season and a total of 14 pass breakups over that span. Miami is talking a half-season flier on a player who should be plenty motivated, and any chance to dethrone the Patriots next season depends on moves like that working out.