Report: Miami Dolphins expected to re-sign Charles Clay

The free agent tight end who spent last year in Miami has reportedly also drawn interest from the Buffalo Bills.

As the NFL gears up for its free agency period, players may find themselves bouncing around within their own division.

But despite a report from Vic Carucci of the Buffalo News of leaving Miami for the sunny shores of Buffalo, Charles Clay is apparently not going anywhere.

From the Palm Beach Post:

"A source with knowledge of the situation told the Palm Beach Post that it would be very surprising if Clay is not back with Miami in 2015.After a breakout 2013 season, Clay dealt with a nagging knee injury in 2014 and finished with 605 receiving yards and three touchdowns."

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The post speculated that the Bills could be driving up Clay’s asking price. His past contract saw him earn a little over $500 thousand per year, and he was expected to take in around $5 million annually. That would place him in the top half of the league among starting tight ends (Although still a distant $5 million away from top earner Jimmy Graham of the Saints).

The Buffalo Bills may be pursuing Clay not to raise his potential salary but simply because they need help at tight end. Buffalo’s starter Scott Chandler was only serviceable last year, catching 47 passes for 497 yards and 3 touchdowns while playing all 16 games. The Bills could conceivably want to add a versatile player, one that can line up off the offensive line or in the backfield, who is particularly good at drawing favorable matchups.

Clay’s presence on the injury report last year wasn’t unprecedented; he also tore a ligament in his knee late in the 2012 season that took him out for the remainder of the season.

Miami also has Dion Sims, who will be in his third year for the Dolphins when the 2015 season rolls around. Behind Clay, Sims recorded 284 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while providing the Dolphins with a player who has more prototypical size for a tight end to match up against smaller defensive backs. While the Dolphins would like to keep Charles Clay if at all possible, they do have an in-house option as a starter to turn to if he decides to sign elsewhere.

The Dolphins are fairly slim in terms of cap space, but they could save money in the short term for this year by cutting highly paid veterans like wide receiver Mike Wallace. The Dolphins also will be looking to re-sign defensive tackle Jared Odrick and safety Louis Delmas. In order to bring them back, the Dolphins will need to shed some winter fat.

[H/T: Palm Beach Post, Buffalo News]

The free agent tight end who spent last year in Miami has reportedly also drawn interest from the Buffalo Bills.

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