Released by the Detroit Lions last month, safety Louis Delmas is following the "prove-it" route that ultimately paid off for Brent Grimes and Michael Bennett after they settled for one-year contracts last offseason.
NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday, via a person informed of the move, that the Miami Dolphins are signing Delmas to a one-year contract worth up to $3.5 million. The team later confirmed the news, and ProFootballTalk first reported the agreement.
Delmas started in 16 games last season as a high-level safety, but his market was depressed by concerns over nagging knee injuries that forced him to miss 13 games across 2011 and 2012.
The 26-year-old visited the Steelers and Saintslate last month and reportedly drew interest from the Falcons and Broncos before signing with Miami.
Now that Delmas is under contract, the Dolphins will no longer be in the chase for Jairus Byrd.
It also signals the end of free safety Chris Clemons' run with the team. Clemons is ranked 70th on Around The League's list of the top 101 free agents.
If Delmas' knees cooperate, this is a win-win scenario. The Dolphins get an upgrade next to Reshad Jones, and Delmas gets a chance to stabilize his value for another run at free agency in 2015.
Expected to reel in left tackle Branden Albert as perhaps free agency's biggest fish, new Dolphins general manager Dennis Hickey has only just begun his offseason haul.
The latest "Around The League Podcast" picks the biggest free agent bargains and plays the revolutionary game: "Get my lunch."
