The Miami Dolphins are keeping Brent Grimes in South Beach.
The team announced Monday it re-signed the cornerback to a new multi-year contract. NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported that the deal is for four years and is worth up to $32 million with $16 million guaranteed.
"It's a four-year deal," Grimes told ESPN's Josina Anderson. "I wanted to be back but you never know in this business and when it all worked out, I was happy."
Rapoport reported last month that the Dolphinsviewed Grimes as an offseason priority, but they didn't want to use the franchise tag on the corner. The signing makes that decision moot.
The 30-year-old Grimes is coming off a Pro Bowl season and is the most accomplished player in Miami's secondary.
The 5-foot-10 corner played this past season on a one-year deal after coming off an Achilles tendon tear in 2012. He ranked No. 2 overall on Pro Football Focus' corner evaluations in 2013.
Grimes plays bigger than his size and is solid in single coverage. Around The League ranked him No. 14 overall on our top 101 free-agent list. He was the No. 2 cornerback on the list.
The free-agent cornerback pool becomes a little shallower with Grimes signed, but it still has plenty of talent in Alterraun Verner, Aqib Talib, Vontae Davis and Sam Shields among the top options.
The latest edition of the "Around The League Podcast" works through our top 101 free agents and responds to some heat from Donte Whitner.
