3:29pm: Urbik’s deal with the Dolphins is now official, the team has announced (via Twitter).
2:00pm: The Dolphins and Urbik have agreed to terms, tweets Rand Getlin of the NFL Network.
12:14am: The Dolphins are bringing free agent guard Kraig Urbik to team headquarters in Davie and plan on signing him to a contract if everything – including medical tests – goes well, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Urbik, 30, was selected by the Steelers in the third round of the 2009 draft, but never appeared in a regular season game for Pittsburgh and was waived a little over a year after being drafted. Upon landing with the Bills in 2010, Urbik got the opportunity to see the field, and spent the next six seasons in Buffalo, starting 57 of the 84 games he played for the club.
In 2015, Urbik started four games for the Bills but was relegated primarily to reserve duty. With free agent signee Richie Incognito and 2015 third-rounder John Miller manning the guard spots, Urbik became somewhat expendable in Buffalo, particularly with the team needing to create every bit of cap space it could. He was released at the start of March.
Because Urbik was cut prior to the free agent period, he won’t count toward the compensatory draft pick formula if Miami signs him. For the Dolphins, Urbik would be the second veteran free agent added to the mix at guard. The team also signed former Bears left tackle Jermon Bushrod, intending to move him inside.
Out of 81 qualified guards in 2015, the Dolphins’ two starters – Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner – both ranked in the bottom 15 based on Pro Football Focus’ grades, so it’s no surprise that the team has made it a priority this offseason to add players capable of potentially beating out Thomas and Turner for starting jobs.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.