Many key Dolphins from the recent past are no longer in Miami. Cameron Wake, Ryan Tannehill and Ja’Wuan James were among the many veterans the Dolphins jettisoned. The rebuilding team is also believed to be shopping Kenny Stills and Kiko Alonso, and Reshad Jones has been a potential departure candidate throughout the offseason.
But the high-priced safety said recently he will be a Dolphin this season. The Dolphins informed Jones, per Jones (via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson), he will not be traded. Jones’ willingness to accept any role, including potentially reduced playing time, has impressed the team, according to Jackson.
The 10th-year safety has been dangled in trade talks, Jackson reported over the weekend. But the Dolphins were not interested in the offers they received, Jackson adds, pointing them toward keeping their longest-tenured defender for another year. Jones’ contract, which calls for a $17.1MM cap number this season (by far the most among safeties in 2019), will be prohibitive in any trade talks. It should not be surprising the Dolphins are abandoning the idea of dealing the 31-year-old safety at this point. Were they to move on in 2020, $7.5MM in additional cap space would be created.
The Dolphins released T.J. McDonald on Sunday night, clearing a path for more Jones playing time. He has two Pro Bowls and 21 career interceptions, including three last season, on his resume. Jones (109 career starts) is one start away from the most by a safety in Dolphins history, trailing only Tim Foley.