The Dolphins have agreed to sign offensive lineman Shelley Smith to a two-year contract, reports Mike Klis of the Denver Post (via Twitter). The deal will be worth $5.5MM, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (via Twitter), while Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports notes (via Twitter) there’s a $1.5MM guarantee.
Smith, 26, has been a part-time guard in St. Louis for the last two seasons, playing 360 offensive snaps in 2012 and 371 in 2013, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required). He received a +7.0 grade from PFF last season, which placed him 23rd out of 81 qualified guards, despite his lack of playing time. Smith was particularly effective as a run blocker.
The signing represents the next step in a rebuilding process for Miami’s offensive line following last year’s bullying scandal. The team also signed Branden Albert this week to play left tackle, so assuming Smith occupies one of the two guard positions, the Dolphins now have at least three starters in place, with Albert and Smith joining incumbent center Mike Pouncey.
Smith had been visiting Miami today, and we heard earlier today that the club was hoping to lock him up before he left town. The former sixth-round pick also reportedly met with the Giants and Patriots.
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