Dolphins to add top linebacker on two-year deal

After providing new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio with a top-tier cornerback, via the Jalen Ramsey trade, the Miami Dolphins are handing their highly paid DC one of the better free agent linebackers available.

David Long is signing a two-year deal with the Dolphins, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. Long spent the past four seasons with the Titans, playing out his rookie contract. He is heading to Miami on a two-year, $11M deal.

This could turn out to be a team-friendly deal for the Dolphins, who are adding a player Pro Football Focus labeled as a top-20 linebacker from 2021-22. PFF also slotted Long, who became a regular in Tennessee’s defense in 2021, as a top-five run-defending linebacker last season.

The 26-year-old linebacker, however, likely came available at this price because of injuries. He has missed 12 games over the past two seasons, leading to Mike Vrabel wondering about his durability at his end-of-season presser. Hamstring trouble, in particular, has interfered with Long’s ascent.

Rather than bet on the former sixth-round find turning the corner on the health front, Titans are moving on from Long. Although they have a new GM running the show (Ran Carthon), continues a pattern for the team in recent years. They also let Jayon Brown and former first-round pick Rashaan Evans walk, doing so years after allowing Zach Brown to depart following the expiration of his rookie deal. They also released Zach Cunningham this offseason. Considering this lower rate was what it took to pry Long away, it can be assumed Tennessee has other plans at this position.

Although Tremaine Edmunds cashed in with the Bears on a top-five off-ball linebacker deal, this position was one of this free agency class’ deepest. Edmunds’ $18M-per-year pact has not resulted in others in this market moving near that price range. The second-tier linebackers in this market should not be pleased by what Long commanded in free agency.