The Miami Dolphins finally found a tackle to provide the veteran depth and competition the team needed on the offensive line.
The Dolphins are signing former New England Patriots tackle Isaiah Wynn, according to a league source.
Wynn (6 foot 2, 310 pounds) was a first-round pick of the Patriots in the 2018 draft. He started 40 games in New England over the past four seasons after missing his rookie NFL campaign with a torn Achilles suffered in the preseason.
Most of Wynn’s NFL experience has come at left tackle for the Patriots. Last year, he was moved to right tackle, and he also has started at left guard.
Along with the Achilles injury in 2018, Wynn has also gone through toe, knee and foot injuries in recent seasons — the foot ailment costing him the second half of his final season with the Patriots.
Miami was in need of another tackle after not addressing the position in the initial wave of free agency this offseason.
The Dolphins are set with four-time Pro Bowler Terron Armstead at left tackle, and general manager Chris Grier has deemed 2020 first-round pick Austin Jackson the starter at right tackle.
Nonetheless, swing depth is needed at the position as both Armstead and Jackson have an injury history. Wynn can also help to push Jackson, who has been uneven in his first three NFL seasons and, last season, landed on injured reserve after each of his two starts due to an ankle ailment. The team did not pick up the fifth-year option on Jackson’s rookie contract this offseason.
The Dolphins’ lone free-agent move on the offensive line in March came in the addition of interior offensive lineman Dan Feeney, who could push Liam Eichenberg at left guard and provide a reserve option behind Connor Williams at center.
Miami did not use a high draft pick on a tackle either. Instead, the Dolphins selected South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith with their first pick in the second round and drafted Texas A&M running back De’Von Achane in the third round. They finally picked up a rookie tackle in the seventh round, Michigan’s Ryan Hayes.
Earlier in the offseason, the Dolphins hosted veteran tackle Cameron Fleming, who has played under the team’s new offensive line coach, Butch Barry, in Denver but ultimately opted for Wynn on Sunday. Miami is also set to see an additional $13.6 million in cap savings in June, when the money from the release of cornerback Byron Jones becomes available.
This story will be updated.