According to a source, the Miami Dolphins have reached an agreement with offensive tackle Terron Armstead on a five-year deal worth up to $87.5 million.
The deal has $43.37 million in guaranteed money.
The former New Orleans Saints left tackle is a three-time Pro Bowler in nine NFL seasons and should provide a boost to one of last season's worst pass blocking teams.
The Dolphins had the worst pass block win rate in the league last season. The Los Angeles Rams led the NFL in that category at 68.4%. Tua Tagovailoa had the fourth fastest average time to throw in the league, because of the Dolphins inability to sustain blocks.
The Dolphins have publicly backed Tagovailoa throughout the off-season and although much of the team's success in 2022 will depend on his development, first-year coach Mike McDaniel has insisted that Tagovailoa needs help around him.
I have never seen a quarterback win a football game by himself. He needs to not be tackled before he throws.
Running backs Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert and wide receiver Cedrick Wilson were signed by Miami early in the free agency period. It used the franchise tag to keep tight end Mike Gesicki and re-signed his backup.
Adding Armstead and Williams helps fortify the offensive line that Miami has spent four top-100 draft picks on. Austin Jackson and Jesse Davis will not return as the starting left guard and right tackle, respectively, because of the additions of Williams and Armstead. Williams and Armstead can anchor the left side of the line while Miami decides what to do with former second-round picks Robert Hunt and Liam Eichenberg. Michael Deiter started eight games at center.
J.C. Tretter has the second-best pass block win rates since 2019. If it feels like it needs to move on from Deiter, Miami could look to the draft.
Armstead, who turns 31 in July, has been one of the NFL's elite left tackles since the Saints drafted him in the third round in 2013).
He was selected to three straight Pro Bowls after being named a second-team All-Pro. Armstead was graded the top offensive tackle by Pro Football Focus in both of the last two years. A tremendous athlete for his size, the 6-foot-5, 304-pounder still holds the record for fastest 40-yard dash by an offensive lineman at the NFL scouting combine.
Armstead has had injuries throughout his career, including elbow and knee injuries that limited him to eight games in 2021. He had a knee surgery after the season, and he said it was successful and that it was time to get right.
Armstead missed a lot of games due to injuries, including knee, hip, shoulder and pectoral injuries. His health improved as he missed only three games.
Armstead signed a five-year, $65 million contract extension in 2016 that made him one of the league's highest paid left tackles at the time. He has more than $13 million in dead money from that deal that will count against the New Orleans salary cap.
Armstead was selected as the Walter Payton Man of the Year candidate for his efforts both on the field and in the community.
Mike Triplett contributed to the report.
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