Re-signing Clay appears to be a priority

[Nublar7]

http://miamiherald.typepad.com/spor...midseason-dolphins-canes-marlins-nuggets.html

### Though the Dolphins have been non-committal with several players, they privately indicated they want to re-sign free agent tight end Charles Clay. An offer is expected in the coming weeks. Tight end is one position the Dolphins feel good about, with Clay and Dion Sims. In his final media availability, Bill Lazor was very complimentary about Sims' development.

Other nuggets:

### The Dolphins met last week with Washington defensive tackle Danny Shelton, who very much intrigues them and would be in play if he’s still available with Miami’s 14th overall pick.

### An NFL official said there was a lot of buzz at the Senior Bowl last week about a couple of teams being interested in luring two of the Dolphins’ respected talented evaluators: director of college scouting Chris Grier and top national scout Adam Engroff, potentially as a package deal. Engroff has had a role in Miami's selection of several players in the West (Paul Soliai, Sean Smith, Rishard Matthews, former Hawaii standout Davone Bess, among others.)

The official said there's still uncertainty about who Mike Tannenbaum will keep, with several front-office contracts expiring in the coming months. (Dennis Hickey is obviously staying for at least the next year.) And Grier and Engroff are valued.

 

[johngarryvo]

more of a dull hum than a buzz...

 

[gregorygrant83]

I'm not against re-signing Clay, but if Julius Thomas or Jordan Cameron could be signed instead I would rather go that direction. Cameron and Tannehill would make a a nice tandem.

 

[hoops]

Makes you wonder what this teams thought process is sometimes...let solia walk only to consider using your top pick on Danny shelton the very next offseason...

 

[Kdawg954]

Makes you wonder what this teams thought process is sometimes...let solia walk only to consider using your top pick on Danny shelton the very next offseason...

Mind boggling really. Don't get me wrong, Paul Soliai got a real nice contract for being on the wrong side of 30 and I'm not sure if Miami gives him that same deal . . . . but to spend the #14 pick on a DT who looks very similar the following year after letting him go would just really sting IMO. You got a chance to get a big target for Ryan Tannehill in a attempt to improve that red zone efficiency and give him a guy who can go up and come down with a ball on 3rd down . . . . and we are thinking DT.

Still early in the process, and Shelton is a good player, even better in a 3-4 if we ran one . . . but I don't think I'd ever feel comfortable with him at 14.

 

[Kdawg954]

I'm not against re-signing Clay, but if Julius Thomas or Jordan Cameron could be signed instead I would rather go that direction. Cameron and Tannehill would make a a nice tandem.

Clay is a good player for this team. Miami has to be smart with their cap and as great as Julius Thomas has been, how much of that is the system? I've seen Peyton Manning make stars out of a lot of TE's that were never heard from again. I just don't wanna overpay the guy for having production in a Peyton Manning system and then come here and just never reaches those levels again. We need to draft these type of players.

 

[I am Bane]

remember Tony McDaniel who was a great D-Line for us in our rotation... look at what he is doing in Seattle too past couple years.

but I agree with going at DT- Shelton (which i spoke on in the Senior Bowl thread)

but for Clay... definitely resign him!!! what a hard worker that worked up the depth chart to get starting nods. I remember watching him in the pre-season making huge plays... and I was wondering why he wasnt getting more opportunities. He needs to be a big part in our offense.

Julius Thomas not being in Denver will be surprising

 

[Third Eye]

Shelton comparisons to Solia are off base. Let an older player walk who is asking too much money. Investing in youth is the way to go.

 

[Sons Of Shula]

Makes you wonder what this teams thought process is sometimes...let solia walk only to consider using your top pick on Danny shelton the very next offseason...

Even if Soliai had stayed we'd be looking to upgrade the DT position. Soliai is 31 and was a part of a Falcons defensive unit that gave up a league leading 21 rushing TD's. He did not have a good year.

Back to the OP. I'm glad it appears that we've made Clay a priority. I like what he brings to the table and didn't seem to be 100% healthy for the most part of last year. I think/hope we'll see a different player next season or at least the one we witnessed in '13.

 

[spiketex]

Mind boggling really. Don't get me wrong, Paul Soliai got a real nice contract for being on the wrong side of 30 and I'm not sure if Miami gives him that same deal . . . . but to spend the #14 pick on a DT who looks very similar the following year after letting him go would just really sting IMO. You got a chance to get a big target for Ryan Tannehill in a attempt to improve that red zone efficiency and give him a guy who can go up and come down with a ball on 3rd down . . . . and we are thinking DT.

Still early in the process, and Shelton is a good player, even better in a 3-4 if we ran one . . . but I don't think I'd ever feel comfortable with him at 14.

Soliai had very little gas left in his tank when he left Miami. He was expensive and deteriorating (and he didn't return the investment in Atlanta). Some of these guys don't last forever. We need a good big guy to clog up the middle. I fully support Hickey's decision not to re-sign him, but we still need a solution. This is the challenge of multiple needs.

 

[xXwarXx]

Dunno why anyone wouldnt be happy to keep Clay, he clearly wasnt healthy at all this year, are we forgetting he was on a bike all training camp?

Healthy he's the best playmaker we have on offense. Pretty sure he lead the tem in YAC and was one of the best in YAC of all the TEs in the NFL, was a tackle breaking machine a few years ago.

 

[Kdawg954]

Soliai had very little gas left in his tank when he left Miami. He was expensive and deteriorating (and he didn't return the investment in Atlanta). Some of these guys don't last forever. We need a good big guy to clog up the middle. I fully support Hickey's decision not to re-sign him, but we still need a solution. This is the challenge of multiple needs.

I don't disagree, especially for the money/years he got (5 years and 33 million) . . . . I guess what I am saying is, it always feels like we can never put a solid team together at the same time. You got the QB in year 4 needing a big target at WR and I want to get him the best guy possible . . . yet we are a team that has had a good dline for the last several years (outside of the collapse late this season) and we are thinking of passing up a big target for a dlineman. It just sucks man . . . but expected when you whiff on as many draft picks as Jeff ireland missed on during his tenure.

 

[Ben Had]

I don't think we would be able to replace him in FA.

 

[dolpns13]

Makes you wonder what this teams thought process is sometimes...let solia walk only to consider using your top pick on Danny shelton the very next offseason...

Soliai is currently and was his last year here, garbage.. Also cheaper

I don't see a problem with this move.

 

[Hayden Fox]

I love they are talking bringing Clay back. The guy has improved so much and came on strong after being called upon after Keller's injury two years ago.

Hold on to your own plays well in the locker room too.

---------- Post added at 07:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:33 AM ----------

The Shelton discussion is irrelevant because he is not their at 14.