INDIANAPOLIS _ Dolphins coach Adam Gase said he wants wide receiver Jarvis Landry to be part of the team in 2018.
"Yeah, if it works out the way that we've kind of looked at things," he said Wednesday at NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. "Really that's why we franchised him. We'll just kind of see how it goes."
The Dolphins reportedly talked with Landry's representatives Wednesday afternoon to work further on a multiyear contract.
The Dolphins put the non-exclusive franchise tag on Landry on Feb. 20. That means Landry can negotiate with other teams and sign an offer sheet, which the Dolphins have the right to match. If Landry signs the franchise tender he'd be entitled to about $16 million next season. The official total will be set in early March.
The Dolphins think if they keep Landry at the franchise amount they could still retain veteran wide receivers Kenny Stills and DeVante Parker.
Gase said it shouldn't have been a surprise the Dolphins opted to put the franchise tag on Landry.
"We were trying to figure out the best way," Gase said. "We knew [what] we were going to do. We weren't sure when the best timing was for us. We just decided to do it on that first day. We felt like that was the best thing for us to really, for him to know that that's there. We'll just kind of see how this plays out."
Landry led the league on receptions with 112 last year. Landry's 400 receptions through his first four seasons are a NFL record.
The Dolphins haven't always seemed pleased with Landry, however.
In January, Gase expressed displeasure with Landry's ejection from the finale against Buffalo.
"I think that was the pinnacle of what I've ever seen with him during a game," Gase said. "I know there's been times where some of those guys kind of got in the mix a little bit, but I don't think I've ever seen it get to a level where it was extremely bad.
"Last game, that was about as embarrassing as I've seen in a long time. It's just something that we can't have happen."
Not long after that however, the Dolphins put the franchise tag on Landry.
If Landry signs the franchise tag tender and stays with the Dolphins, he'd join Stills and Parker as a veteran returning trio capable of putting fear into defenses.
If Landry departs the Dolphins are in a tough spot at receiver with Stills, Parker and a pair of unproven youngsters _ Jakeem Grant and Leonte Carroo.
Gase admitted that might be a tough spot for Miami.
"I think anytime you have a player that's really been elite at his spot, if that guy is not there, we found this out last year, at least we felt at the quarterback position, it makes a big difference and you have to make adjustments," he said.
"That's why we're trying to make sure we put this team together the right way. Right now we're at that standstill where we can't do anything. We've got the next 14-15 days until we can actually do anything."
When asked what he would say to Landry if he could talk football, Gase deferred.
"You guys know this about me, any time I have a conversation with a player that's going to stay private," he said. "I'm not going to talk about anything publicly."
Gase didn't comment on how things have gone between himself and Landry since the season ended.
"Since the season's ended you can't do anything," he said. "You can't really talk to your guys. If you see them in passing you can't talk any football."
Gase also sidestepped questions about Landry's contract situation, saying those are matters for executive Mike Tannenbaum and general manager Chris Grier.
"That's Mike and Chris," he said. "[They] kind of handle that stuff. I stay out of that. We've got to time for everything. We're not going to get in a big rush just because everybody wants to figure out what's going on."
