The Miami Dolphins have suddenly become the NFL’s version of the Island of Misfit Toys. If you haven’t materialized and become what someone else expected, the Dolphins will take you! That’s evidenced by the six players added this offseason who were drafted high but flamed out in their first (and even second) stops: QB Josh Rosen (a 1st-round pick), EDGE Nate Orchard (a 2nd-round pick), CB Eric Rowe (a 2nd-round pick), DL Tank Carradine (a 2nd-round pick), TE Clive Walford (a 3rd-round pick) and DL Adolphus Washington (a 3rd-round pick).
If the Dolphins want to add to this group, they’ll have the opportunity to do so during the preseason during roster cuts. But one potential target — at a position of need, no less — could be on the chopping block even sooner than that.
The Athletic’s Ed Bouchette believes the Pittsburgh Steelers may have cornerback Artie Burns on the chopping block before the start of the team’s training camp. Why? Because Burns is due an $800,000 roster bonus on Day 1 of training camp.
Burns is physically talented but has struggled to find consistency in the pros, which sounds exactly like the kind of player Miami has targeted this offseason to date. And with cornerback Eric Rowe’s durability being a constant question, Miami would be a very logical landing spot for Burns.
Miami wouldn’t even have to wait for Burns to clear waivers. He’s in the final year of his rookie contract and will carry a base salary just over $1.75 million on the year. Burns, a University of Miami product, would get a chance to return to South Florida and play one year on a prove-it deal in a new environment with new coaching.
The fit just makes too much sense, but Pittsburgh has to pull the trigger first.
