Throughout training camp, the Miami Dolphins secondary has been suspect as their second round pick Xavien Howard has been out because of a knee injury. Tony Lippett hasn’t particularly played well during practices and Chimdi Chekwa has been out because of a thigh injury. Those reasons are probably why the team decided to make a free-agent addition to their secondary.
Miami signed former San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins cornerback Chris Culliver. NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport was first to announce the deal. Reportedly, the Dolphins will sign Culliver to a one-year deal, up to $5 million.
To make room for Culliver the team has also released center/guard Jacques McClendon and linebacker Danny Lansanah.
In 2015, the Redskins signed Culliver to a four-year, $32 million contract in free agency. He was released by the Redskins in March after he suffered an ACL and MCL tear that limited him to six games in 2015.
Culliver has played in 52 games with 26 starts during his four-year NFL career. He has a totaled 137 tackles (119 solo), seven interceptions and 34 pass breakups in his career. Prior to playing for the Redskins, Culliver played three seasons with the San Francisco 49ers (2011-12; 2014). He posted career-highs in tackles (45) and interceptions (4) in 2014 with the 49ers. Culliver originally was drafted in the third-round selection (80th overall) by the 49ers in the 2011 NFL draft after playing collegiately at South Carolina.
McClendon played in three games for the Dolphins in 2015 after having several stints on the team during the season. He was most recently signed by the Dolphins on Dec. 22, 2015 and originally joined the team as an unrestricted free agent on April 22, 2015.
Lansanah joined the Dolphins on Aug. 3, 2016, after playing 16 games with 11 starts for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015. During his three-year NFL career, Lansanah has played in 38 games with 22 starts for the Green Bay Packers (2008) and Buccaneers (2013-15), totaling 126 tackles (86 solo), 2.5 sacks and three interceptions.
This move will at least give Miami another experience cornerback. Lippett is in his second year in the league and is a converted cornerback after primarily playing wide receiver in college at Michigan State.
Howard was expected to be the other starter opposite No. 1 cornerback Byron Maxwell, but he remains on the physically unable to perform list.
There’s a chance that Howard could miss the entire preseason. With the signing of Culliver, it appears the Dolphins are worried he won’t be back before their Week 1 opener against the Seattle Seahawks.
