Free agent Dwayne Allen is signing with the Miami Dolphins, the tight end has told ESPN’s Josina Anderson.
Free Agent TE Dwayne Allen just text me, "I'm going to sign with the #Dolphins."
— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 9, 2019
It’s a two-year deal worth $7 million, a source tells Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post.
TE Dwayne Allen in for 2 years, $7 million per source. #MiamiDolphins
— Joe Schad (@schadjoe) March 9, 2019
Allen spent the 2018 season with the New England Patriots before they released him in the offseason; Allen received his first career Super Bowl ring with New England this past year.
Through 13 games (including seven starts) in 2018, Allen appeared in 32 percent of snaps, but was only targeted four times, hauling in three of the passes thrown his way. 2018 was the first campaign of Allen’s seven-year career that the Clemson product did not find the end zone.
However, his recent receiving woes do not reflect his skills as a blocker, which have been impressive. Thanks in large part to his blocking skills, the NFL contract experts at Spotrac projected Allen to sign a three-year, $7.5 million contract but was able to get nearly as much money while only agreeing to a two-year deal. His new contract will pay him $3.5 million per season, compared to the $2.5 million he was projected to receive.
Allen, now 29, was drafted in the third round of the 2012 draft by the Indianapolis Colts and instantly made an impact, hauling in 19 passes over his first five seasons in the league, including an eight-touchdown campaign and a six-touchdown season. He was signed to a four-year, $29.4 million extension ahead of what would be his final season with the Colts in 2016 before being packaged with a sixth-round pick and being traded to the Patriots for a fourth-round selection that turned into Zach Banner.
Although Allen has struggled recently, he has proven before that he can be a starting tight end in this league. Even if he struggles in the passing game, he can contribute big-time for the Dolphins in many different ways, including serving as a dominant blocker.
