The Dolphins placed the transition tag on Charles Clay this off-season, which had him penciled in as one of the highest paid tight ends at around $7 million for next season, however other teams have the right to offer him a contract, and then Miami would have one last chance to either match the contract or not. The Buffalo Bills who have been strongly pursing Clay, have finally made their move and have offered Clay a contract for 5 years worth $38 million with more than $20 million guaranteed. Now Miami will have 5 days to either decline or match the offer.
On average this contract would pay Clay around $7.6 million per year, but the rumor is that the Bills have front loaded the contract in order to make it more difficult for Miami to afford to pay him in the same manner. If Dawn Aponte and the Dolphins staff can figure out a creative way to keep Clay in Miami, then I would be all for it.
The main reason I would like to have Clay back is actually because of the fact that we just signed Jordan Cameron. Most of the fellas at the local sportsbook would say that is odd, because at least Miami has an insurance policy if they decline to match the Bills offer. However, I am thinking more big picture, and a Cameron, Clay and Sims three headed monster at the tight end position would give them the most dynamic group of tight ends in the entire NFL. I would even go as far as saying that they could eclipse the production of Gronkowski and Hernandez when they played together in 2011 on the Patriots and combined for 23 touchdowns, 179 catches and 2,237 yards receiving. Those are video game type numbers, and if Miami can find a way to afford Clay or even pitch him the idea of being a part of such a special tight end group, then those type of numbers are possible. (On average it would be about 8 touchdowns, 60 catches, and 746 yards for each of the three tight ends.) With Miami making a complete make over of their receiving group this will mean a lot more chances for the tight ends and that means these numbers can be a realistic target.
The worst part is that if the Dolphins do not match the offer, than this would be a double negative, because they would be losing a solid young play maker, and they would be losing him to a division rival, that they already have match up problems against. There are plenty of rumors now that the organization has lost their patience with Clay over this whole Bills courtship, however now is not the time to be stubborn. Miami should at least put a competitive offer on the table, and then use the power of persuasion to make him realize that South Florida is a much more pleasant place to live year round then the tundra of Buffalo. They need to pitch South Florida over Buffalo, and they need to pitch the idea of staying with the team he began his career with, and that there is more optimism for the future of the Miami Dolphin Football organization, than in the Buffalo organization.
Most of the best free agents on the market have already found new homes for next season, so considering that Clay’s transition tag number of $7 million is already counted into the cap, Miami might want to find a way to use it on him, since there may not be a player still out there that is worth $7 million next season. Unfortunately as much as I would like Miami to re-sign Clay, so we would have an unstoppable Tight end group, I believe that Miami may lose this contract battle. What does the rest of Miami Dolphins news fans think about trying to keep Clay, and whether or not Miami will keep him?