Tunsil signs $12.45 million, 4-year contract with Dolphins
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Top Miami Dolphins draft pick Laremy Tunsil smiles during a news conference, in Davie, Fla. on April 29.
DAVIE, Fla. » Laremy Tunsil and the Miami Dolphins were quick to agree on his value in the wake of his NFL draft freefall.
The offensive lineman from Ole Miss signed a $12.45 million, four-year contract before joining the Dolphins’ rookie minicamp that began today.
Touted at one time as a potential No. 1 overall choice, Tunsil was taken 13th last week after a video was posted on his Twitter account shortly before the NFL draft showing him smoking from a gas mask connected to a bong.
Another post on his Instagram showed an alleged text exchange with an Ole Miss football staff member that included Tunsil’s request for money. The school is investigating.
Tunsil said his social media accounts were hacked, likely costing him millions of dollars.
His deal is comparable to the $11.4 million, four-year contract signed by last year’s 13th draft pick, Saints offensive lineman Andrus Peat. Last year’s No. 1 pick, Jameis Winston, signed a $25.35 million, four-year deal with the Buccaneers.
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Tunsil seemed excited to start the minicamp, first-year Miami coach Adam Gase said.
“We haven’t talked extensively,” Gase said. “Everything happened so fast after the draft. Our conversations have been short, but we’ve had a couple of good talks.”
The Dolphins conducted months of research into Tunsil and said they’re comfortable about his character. Tackle wasn’t a priority for the Dolphins, and Tunsil is expected to be tried at guard as they try various offensive line combinations during OTAs later this month.
“When you have the OTAs and you have the minicamp, you can do some experimenting,” Gase said. “It’s going to be a little bit of a process for us to figure out what the right five are for us, but we’re going to use all that time.”
Miami also signed quarterback Brandon Doughty, a seventh-round pick, and 12 undrafted college free agents: linebackers Akil Blount, Tyler Gray and James Burgess, center-guard Ruben Carter, long snapper Ryan DiSalvo, safety A.J. Hendy, tight end Gabe Hughes, defensive end Farrington Huguenin, kicker Marshall Koehn, cornerback Lafayette Pitts, and receivers Rashawn Scott and Brandon Shippen.
