The Miami Dolphins have reportedly traded Dan Feeney to the Chicago Bears.
Moving Dan Feeney to the Bears allows Liam Eichenberg to take over as Miami’s backup center.
The Miami Dolphins have shipped veteran offensive lineman Dan Feeney to the Chicago Bears ahead of the NFL roster cutdown deadline of 53 players.
According to several reports, the Dolphins will receive a sixth-round pick in 2024 in exchange for the versatile interior lineman, whom the team hired this offseason to serve as its backup center.
The agreement is finalized when Feeney, who has been out with a leg injury since the spring, passes his physical.
Trading Feeney frees up $1.2 million in capital.
Feeney’s exit releases him from his $3.25 million deal, which Miami fully guaranteed, freeing up $1.2 million in cap space (the Dolphins are liable for his $2.05 million signing bonus).
His departure also allows Liam Eichenberg, a 2021 third-round pick who appears to have lost the starting left guard role to Isaiah Wynn, to potentially go to center.
Eichenberg filled in as Miami’s first-team center during OTAs and minicamp after incumbent starter Connor Williams sat out the entire summer program while negotiating a contract extension, and he showed some promise at the position.
Feeney’s departure also allows Alama Uluave, an undrafted rookie from San Diego State, to make the roster, either as a 53-man roster player or as a practice squad player. After Williams departed the game, Uluave played center and Feeney guard in the preseason games.
The Dolphins could also seek a center released on waivers, potentially stealing a player from another team’s practice squad.
With Feeney’s departure and the Dolphins’ official release of 14 players on Monday, the team now has 75 players on the training camp roster. That doesn’t even take into account the likely release of pass rusher Malik Reed, as reported by ESPN on Monday.
Reed might be released and re-signed later this week, when Miami places some of its ailing players on injured reserve, which could happen as soon as Wednesday.
Today, the Dolphins must make 21 cuts.
That means the Dolphins must release 21 players by today’s deadline of 4 p.m.
Three vested veterans were released: offensive tackle lineman Geron Christian, receiver Keke Coutee, and linebacker A.J. Johnson. They, like Reed, can join with another NFL team as soon as their release is official.
Rookie linebackers Aubrey Miller II, Garrett Nelson, and Mitchell Agude, quarterback James Blackman, defensive lineman Jamal Woods, Jaylen Twyman, Josiah Bronson, and Randy Charlton, receiver Chris Coleman, safety Keidron Smith, and offensive tackle James Tunstall were all cut on Monday.
The Dolphins may sign a couple of those released to their practice squad, which will have 16 players. Miller, Nelson, and Agude are all considered possibilities for Miami’s practice squad berths and could be re-signed as soon as Tuesday at noon.
Teams can have up to six veterans with any NFL experience or ten guys with two or more seasons on their practice squad.
