Zach Brown signs with Redskins
Free agent inside linebacker Zach Brown has agreed to a deal with the Washington Redskins.
Ian Rapoport is reporting that free agent linebacker Zach Brown is a free agent no more. One of the bigger name free agents remaining on the market, Brown has reportedly agreed to terms with the Washington Redskins pending a physical.
Source: The #Redskins have agreed to terms with FA LB Zach Brown, pending a physical. Big-name free agent off the market.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 3, 2017
The news may come as a disappointment to some Miami Dolphins fans, who had hoped signing Brown could help the Dolphins turn into one of the better linebacker corps virtually overnight. Miami has struggled at the linebacker position in recent years. They already signed Lawrence Timmons away from the Steelers, and the hope was that they could ink Brown as well to sweeten the deal.
Brown was looking for his payday this offseason after recording 149 tackles last season with the Buffalo Bills. The Dolphins were not going to give Brown the kind of contract offer he was seeking, but the chance remained that the two sides could come to an agreement. After meeting with the team two weeks ago, it was believed that Brown was mulling offers between Miami and the Raiders.
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Brown had met with Oakland prior to his visit with Miami. He also met with the Bills after his visit in South Florida, but it quickly became apparent that he would not re-sign with his old team. Both the Dolphins and Raiders had contract offers on the table for Brown. Although neither offer was reported with salaries, it’s evident that neither appeased Brown enough to make a quick decision.
Delaying on making a decision evidently paid off for Brown in the end. It was reported early Monday that Brown would visit with the Redskins, and apparently he liked what they had to say. Reports of the deal have not yet been announced, but clearly it has to be to his liking to see him sign the same day.
The Dolphins will now to turn to cheaper options in free agency or the NFL Draft to help address further needs at linebacker.