The Miami Dolphins have finally closed the book on the Jesse Davis tackle experiment. The team announced Thursday that Davis and wide receiver Allen Hurns have both been cut — moves that became likely, if not inevitable, after the team upgraded in a big way at those positions this week.
On Tuesday, the Dolphins signed left tackle Terron Armstead and then a day later traded for and extended wide receiver Tyreek Hill.
Miami Dolphins release Jesse Davis, Allen Hurns
Formally, the Dolphins released Davis and cut Hurns with a failed physical designation. Hurns missed each of the last two seasons due to various injuries, including a significant wrist issue that cost him all of 2021.
The roster moves free up $6.2 million in salary cap space for a team that suddenly had very little of it after handing out nearly $200 million in new contracts to Armstead and Hill.
Moving on from Davis is the more significant of the two moves. Davis was a respected team leader and a do-everything contributor to the offensive line.
But he didn’t seem to do much of anything besides play guard particularly well. The last coaching staff inexplicably continued to play him at tackle, even though he was objectively below average at doing so. He gave up 8 sacks in 1,064 offensive snaps in 2021.
Davis’ release leaves things pretty clear for Miami
His release leaves the Dolphins with a pretty clear plan on their offensive line. Armstead will play left tackle, and free agent signing Connor Williams will presumably be the left guard. The team will still likely bring in competition for Michael Deiter at center.
As for the right side of the offensive line? Expect some fierce competition.
Robert Hunt will likely end up as the team’s starting right guard, but he’s also played well at right tackle. In fact, one source familiar with the coaching staff’s thinking believes that Hunt will begin spring practice at right tackle, which would create an open competition at right guard. If the Dolphins move him to tackle, Solomon Kindley and Austin Jackson are among the players who would compete there.
If it’s not Hunt, then Liam Eichenberg will likely be the team’s right tackle, meaning Jackson and Kindley would be backups. Jackson, a first-round pick in 2020, will also get a chance to compete at right tackle, the Miami Herald reported Thursday.