The Miami Dolphins are signing veteran Rey Maualuga to a one-year contract, a move meant to reinforce a linebacker corps following the loss of rookie Raekwon McMillan to a season-ending knee injury.
Maualuga is expected to be the team’s middle linebacker, playing primarily on run downs.
Maualuga, 30, agreed to a deal that will pay him $900,000 in base salary (the minimum for a ninth-year veteran) and an $80,000 guaranteed bonus. The Dolphins will invoke the minimum salary benefit, which essentially means the nine-year veteran will count $695,000 against the team’s salary cap.
The Dolphins previously used the MSB on cornerback Alterruan Verner in order to diminish the salary cap hit although not the actual salary for the eighth-year veteran.