The Miami Dolphins have placed the Transition tag on defensive end Olivier Vernon, per team sources.
The tag means Vernon, who would have become a hot commodity on the open market, will cost the Dolphins $12.7 million in 2016, all of which would be applied against the salary cap.
The move will determine the team’s free agent moves going forward, as Miami doesn’t have a lot of room to maneuver without addressing several impending contracts. The Dolphins want to keep running back Lamar Miller in house, and have several holes in the defensive back seven and offensive line, but unless they are able to negotiate a long-term contract with Vernon, or restructure/cut other contracts, they may not have the room to do so.