The Miami Dolphins will sign a former New England Patriots receiver to fill the void created by Jarvis Landry’s department, according to a league source.
No terms on the deal have been reported for Danny Amendola, a nine-year veteran who has spent the past five seasons with the Patriots.
Amendola, who began his career with the St. Louis Rams, has started 29 of 80 possible games for the Patriots, contributing 2,383 yards and 12 touchdowns on his 230 receptions.
Last season, Amendola caught 61 passes for 659 yards and scored two touchdowns.
Amendola is also an experienced return specialist, which could mean he’ll push receiver/returner Jakeem Grant for his role. He handled 27 of New England’s punt returns last season, contributing 231 return yards, which averages out to 8.6 yards per return.
But the 32-year-old has battled numerous injuries throughout his career, and that includes a series of concussions.
Amendola becomes the second receiver the Dolphins have agreed to terms with since the free-agent negotiating period opened on Monday. The Dolphins also agreed to sign former Chiefs receiver Albert Wilson to a three-year deal worth $24 million deal.
Wilson, who played quarterback at Port St. Lucie (Fla.) High School and wide receiver at Georgia State, had career bests in receptions (42), yards (554) and touchdowns (three) last season for the Chiefs.
The Dolphins need help at receiver after trading Landry to the Cleveland Browns for a 2018 fourth-round pick and a 2019 seventh-round pick after not being able to agree to terms on a long-term deal with the three-time Pro Bowler.
While Amendola and Wilson are both best utilized as slot receivers they each have experience playing on the boundary, which could help them fit in well with DeVante Parker and Kenny Stills, Miami’s returning starters.
No deals agreed to with free agents can become official until Wednesday at 4 p.m., which is the first day of the new league year, and each player must first pass a physical to finalize the contract.