Neville Gallimore reportedly turned down more money elsewhere to join the Miami Dolphins for the chance to work with defensive line coach Austin Clark.
NEW: The Dolphins are expected to add defensive lineman Neville Gallimore, per @RapSheet.
Some help in the trenches! pic.twitter.com/CqGtVjxChF
— Dolphin Nation (@Dolphin_Nation) March 13, 2024
Agent Richard Roberts tells me it's a 1-year deal for Neville and he turned down a bit more elsewhere. Wants to play here and work with DL coach Austin Clark, with whom he has good relationship over many years. Will compete at Wilkins' spot but also can play NT (Davis old spot). https://t.co/l84FaNYUEO
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) March 13, 2024
Gallimore reportedly will sign a one-year contract to join the Dolphins after playing last season for the Dallas Cowboys. A third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft (No. 82 overall), the University of Oklahoma product played 52 games over four seasons with the Cowboys. Last season, he had 16 combined tackles and one sack while appearing in all 17 regular season games as a reserve defensive lineman. He made a career-high 33 combined tackles in the 2022 campaign.
The 27-year-old is expected to add depth and could start for the Dolphins, who lost defensive linemen Christian Wilkins and Raekwon Davis as free agents.
Clark has been with the Dolphins since 2020 and was promoted to defensive line coach in 2021. Under Clark’s guidance, Wilkins developed into one of the game’s top defensive tackles. After failing to come to terms to re-sign with Miami, Wilkins cashed in with a four-year deal reportedly worth $110 million with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Gallimore will be one of the players looked at to help replenish the Dolphins defense, which also has lost cornerback Xavien Howard and linebacker Jerome Baker. Miami reportedly has agreed to terms to add linebackers Jordyn Brooks, Anthony Walker and Shaquil Barrett, safety Jordan Poyer and cornerback Siran Neal as free agents.
The unit will be coached by new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, who is replacing Vic Fangio. Weaver, a former NFL defensive end, served as the defensive line coach for the Baltimore Ravens before joining the Dolphins.
He is the third defensive coordinator in head coach Mike McDaniel’s three seasons. Josh Boyer was in the position for McDaniel’s first season in 2022.
That turnover has not kept the Dolphins from making the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. Last season, Miami was 11-6 in the regular season before losing to the eventual Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the playoffs.
Gallimore and the rest of the new additions will now try to help Miami get its first playoff win in more than 20 years.
