The Miami Dolphins have two holdouts of mandatory minicamp, tight end Jonnu Smith and cornerback Jalen Ramsey, head coach Mike McDaniel said on Tuesday.
Ramsey's absence is excused, per McDaniel, and therefore, he will not be fined. The Dolphins are in the process of trying to trade the Pro Bowl cornerback out of town, so it makes sense that they wouldn't require his presence during minicamp.
Smith is the more interesting situation at this stage.
The veteran tight end is seeking a new contract in Miami after a Pro Bowl campaign in which he set a club tight end record with 884 receiving yards on 88 catches with eight touchdowns. Smith is set to earn $4.1 million in 2025.
After word first floated that the Dolphins had some discussions about trading Smith, agent Drew Rosenhaus said that the tight end's preference was to remain in Miami. However, the chatter has persisted as no deal has come to fruition.
McDaniel has been effusive in praising Smith as a vital cog in the Dolphins offense. Miami would be hard-pressed to fill that role if it were to trade the 29-year-old. Money talks, however.
Skipping mandatory minicamp is a strong statement by Smith, who will be subject to more than $100,000 in fines for missing the three-day session.
