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Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Julius Thomas reportedly passed his physical with the Miami Dolphins to clear the way for the expected trade to be finalized next month. According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, Thomas "got the thumbs up" from the Dolphins after the exam and that his visit with the team will wrap up on Wednesday. He visited the Dolphins' facility and met a couple of coaches.
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The Jaguars plan to send Thomas to Miami for a seventh-round pick in this year's draft but the trade can't be officially announced until March 9, the day the NFL begins its new league year and the trade period begins.
The Dolphins need a productive tight end because their position players combined for just 551 yards, second-fewest in the NFL. Current Miami tight ends Jordan Cameron and Dion Sims will be unrestricted free agents in March.
The Jaguars expected big things from Thomas when they signed him to a five-year contract worth $46 million with $24 million guaranteed in March 2015. But he did not live up to expectations after having 12 touchdown receptions for the Denver Broncos in 2014
Thomas had 46 receptions for 455 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games with the Jaguars in 2015, and added 30 catches for 281 yards and four scores in nine games in 2016.
The 6-foot-5, 256-pound Thomas, who turns 29 in June, missed 11 games in those two seasons because of injuries.
Thomas is guaranteed $3 million of his $7.1 million salary for 2017, which includes a $100,000 workout bonus. He is currently scheduled to make $8.6 million in 2018 and $9 million in 2019 but the Dolphins likely will restructure his contract.
The Dolphins and Jaguars are also in trade talks involving Miami starting left tackle Branden Albert. Albert might still be traded to Jacksonville, but it would be part of a separate deal.
The teams reportedly agreed to a trade that would send Albert to Jacksonville for a late-round draft pick in 2018. The compensation is likely a seventh-round pick.
