One of HBCU football’s longest-tenured NFL veterans, Terron Armstead has agreed to a restructured contract on the opening day of NFL free agency to stay with the Miami Dolphins for the 2024 season.
The 12-year NFL offensive tackle is 33 years old and was unsure of his return to football after another season hampered by injuries in 2023. Armstead said that he “‘Hadn’t even started the process” when asked about his future at the Pro Bowl games in February.
“Just taking time away from the game,” Armstead told NFL.com. “It was a long season, up-and-down season for myself, physically. Getting away coming out of the playoff loss to the Chiefs, I haven’t even started that process. I’ve just been resting, recovering, and enjoying family.”
Armstead came into the 2024 league year with three years remaining on his original five-year deal he signed with Miami as the top free-agent offensive tackle in 2022.
His new, restructured agreement is expected to lower the cap hit for the former University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff star, helping the Dolphins ease their more than $23 million negative cap situation.
Terron Armstead Armstead was selected 75th overall in the third round of the 2013 NFL draft by the New Orleans Saints and was the cornerstone of the Saint’s offensive line before signing a five-year deal with the Miami Dolphins worth up to $87.5 million in 2022.
Although he’s missed 11 games in two seasons for the Dolphins, Bobby Kownack of NFL.com writes that “Armstead remains a force and a tremendous anchor for any offensive line,” and adds that the five-time Pro Bowler, “is one of the league’s premier pass blockers when healthy,” which is backed up by Armstead’s 72.6 PFF run-blocking grade last season.
Sports Illustrated’s All Dolphin Fan Nation page reported that GM Chris Grier addressed Armstead’s status during his media session with the Dolphins writers who traveled to Indianapolis for the scouting combine.
“Terron and I had a long conversation before he left for the Pro Bowl,” Grier said on Feb. 28. “He said he wanted to be very fair to us. I completely respect it because I think he’s earned that right. We just said we we’re going to talk before the start of the league year and free agency happened and he was going to let us know with plenty of time where it is, so it doesn’t affect us. We’re preparing either way. You have to. I love Terron and would love to have him back. But listen, he’s done so much in this league and what he battled through last year to play for us, I really respect him and am really appreciative of him saying that he was going to let us know well before free agency started so we can plan.”