Charles Clay: Latest News, Rumors and Speculation Surrounding Free-Agent TE

Charles Clay was expected to be a major target at the tight end position in free agency, but the Miami Dolphins have used the transition tag on him. Clay has signed an offer sheet from the Buffalo Bills, though the Dolphins have five days to match it.

Continue for updates.

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Clay Signs Offer Sheet from Bills, Dolphins Reportedly Won't Match

Thursday, March 19

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk reported that the Dolphins would not be matching the Bills' offer sheet for Clay, and Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald confirmed that report.

On March 17, Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News reported Clay had signed an offer sheet from the Bills, which the Dolphins have five days to match. Carucci reported the offer sheet is for five years and $38 million, with $20 million guaranteed.

Andrew Abramson of the Palm Beach Post reported that the Dolphins may not think Clay is worth that kind of cash:

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“He’s not worth $20 million guaranteed,” one Dolphins source said of Clay.

Still, Vice President of Football Operations Mike Tannenbaum and General Manager Dennis Hickey could spend the next few days weighing all their potential options in free agency before deciding whether to spend big on Clay.

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Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports reported Clay's offer includes $24.5 million in the first two years and a roster bonus of $10 million when the next league year begins.

NFL.com's Michael Silver reported the Dolphins' final offer to Clay was for $27 million over the next four years, with under $15 million guaranteed.

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Dolphins Losing Patience with Clay, Contracts Will Need Work to Make Room for Potential Signing

Tuesday, March 17

"#Dolphins problem w/ keeping Clay (or signing anyone, really) is $ spike in yr 2 of Ndamukong Suh deal. Any new contracts need a workaround," Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports reported.

On March 14, Tim Graham of The Buffalo News reported that the Dolphins are prepared to move on from Clay but will have the final say in the situation:

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Bills Reportedly Have '90 Percent Chance' of Signing Clay

Monday, March 16

"A source close to the situation insisted Monday that, despite the inactivity since Clay's visit to Western New York last week, the Bills' interest in him has not wavered, and they are going to follow through with plans to sign him to an offer sheet," The Buffalo News' Vic Carucci reported.

Carucci added, "The source put the Bills' chance of landing Clay at '90 percent.'"

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Bills Expect Clay to Sign Contract Offer

Friday, March 13

Robinson reported that the Bills are extending Clay their contract offer Saturday and believe they'll land the tight end.  

Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reported that the Bills are planning to front-load their offer sheet to Clay. 

"The Buffalo Bills have a contract offer already prepared in a bid to sign Miami Dolphins tight end Charles Clay once the NFL's free-agency period opens Tuesday," John Wawrow of The Associated Press reported on March 10.

Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News added an interesting detail:

General manager Doug Whaley commented on the situation, via the team's website:

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That’s what we’re determining now with the visit and have him talk to the coaches because it has to be a mutual thing. It’s up to him which offer he takes back. That’s why it’s important for him to get in here, talk to the coaches, take a physical and get a general feeling of what we can offer him and he can offer us.

Our strategy is if we do decide to do something like that you put your best foot forward and hope for the best.

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On March 8, Omar Kelly of the Sun Sentinel noted that the Bills were likely to make Clay "a substantial offer the Miami Dolphins might not match, according to a league source."  

On Feb. 22, Carucci reported on the Bills' interest in Clay in free agency:

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How will they go about getting one? The first option is the free-agent market, which opens March 10. The Bills are known to be taking a hard look at one possible free agent from the AFC East, Charles Clay of the Miami Dolphins. ...

At 6-foot-3 and 255 pounds, Clay, whom the Dolphins made a sixth-round draft pick from Tulsa in 2011, offers the athletic versatility to occasionally line up as a fullback and function as a lead blocker, an important element to the run-oriented offense the Bills plan to employ.

He would figure to be an upgrade for the Bills, who want more of play-making impact from a group comprised of Scott Chandler, Chris Gragg, MarQueis Gray, and pending unrestricted free agent Lee Smith.

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Dolphins Working on Long-Term Deal

Friday, March 13

The Dolphins traded for Kenny Stills Friday, but that doesn't mean Miami isn't still trying to sign Clay to a long-term extension, per Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network: "The #Dolphins are still trying to sign TE Charles Clay to a long-term extension. Trade gives them more cap room."

On March 12, Miami Dolphins Executive Vice President of Football Operations Mike Tannenbaum spoke about Clay as he explores his options, via Andrew Abramson of The Palm Beach Post:

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"Obviously he has the right to visit other teams and he's doing that," Tannenbaum said. "So while he's checking out his options, we're checking out ours."

Once Clay receives an offer the Dolphins will have seven days to match. But for now the Dolphins have no choice but to wait while Clay takes up a $7 million cap hit and Miami tries to find value free agents after signing Ndamukong Suh to a mega-deal.

"I'd love for it to be done sooner rather than later," Tannenbaum said. "But that's probably a better question for Charles and his representatives."

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Abramson added after the Dolphins signed Jordan Cameron that "Cameron is a Dolphin. It’s unclear what that means for Clay although he most likely will sign with Buffalo or Cleveland."

On March 2, Miami announced it had used the transition tag on Clay. Pro Football Talk noted that the Dolphins don't intend to rescind the tag.

ESPN's Adam Schefter first reported the news and noted the value of the tag is $7.071 million.

NFL insider Adam Caplan of ESPN speculated on what this means for the teams that have already expressed interest in Clay this offseason:

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Simms: Packers Should Target Clay

Monday, March 2

Chris Simms of Bleacher Report weighed in on the Packers' offseason and potentially targeting Clay in free agency:

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Should Bengals Target Clay?

Thursday, Feb. 12

Simms weighed in on Clay as a target for the Bengals in free agency:

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Clay Among Most Coveted Free-Agent TEs

Sunday, Jan. 25

Heading into his age-26 season and coming off two straight 50-plus-catch seasons, Clay was bound to generate interest on the free-agent market. Clay, a sixth-round pick in 2011, has spent his first four seasons in Miami. He's been the Dolphins' primary starter at tight end in the last two years, posting 58 catches for 605 yards and three touchdowns in 2014.

While those numbers don't look impressive on the surface, Clay was battling through a season-long knee injury and missed two games. The Dolphins also moved away from making the tight end a focal point in their offense, emphasizing Ryan Tannehill's ability to get the ball out quickly to his receivers.

"It hasn't been easy having so much going on and not being there for my teammates when I want to so bad. It has been a learning process that teaches me how much I love the game," Clay said, per Kelly.

When given the opportunity, Clay is an effective pass-catcher. Only three tight ends had better drop rates, per Pro Football Focus, and he was solid whenever the Dolphins would have him lining up in the slot.

Pass-blocking efficiency is something Clay might need to improve upon, but he's a starter-level tight end whose soft hands make him a threat inside the red zone and on third down.

Follow Tyler Conway on Twitter @tylerconway22.