Miami Dolphins Sign Seventh-Round Pick Chris McCoy, Waive Brian Johnston

The Miami Dolphins have signed the first of their eight draft picks in 2010, inking outside linebacker Chris McCoy to a four-year contract Monday.

McCoy (6-2, 245) was one of two outside linebackers selected by the Dolphins in April, along with second-rounder Koa Misi of Utah.

The 2009 Sun Belt Co-Defensive Player of the Year, McCoy is one of six outside linebackers competing for what will likely be five spots at the position.

McCoy's biggest competition will be Quentin Moses and Erik Walden, who have largely served special teams roles in recent years. It's on special teams that McCoy will have to excel.

Should McCoy not make the 53-man roster out of the gate, he will likely be a strong candidate for the practice squad.

The move comes four days after the Dolphins waived outside linebacker Brian Johnston, who was signed to a future contract by the team in January. Johnston had recently missed a handful of organized team activities with an excused absence.

With the moves, the Dolphins now have 72 players active, one unsigned free agent (running back Ronnie Brown), and seven unsigned draft picks.

As always, you can check out my updated projected depth chart here .


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Chris J. Nelson is a journalism major at Georgia State University. He operates his own Miami Dolphins Web site, The Miami Dolphins Spotlight , and can be followed on Twitter here .