Donald Butler to Dolphins: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

Following a disappointing 2015 season, linebacker Donald Butler is set to start a new chapter in his NFL career, as he signed a contract with the Miami Dolphins Tuesday, the team announced.

Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald was the first to report the news, and it was later confirmed by Omar Kelly of the Sun-Sentinel.

Butler served as a starter for most of his first four NFL seasons with the San Diego Chargers, but his play dropped off and his playing time diminished last season.

Although he appeared in all 16 games for only the second time in five years last season, Butler made just nine starts and finished the campaign with a career-low 43 tackles to go along with one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and 0.5 sacks.

The Bolts cut bait with Butler after the 2015 season, leaving them with a dead cap hit of over $9 million, according to Spotrac.com.

Butler didn't catch on anywhere during the offseason, but he became an attractive option more recently for the linebacker-starved Dolphins.

While his play undoubtedly dropped off in the past two seasons, Butler has 62 starts, seven sacks, three interceptions and nearly 400 tackles to his credit in the NFL.

Even if the Dolphins don't plan to utilize Butler in a starting role, he should provide quality depth and has shown the capability to step in as a starter when needed.

Butler is still relatively young at just 27 years of age, and if he can come anywhere close to regaining the form he displayed in 2013, he will be a major steal.

The risk attached to signing Butler is low at this juncture, as he provides Miami with a solid veteran presence in their linebacker corps at a low price.

While the Dolphins have a talented defense, they have some question marks at linebacker behind the starting trio of Kiko Alonso, Koa Misi and Jelani Jenkins.

Butler is solid insurance should any of them get injured, and he could add some pass-rushing acumen to the table as well in support of Cameron Wake and Mario Williams.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter.