Lawrence Timmons to Reportedly Visit Miami Dolphins When Free Agency Opens

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Lawrence Timmons will visit the Miami Dolphins "some time" after free agency officially opens, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reported Wednesday.

Fowler noted Pittsburgh has talked with the linebacker's representatives, "but he looks poised to test [the] market unless he changes his schedule."

Timmons, 30, played college football at Florida State and joined the NFL in 2007, when the Steelers used a first-round pick on him. He developed into one of the league's most consistent and durable defensive playmakers, playing all 16 games every season of his career except 2009, when he appeared in 14.

The 2014 Pro Bowler topped 100 combined tackles in 2016 for the fifth consecutive season and chipped in two interceptions and 2.5 sacks.

Season	Games	Tackles	Sacks	Interceptions	Forced Fumbles
2007	16	13	0.0	0	0
2008	16	65	5.0	1	1
2009	14	78	7.0	0	4
2010	16	135	3.0	2	2
2011	16	93	2.0	1	1
2012	16	106	6.0	3	2
2013	16	126	3.0	2	1
2014	16	132	2.0	0	0
2015	16	119	5.0	1	1
2016	16	114	2.5	2	1

Fowler noted the Dolphins have questions at linebacker after finishing a middling 18th in the league in points allowed per game last season and 29th in total yards allowed. Timmons would add some much-needed veteran leadership to that group.

He would also bring postseason experience to a Dolphins franchise that made the playoffs in 2016 for the first time since 2008 and proceeded to lose their first game to Timmons' Steelers. The linebacker has 14 career postseason games and a Super Bowl XLIII title on his resume. If he goes to Miami, he would look to add to those totals on a different team for the first time in his career.