Report: Stephone Anthony Contract Option Declined by Dolphins; Will Hit FA

The Miami Dolphins reportedly declined the fifth-year option for the 2019 season on linebacker Stephone Anthony's contract on Wednesday, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. 

The New Orleans Saints selected the Clemson product in the first round of the 2015 draft, and he signed a four-year deal worth more than $7 million with the option for the 2019 campaign, per Spotrac.

However, the Saints traded him to the Dolphins in September 2017 when he was dealing with a high ankle sprain. Durability became a concern after Anthony played a mere eight games in 2017 and 10 games in 2016 due to knee injuries.

Injuries and a lack of production led to a significant dropoff from what was a head-turning rookie season.

Anthony tallied 112 tackles, two forced fumbles, a sack, a fumble recovery and an interception as a rookie and looked like a potential building block filled with promise for the Saints. It was natural to expect him to continue to progress as he garnered more experience at the NFL level, but better numbers didn't come.

He finished with 16 tackles and zero sacks in 2016 and then followed up with 15 tackles and zero sacks in 2017 with the Dolphins.

While Anthony is still just 25 years old and showed plenty of potential in his first NFL season, the on-field results weren't there for Miami. It apparently wasn't intrigued enough by the possibility he could rediscover his prior form and declined the option accordingly.