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Cornerback Brent Grimes re-signs with Miami Dolphins before he hits free agency
Another NFL week started with one more top free agent being taken off the market before other teams had a chance to make him an offer.
Cornerback Brent Grimes was set to be one of the top defensive backs in free agency, but Miami never let him get there. The team announced it had signed Grimes to a multi-year extension.
The team had the option to give Grimes the franchise tag before the deadline at 4 p.m. Eastern time on Monday, but the two sides hammered out a deal to avoid that.
[Be sure to check out Shutdown Corner's NFL free-agent rankings. Click here for the list of offensive players, and click here for the list of defensive and special teams players]
Grimes, who spent his first six seasons in Atlanta before coming over to Miami, had a fantastic 2013 season. He was Pro Football Focus' second-ranked cornerback, behind Tampa Bay's Darrelle Revis. In a league that loves passing the ball, a cornerback with Grimes' ability would have been a hot commodity in free agency.
The Dolphins have some holes to fill this offseason, but at least they don't have to worry about their No. 1 cornerback spot.
Meanwhile, after a flurry of signings late last week and Grimes' signing on Monday, the NFL free-agent market is a little weaker. That's good news for the players who will hit the market on March 11, especially with the salary cap going up about $10 million from last year.
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