According to reports, tight end Charles Clay is expected to sign an offer sheet with the Buffalo Bills. The offer sheet is for five years and $38 million with more than $20 million guaranteed. The deal is significantly front loaded in order to have a huge first year cap charge that the Bills hope the Dolphins will be unable to match.
The #Bills' offer to Clay is for 5 yrs and $38 million. More than $20 million guaranteed.
— Vic Carucci (@viccarucci) March 17, 2015
Clay was the only player in the league who was given the transition tag. By doing so, the Miami Dolphins were essentially tendering him a one-year guaranteed contract that would’ve paid him slightly over $7 million. Miami also has the right of first refusal on any offer sheet that came his way from opposing franchises, with five days to match.
In the event the Dolphins don’t match the offer, the Bills will not need to compensate Miami with draft picks like they would if he were given the franchise tag.
The 6’3″, 255 pound pass catcher was drafted in the sixth round by the Dolphins back in 2011 after playing his college ball at Tulsa. While he was with the Golden Hurricane, Clay distinguished himself not just catching passes, but also running the ball, doubling as a fullback. In his junior season, he caught five touchdown passes while also getting into the end zone seven times on the ground.
Slowly but surely he’s emerged as quarterback Ryan Tannehill’s go-to tight end over the past four seasons. His most successful year came in 2013 when he finished with 759 yards and six touchdowns at an 11 yard average per catch. His yardage numbers that year ranked him in a tie for seventh among NFL tight ends.
It became pretty apparent when Miami signed Jordan Cameron from Cleveland last week that Clay likely would be furthering his NFL career elsewhere. The Bills and Browns emerged as possible destinations and early this week Buffalo began to appear as the most likely landing spot for Clay.
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