Safety T.J. McDonald signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins. However, due to an NFL suspension he will not play in the first eight games of the 2017 season. McDonald spent the past four years with the Los Angeles Rams.
Welcome to Miami, T.J. McDonald! https://t.co/qR1Y69ZERF
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) March 31, 2017
T.J. McDonald Signs With Miami
McDonald played all 16 games last season, displaying some rare durability in this league. Through the course of those 16 games he registered 64 tackles, a pair of interceptions, a sack, six passes defended, and seven run stuffs. McDonald has showcased a versatile skill set over these first four years of his career while cementing himself as an anchor in the Rams secondary.
So far in his young NFL career, McDonald has proved to be one of the better talents in the league at the safety position and one of the more durable guys out there. He has never played less than ten games in a season, playing all 16 twice in his four-year career. Through his NFL career McDonald has racked up 285 tackles, five sacks, four interceptions, 18 defended passes, 22 run stuffs, and two blocked kicks. His 22 run stuffs over four seasons are a very good mark for a safety, showcasing McDonald’s talent in the box.
The best statistical season for McDonald came in 2014, when he played like perhaps the top safety in the league that year. He reached career high in tackles (105), sacks (two), passes defended (seven), and run stuffs (eight). In addition, he also blocked both of his career kicks in that season.
Since that breakout sophomore season in 2014 McDonald’s play has mellowed, but not necessarily gotten worse. He has averaged 40 fewer tackles per season and just seven deflections in the past two seasons combined compared to his seven in 2014 alone, but this may be attributed to changes in the personnel around him or tweaks in the scheme. Talent has never been a question for T.J. McDonald and he is sure to make an impact in his new team’s secondary.
