The Miami Dolphins made a surprising move on Wednesday when they cut former team captain David Long. Selected in the sixth round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans, the West Virginia product overcame his pedestrian draft capital to become a valuable player under former head coach Mike Vrabel. After beginning his career as a rotational player, Long earned a full-time job during the final year of his rookie contract, recording 86 tackles, seven tackles-for-loss, and three quarterback hits in 12 games.
Long turned this success into a two-year, $11 million deal with the Miami Dolphins. While he had a respectable 2023, the linebacker has been one of the worst in the game in 2024. Through 10 weeks of action, Long’s 37.0 PFF grade ranks dead last among all eligible linebackers. Despite his positive locker room presence, the poor play combined with the arrival of fellow linebacker Tyrel Dodson made David Long an easy cut candidate.
While the Miami version of Long can’t help anyone, there is a chance he could find his old form in a better scheme. Looking across the league, the Baltimore Ravens and Los Angeles Chargers seem like the most likely fits for the former sixth-round pick.
The #Dolphins waived LB David Long Jr., who was a team captain at the start of the year.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) November 13, 2024
Ravens, Chargers Could Sign David Long After Unceremonious Cut
The Baltimore Ravens enter Week 11 with an impressive 7-3 record, but they owe most of their success to the offense. Quarterback Lamar Jackson is having arguably the best season of his career while running back Derrick Henry is dominating opponents on the ground. This offense is easily good enough to win it all, but they need the defense to hold up its end of the bargain. The team lost several key players in free agency and didn’t have the resources to find adequate replacements for everyone.
One of the biggest losses was former first-round pick Patrick Queen. After a slow start to his career, the LSU product excelled alongside superstar linebacker Roquan Smith, as the two formed the league’s best linebacker duo. Now with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the heart of Baltimore’s defense hasn’t been the same without Queen. Former third-round pick Trenton Simpson is having a solid season, but Smith himself is having a down year. Head coach John Harbaugh knows how to get the most out of his players, so perhaps Long could play a specialized role that helps bring out the best in all three linebackers.
Stopping the Run
Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh fixed the Los Angeles Chargers defense overnight. After three years of atrocious play under former head coach Brandon Staley, the unit is now among the league’s elite. With Justin Herbert playing like an MVP, this team will be difficult to take down as the season progresses. However, you can never have too much talent, especially when you share a division with the Kansas City Chiefs. Harbaugh believes games are won and lost with the run game, and David Long could solidify one of the few weaknesses on this team.
The linebacker duo of Daiyan Henley and Denzel Perryman isn’t an active liability, but there’s room for improvement. Henley is a solid starter, but his relatively smaller build makes him something of a liability against the run. Perryman, meanwhile, is having a subpar season and could benefit from more time on the bench. At his best, David Long excelled at stopping the run and making plays in the trenches. The Chargers should sign the veteran to the practice squad and see if there’s anything left in his tank. If he can still play, Long can thrive in an early-down role and provide some stability against the run.
Main Photo: Sam Navarro – USA Today Sports
