Brent Grimes is quietly still remaining on the market. While Nnamdi Asomugha is generating all of the cornerback interest, Grimes will prove very valuable to whichever team decides to take him. It was thought a deal was in place for him to join the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but a formal contract was never offered and he remained a free agent. Now, the Miami Dolphins are making a strong pull at Grimes to add to a depleted secondary.
Grimes suffered a season-ending Achilles tear in Week 1 during the Atlanta Falcons' game against the Kansas City Chiefs. While he has come out and said his recovery is ahead of schedule and he will be ready come the start of training camps, it seems the injury is causing many teams to overlook him. The Cleveland Browns were another team to take a serious look at Grimes without ever offering him a deal.
Grimes has the numbers to show that he has the ability to be an elite cornerback in the league. Between 2009-11, Grimes piled up 12 interceptions while with the Falcons. He played all 16 games in his first two years in the league and then 12 in 2011. Grimes went undrafted in 2006 and played a short stint in NFL Europe before signing to Atlanta a year later.
The Dolphins are in need of a secondary upgrade. Miami's defense ranked 27th in the NFL last year, allowing 248.4 passing yards per game. Most league quarterbacks completed 58.8 percent of their passes against the Dolphins' defense. The team lost cornerback Sean Smith to free agency when he signed with the Chiefs, leaving Miami with a whole to fill.
The Atlanta Falcons still stand a chance to re-sign Grimes the longer he remains on the market. While they do have Asante Samuel and Robert McClain, the Falcons are looking to add one more body in their secondary.
Most teams are hesitant to sign Grimes to a long-term deal due to the injury and the questions surrounding his overall health. Miami reportedly has a long-term offer in place for the cornerback which could put them ahead of the pack. Do not rule Atlanta out however since Grimes is most familiar with that team.