The Miami Dolphins could look at the trade or release of Rishard Mathews this offseason, as the team has added Kenny Stills and Greg Jennings along with DeVante Parker at wide receiver with Jarvis Landry for Ryan Tannehill and this comes as the wideout has reported for OTA workouts following reports that he wanted to be released or traded in 2015.
The Dolphins are in "win now" mode and that is why the team has been so active in the offseason, adding names like Ndamukong Suh, Jordan Cameron, Kenny Stills and Greg Jennings. According to the Palm Beach Post, Matthews has shown up to OTA workouts, which start for the Dolphins this week and continue in early June. Earlier in May reports came out that Matthews wanted to be moved, as the Miami Herald reported that Matthews felt he would be buried on the depth chart.
Matthews had a solid season last year and the Dolphins made a number of changes at the position this offseason, getting rid of Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson. Wallace was traded while Hartline and Gibson were released and this came after quarterback Ryan Tannehill had his best season in his three year career. The team brought in Kenny Stills with a trade, signed Greg Jennings and also drafted DeVante Parker, which likely will push Matthews down the depth chart.
Jarvis Landry had a strong rookie season and is the starter, while Stills and Parker likely will battle with Jennings for the number two and three WR positions on the roster. Matthews is looking to be a fourth or fifth receiver at best with the Dolphins and that likely is the nexus of his discontent. Last season Matthews made just 12 catches for 135 yards in 14 games and his best season with the team came in 2013 when he had 41 catches for 448 yards and two TDs.
Matthews was a seventh round pick a few years ago and if the team doesn't end up trading Matthews, they could release him ahead of or after training camp this summer. Matthews stopped coming to offseason workouts earlier this year following the draft, but he showed up for OTAs and that could mean he is willing to stick it out. Matthews did not bank on any of the promise he showed in 2013 last season and that could give the Dolphins some pause about his future. If Matthews looks good in camp, he could end up as a depth option behind the main starters for Miami.
Matthews barely costs anything for the Dolphins and while he may be unhappy right now, things could change over the summer, especially if someone goes down with an injury. Ndamukong Suh showed up to team activities after getting signed and that was a happy development for the Dolphins, as he often skipped workouts in Detroit. Matthews comes in cheap at $660,000 in salary this year and he is set to be a free agent in 2016. The team could try and get a low draft pick for Matthews, but keeping him for now in case and injury happens isn't the worst idea.
