Chris Culliver

Chris Culliver signs with Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins signed cornerback Chris Culliver to a one-year contract.

What It Means:

The deal is reportedly worth "up to" $5 million. With a smoking crater behind starter and top boundary defender Byron Maxwell on the depth chart, the Dolphins had to do something. Culliver is coming off a torn ACL that cost him his 2015 season, but is still only 28 (this month). He had a strong 2014 for the San Francisco 49ers. If Culliver is healthy, he'll allow the Dolphins to bring rookie Xavien Howard (knee) along slowly while moving on from the notion of Tony Lippett starting. It's still not a good situation.

Miami ranked just 30th in Adjusted Defensive Net Expected Points (NEP) per play in 2015. The Dolphins were a woeful 31st in Adjusted Defensive Passing NEP per play.