PFT: Dolphins Trade Justin Smiley to Jaguars
By admin
Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com reports that the Miami Dolphins will trade guard Justin Smiley to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Compensation was not disclosed, and Florio adds the trade is contingent upon Smiley passing a physical.
A second-round pick (46th overall) out of Alabama by the San Francisco 49ers in 2004, Smiley has started 73 of 83 regular season games during his six-year career. Signed to a five-year, $25 million dollar contract by the Dolphins before the 2008 season, Smiley has started 24 of 27 games for Miami over the last two seasons.
Smiley's right shoulder, which was initially operated on in 2007, hasn't fully recovered, requiring an additional procedure last off-season. Smiley's shoulder was an issue throughout the 2009 season, as well. With questions about how that shoulder would hold up over the course of another season, the Dolphins sought to find a trade partner for Smiley and the nearly $13 million dollars remaining on his contract.
To prevent injury, the Dolphins had kept Smiley off the field during their "Organized Team Activity" sessions and mini-camps. Third-year guard Donald Thomas was in Smiley's left guard spot with the first-team offensive line, while veteran guard Richie Incognito worked on the right side.
Journeyman Kynan Forney is projected to start at left guard for the Jaguars. If healthy, Smiley would be a short-term upgrade at the position.

