Report: Dolphins interested in C.J. Spiller

The Buffalo Bills continued their aggressive offseason by working out a trade for three-time Pro Bowl running back LeSean McCoy. Buffalo will send linebacker Kiko Alonso to the Philadelphia Eagles in a move that cannot be made official until next week.

The fallout from this trade means running back and former Bills first-round pick C.J. Spiller will not return to Buffalo. The pending free agent is set to hit the open market on March 10.

According to ESPN's Josina Anderson, the Miami Dolphins are among several teams interested in Spiller. Miami is searching for another tailback to pair with starter Lamar Miller, who rushed for 1,099 yards and eight touchdowns last season.

Is Spiller a good fit for Miami? My reaction is mixed.

Spiller's skills and running style works well with the quick-hitting offense Miami wants under second-year offensive coordinator Bill Lazor. Spiller is a home run hitter who has averaged 5.0 yards per carry over his five-year career in Buffalo. The Dolphins like to spread the field with three- and four-receiver sets to create running lanes for quicker running backs. Spiller makes sense for those reasons.

But on the other hand, Spiller and Miller are similar players and Spiller is less durable. He's missed eight games the past two seasons due to injuries, and although the market for running backs isn't great, Spiller wants to be well compensated in free agency. The Dolphins have too many larger needs (linebacker, defensive tackle, safety, guard, cornerback) to overspend for a backup running back.

The Dolphins are better off finding a running back with power that is much cheaper in the NFL draft. This is a deep position this year with good talent in the second, third and maybe fourth rounds.

Spiller is a dynamic talent when healthy and should help a team next season. But the Dolphins shouldn't press and overspend to sign another Lamar Miller clone.


(espn.com)