Dolphins Remove Transition Tag From DE Olivier Vernon

Update:

The Miami Dolphins have announced that they’ve withdrawn the transition tag from DE Olivier Vernon.

We have withdrawn the Transition Player Designation on DE Olivier Vernon.

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) March 9, 2016

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ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that the Dolphins have pulled the transition tag from DE Olivier Vernon, making him a free agent.

• Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports the Giants, Falcons, Jaguars and Cardinals are all “very interested” in signing Vernon.

The transition tag would have run the Dolphins $12.734 million for the 2016 while giving them the ability to match any offer Vernon signs on the open market.

However, it appears as though they’ll allow him to sign elsewhere and take a compensatory pick in 2017.

Vernon, 25, played out the final year of his four-year, $2,818,080 rookie contract and is one of the best available defensive ends in a relatively limited pool of pass rushers.

In 2015, Vernon appeared in 15 games and recorded 55 tackles and seven sacks for the Dolphins. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 1 defensive end in a 4-3 system out of 51 qualifying players.

We have Vernon featured in our Top 100 – 2016 Free Agents list.