Clay, 26, had 58 catches for 605 yards and three touchdowns last season. Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports
The Buffalo Bills signed restricted free agent tight end Charles Clay to a huge offer sheet in an effort to lure him from the division-rival Miami Dolphins, multiple media outlets reported Tuesday.
According to the Buffalo News, the Bills’ offer is for five years and $38 million, with more than $20 million guaranteed. Clay would make $24.5 million over the first two seasons of the contract.
The Miami Herald reported that the Dolphins weren’t offering Clay more than $7 million per season in recent talks.
Because the Dolphins used the transition tag on Clay, they have five days to match the Bills’ offer. If Clay signed back with Miami under the transition-tag tender, he would have received a $7 million salary for 2015.
Structuring the offer to Clay with a high salary-cap hit is 2016 is something of a poison pill for the Dolphins. Miami recently signed defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh to a free agent deal that includes a $6.1 million salary-cap hit in 2015 but a $28.6 million hit in 2016.
Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill, center Mike Pouncey and defensive end Olivier Vernon also will be in the market for new contracts heading into 2016.
Clay, 26, had 58 catches for 605 yards and three touchdowns last season. A sixth-round pick by the Dolphins in 2011 out of Tulsa, Clay enjoyed his best season in 2013, making 69 receptions for 759 yards and six touchdowns.
Miami already has a backup plan in case Clay exits: The Dolphins signed free agent tight end Jordan Cameron to a two-year, $15 million deal Thursday. Cameron formerly played with the Cleveland Browns.
