The Dolphins were reportedly close to a deal keeping defensive tackle Randy Starks in Miami on Wednesday morning.
Mike Garafolo of FOX Sports reports that the deal is done on Wednesday afternoon. Per Garafolo, it’s a two-year, $12 million deal for the 10-year NFL veteran and six-year member of the Dolphins defensive line.
With Paul Soliai jumping to Atlanta, retaining Starks became an even bigger priority for the Dolphins. They’ve also signed former Texans defensive tackle Earl Mitchell and the duo should make up the interior of the defensive line in the 2014 season.
Starks, who ranked 29th on PFT’s Hot 100 list of free agents, has been a durable player for the Dolphins, never missing a game in his six years with the team, and has been productive against both the run and the pass. He’ll turn 31 in December, so the length of the pact should work well for the team as it will give them some time to identify and acquire a potential replacement before Starks moves on by either his choice or the team’s decision.