Spending the final 13 games on injured reserve didn’t appear to cost former Pittsburgh Steelers guard James Daniels in the free agent market.
Daniels agreed to a three-year, $24 million contract with the Miami Dolphins on Monday, a deal that won’t become official until the start of the new NFL calendar year Wednesday at 4 p.m. The contract was reported by ESPN and NFL Network.
Daniels has seven years of NFL experience, including the past three with the Steelers, yet he is just 27 years old. He became the second Steelers offensive lineman to exit in free agency, joining left tackle Dan Moore, who signed with Tennessee.
Daniels started all 17 games in 2022 after joining the Steelers on a three-year, $26.5 million deal. He started 15 games in 2023 and the first four of this past season before sustaining an Achilles injury. Daniels spent the rest of the year on injured reserve.
Daniels spent his first four seasons with the Chicago Bears. The Steelers drafted Mason McCormick in the fourth round last spring with the idea of eventually replacing Daniels in the lineup at right guard. McCormick started 14 games last year, including the final 13 at right guard after Daniels’ injury.
Unless the Steelers add a free agent, McCormick is expected to be the starter at right guard again this season.