The Miami Dolphins have signed the eighth member of the team’s 11-player 2020 draft class.
Former Navy standout Malcolm Perry, who excelled as both a slotback and quarterback in Navy’s triple-option offense while amassing 4,359 rushing yards, has signed his four-year contract according to Jason Bernstein, his agent.
Perry will likely receive a $97,000 signing bonus on the four-year, $3,392,324 deal when the deal becomes official.
Offensive linemen Austin Jackson, the team’s second of three first-round picks, Robert Hunt, the Dolphins second-round pick, and cornerback Noah Igbinoghene, the final first-round pick, are the three remaining Dolphins draftees unsigned.
Jackson, the USC standout who was drafted with the 18th pick, will likely receive a four-year deal that pays him $13,640,353 million with a signing bonus worth $7.5 million when he signs his contract with Miami.
Igbinoghene, the Auburn standout the Dolphins used the 30th pick to select, will likely receive a four-year deal that pays him $11,254,202, and gives him a signing bonus worth roughly $5.7 million.
Hunt, the Louisiana-Lafayette right guard/tackle taken with the 39th pick in the second round, is slated to earn $8,065,742 over the first four years of his deal with a signing bonus worth $3.4 million. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, defensive linemen Raekwon Davis, Jason Strowbridge, offensive guard Solomon Kindley, long snapper Blake Ferguson were signed last month. Perry’s signing comes after the Department of Defense approved his request to pursue the new professional sports policy that was announced late last year. According to the Capital Gazette, Secretary of Defense Mark Esper signed Directive-Type Memorandum-19-011 that was titled “Military Service Academy Graduates Seeking to Participate in Professional Sports” and dated Nov. 8, 2019.
Perry received Marine Corps Ground as a service selection, but was not commissioned as an officer upon graduating from the Naval Academy. He maintained midshipman status until receiving approval of his waiver request.
“Obviously, I’m very happy it has been approved and looking forward the next step,” Perry told the Capital Gazette Newspapers. “I’m ready to focus on football.” Most NFL scouts envision Perry as a multi-faceted player capable of lining up in the backfield and being a threat running and catching passes. The Dolphins have listed him as a tailback, but Perry admits he’s spent the most work this offseason catching passes and working as a receiver.
Perry finished his collegiate career with 40 rushing touchdowns, which ranks fourth in programme history.
As a senior he set a Football Bowl Subdivision record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 2,017 and scored 21 touchdowns. He ran for 100 yards or more in 11 of 13 games, setting another single-season school record.
Perry also displayed the ability to return kickoffs and punts while piling up 5,320 all-purpose yards.
He’ll likely compete with Kalen Ballage, Patrick Laird, Myles Gaskin and Chandler Cox for the two of three spots behind Jordan Howard and Matt Breida on the Dolphins depth chart. But it’s possible he could spend his first NFL season on Miami’s practice squad while he learns to play a new position. But his performance in training camp will likely determine that.
Former Navy standout Malcolm Perry. (TNS)
