Sony Michel is reportedly returning to the AFC East
The second wave of NFL free agency has featured a number of former Patriots. Over the weekend, linebacker Kyle Van Noy signed with the Los Angeles Chargers. On Monday, a former Patriots draft pick made his way back to the AFC East.
Running back Sony Michel is signing with the Miami Dolphins, as first reported by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The details of the contract were not immediately made public.
The move is a bit of a homecoming for Michel. He attended American Heritage School is South Florida, where he played football and also ran track.
Michel was drafted by the Patriots in the first round in 2018, one of their two first round picks that year (along with fellow Georgia Bulldog Isaiah Wynn). Michel ran for 931 yards in 13 games as a rookie, then played a pivotal role in the playoffs during the team’s most recent Super Bowl run.
Michel put together another 900 yard season as a sophomore, but then was injuries limited him to just nine games in 2020. Following the additions of Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson in the draft, the Patriots traded Michel to the Los Angeles Rams during training camp last summer for a sixth-round pick in 2022 (used on LSU OL Chasen Hines) and fourth-round pick in 2023.
In a rotational role in LA last year, Michel ran for 845 yards and caught a career-high 21 passes for 128 yards. He scored three touchdowns in the playoffs as the Rams went on to win the Super Bowl.
Now in Miami, Michel enters a running back-friendly offensive system run by former Kyle Shanahan assistant Mike McDaniel. He’s expected to compete for time with Chase Edmonds, Raheem Mostert, and Myles Gaskins.
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