MIAMI DOLPHINS SIGN TWO TO FREE AGENT CONTRACTS
Download PDF version
February 19, 2016
MIAMI DOLPHINS SIGN TWO TO FREE AGENT CONTRACTS
MIAMI – The Miami Dolphins today announced that the team has signed cornerback Chimdi Chekwa and wide receiver A.J. Cruz to free agent contracts.
Chekwa played four seasons (2011-14) for the Oakland Raiders and appeared in 32 games with four starts. He totaled 32 tackles (28 solo), four passes defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. Chekwa was signed by New England as an unrestricted free agent in 2015 and later signed with the Raiders again before training camp but did not participate in any games. He entered the league as a fourth round (113th overall) draft choice by the Raiders in 2011 out of Ohio State, where he was a first team All-American as a senior.
Cruz originally entered the NFL with the Chicago Bears when he signed a free agent contract on July 28, 2015. He was waived by the team after the final preseason game. He played the past two seasons in the Arena Football League where he led the league in kickoff return average both seasons as a member of the Arizona Rattlers in 2015 and the LA KISS in 2014. In 2015, Cruz caught 27 passes for 220 yards (8.1 avg.) and five touchdowns and rushed 11 times for 46 yards (4.2 avg.) and three scores. On defense, Cruz totaled 57 tackles (34 solo), six pass breakups, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He also returned 51 kickoffs for 1,221 yards (23.9 avg.) and six touchdowns. As an AFL rookie in 2014, Cruz led the league in kickoff return average (22.5) with 58 returns for 1,305 yards.
