Running back C.J. Anderson is likely headed to the Miami Dolphins. The Super Bowl champions assigned the lowest possible tender on the restricted free agent, and Anderson signed an offer sheet for a four-year, $18 million deal with Miami, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. The Denver Broncos have five days to match the offer.
According to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, the offer from the Dolphins is designed to discourage Denver from matching. They'll get that draft pick as compensation if they decline and lose Anderson.
Anderson was an undrafted free agent in the 2013 season, hence the restricted free agent status. After a quiet rookie year, Anderson came on strong toward the end of 2014 and was presumed to be the workhorse heading into the 2015 season. That didn't quite pan out as hoped -- Anderson struggled in the early part of the year and found himself in a committee with Ronnie Hillman.
However, Anderson proved his worth in the stretch run and the playoffs, emerging as the clear favorite over Hillman. He got the starting job in the Super Bowl and acquitted himself well, rushing for 90 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries against the Carolina Panthers.
The Broncos are kind of in a bind, with quarterback Brock Osweiler heading to the Houston Texans and Von Miller's contract situation unsettled.
Anderson will fill the void left by running back Lamar Miller in Miami. The Texans signed Miller to a four-year, $26 million deal Wednesday.