TE Charles Clay signs 5-year, $38 million offer sheet with the Bills

After what seemed like forever and a half, tight end Charles Clay has finally signed the offer sheet that was given to him by the Buffalo Bills. One that would have him in Buffalo for five years for $38 million dollars, with more than $20 million of that in guaranteed money.

Now the Dolphins have a little less than a week to match the Bills supposedly unmatchable offer, and the structure of the contract is sure to have a lot to do with the Dolphins decision, as it has Clay receiving $24.5 million over the first two years. Should they decide to move on from Clay, tight end Dion Sims has shown signs of being a very good player, although he isn't the pure athlete Clay is, making up for it in blocking prowess.

The Dolphins have made it abundantly clear that they want Clay to return and team up with new Dolphins tight end Jordan Cameron to create mismatches all over the field, but with the truth about the Dolphins cap space now out in the open thanks to the restructuring of LB Dannell Ellerbe's contract before his trade to New Orleans, it might truly be impossible for the Dolphins to match it without crippling themselves for the rest of the offseason. 

It's been reported out of NFL Network that the Dolphins offer was somewhere around the aspect of four years, $27 million dollars with less than $15 million guaranteed, so the Bills offer truly is much more substantial than Miami's, and the Bills offer would have him paid top five tight end money, and only Jaguars tight end Julius Thomas would be receiving more guaranteed than Clay.

If the Dolphins decide not to match the Bills offer, the team will receiver $7 million dollars in cap space once the transition tag expires, which would leave more room for other moves the team needs to make. We shall see how it goes from here.

This story was written by Luis Sung. Follow him on Twitter: @FLSportDebater