Linebacker K.J. Britt is changing teams but not states in NFL free agency. After spending his first four seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the former Auburn standout is joining the Miami Dolphins.
Britt became an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday afternoon. The South Florida Sun Sentinel and ESPN reported on Thursday that Britt and the Dolphins had reached an agreement on a one-year contract to bring the linebacker to Miami.
In 2024, Britt had 72 tackles for Tampa Bay in 14 games.On the Dolphins’ current roster, Britt likely would be on top of the depth chart at inside linebacker with returning starter Jordyn Brooks.Britt joined the Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Tampa Bay had Lavonte David and Devin White entrenched at their inside-linebacker spots, and Britt spent his first three seasons mainly on special teams.
Through the 11th game of his third NFL season, Britt had been on the field for 815 special-teams plays – 148 more than any other Tampa Bay player during that time.
But he had played more than 13 defensive snaps in a game only once, and before Britt made his first NFL start on Dec. 3, 2023, he had played 17 defensive snaps in the 2023 season.
But David and White had injury issues down the stretch in 2023, and despite getting hurt twice, including badly enough to be carted off the field once, Britt started six of the Buccaneers’ final eight games, including both playoff contests – a 32-9 victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Jan.
15 and a 31-23 loss to the Detroit Lions on Jan. 21.After 2023, White left for the Eagles in free agency, putting Britt in the lineup beside David.Britt started the first 11 games of the 2024 season, but he sustained an ankle injury in a 30-7 victory over the New York Giants on Nov. 24. Britt played 66 defensive snaps in Tampa Bay’s seven remaining games.