WSU Football: Ex-Coug WR Brandon Gibson Signs in Free Agency With Dolphins

Dec 9, 2012; Orchard Park, NY, USA; St. Louis Rams wide receiver Brandon Gibson (11) catches a pass for the winning touchdown as Buffalo Bills cornerback Ron Brooks (33) defends during the fourth quarter at Ralph Wilson Stadium. Rams beat the Bills 15-12. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Hoffman-USA TODAY Sports

Washington State had a little NFL movement before the draft over the weekend, as Brandon Gibson signed over the weekend to the Miami Dolphins. Gibson of course spent the first 4 seasons of his NFL career with the St. Louis Rams, catching 174 passes for over 2,000 yards and 9 touchdowns. This included 51 catches last season for 651 yards and 5 touchdowns in 13 starts.

Apparently Gibson is a bit of an unheralded and less than intriguing free agency pickup in the eyes of Miami fans, but becomes a solid target for second year quarterback Ryan Tannehill. With the signing of Mike Wallace and resigning of Brian Hartline last week, they are the top wideouts for Miami, but Gibson becomes an incredible 3rd option in that offense. Remember in St. Louis he was very often a first target when Amendola was hurt (which was often).

Brandon Gibson does not have terrific speed, around a 4.6 in the forty which is fast enough to run away from linebackers and a few safeties but not blazing. Even when he was at Washington State he would have benefited greatly if he’d have had a bigger, faster target on the other side to take away the pressure. Gibson uses his body really well and will be a better than expected addition to the Dolphins as he will be put in a lot of one-on-one situations while Wallace and Hartline draw the attention. In the role that they will ask him to fill (presumably covering the underneath and intermediate parts of the field with a lot of option routes/slants/curls/settle routes) I expect him to thrive, as long as he can continue to get better making the easy catches, which he has struggled with ever since his time as a Cougar.

With the addition of Wallace and Gibson, as well as the retention of Hartline and another addition in Dustin Keller, Tannehill must be really happy right now. His offense looks somewhat formidable in the AFC East and they still have an opportunity to add something in the NFL draft.

Go Cougs!