As free agency approaches, the market for Miami Dolphins left tackle Jake Long remains unclear. We do know Long believes he should continue to be paid like an elite player at his position.
NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday that Long has indicated he's looking for $11 million per season in his next contract, according to a team informed of the player's thoughts on the price.
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For comparison purposes, ProFootballTalk reported Sunday that Cincinnati Bengals right tackle Andre Smith is looking for $9 million per year on the open market. Smith and Long play on opposite sides of the line, but there are questions about whether Long will remain a left tackle in the long term.
Long, the first overall pick in the 2008 draft, has struggled with injuries and consistency over the past two seasons, and he's currently recovering from triceps surgery. He averaged more than $11 million per season during the balance of his five-year rookie contract with the Dolphins.
Long told NFL Network last month that his body has never felt better, and he fully expects several productive seasons ahead.
At 27, that's certainly possible. But it will be interesting to see if anyone is willing to play ball at his price. We doubt it will be the Dolphins.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.
