Dolphins position review: Will young safety duo cement itself as one of NFL’s best?
The Dolphins went with a youth movement at safety and it benefited them greatly, as their young duo in the back of the secondary helped lead a midseason turnaround on defense. In the 10th of a series of position reviews, the Miami Herald will examine the Dolphins’ safeties situation. Next is special teams.
2021 IN REVIEW
The Dolphins began the season with a pair of veteran safeties in the starting lineup, Jason McCourty and Eric Rowe. Waiting in the wings, however, was Jevon Holland, the team’s second-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft who impressed throughout training camp. A season-ending injury to McCourty in Week 7 sped up Holland’s growth process. He started 13 games and was a standout on the defense. Jones, a third-round pick in 2020, joined Holland in the lineup, also starting 13 games. He emerged as one of the best blitzing safeties in the league and a nice complement to the versatile Holland.
DEPTH CHART
Jevon Holland
▪ Skinny: Holland is an ascending star after a rookie season that earned him Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie honors. His two interceptions ranked second on the team and he added 69 tackles, 10 pass deflections and 2.5 sacks.
▪ Contract: Holland, 22, is entering the second year of a four-year rookie contract. He has a cap hit of $1,981,001.
Brandon Jones
▪ Skinny: While Holland played everywhere on the field, Jones lived in the box. His 93 pass-rush snaps led all safeties and so did his five sacks.
▪ Contract: Jones, 23, is entering the third year of a four-year rookie contract. He has a cap hit of $1,329,028.
Eric Rowe
▪ Skinny: Rowe began the season as a starter but as Holland and Jones emerged, he moved to a part-time role where he continued his responsibilities of covering tight ends. In 17 games and four starts, Rowe recorded 71 tackles, four pass deflections and three forced fumbles.
▪ Contract: Rowe, 29, is entering the final year of a three-year extension he signed in 2019. He has a cap hit of $5,075,000, the seventh-largest on the team. The Dolphins can save $4,550,000 by releasing or trading him.
Jason McCourty
▪ Skinny: McCourty started four of the team’s first seven games but sustained a season-ending foot injury in Week 7. He was voted by his teammates the 2021 recipient of the Don Shula Leadership Award, given annually to a Dolphins player who exhibits leadership on and off the field.
▪ Contract: McCourty, 34, is headed for unrestricted free agency.
Sheldrick Redwine
▪ Skinny: Signed off the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad in October 2021, Redwine appeared in four games, primarily contributing on special teams.
▪ Contract: Redwine, 25, is headed for restricted free agency.
Clayton Fejedelem
▪ Skinny: Fejedelem played just 16 snaps on defense but his 396 special-teams snaps led the Dolphins.
▪ Contract: Fejedelem, 28, is entering the final year of a three-year contract, He has a cap hit of $2,775,000. The Dolphins can save that money in its entirety if they cut or trade Fejedelem.
OFFSEASON QUESTIONS
1. Does Holland’s star progression continue?
The Dolphins found a gem in the second round with Holland. He’s instinctive, can play sideline-to-sideline and is a bruising hitter. His coming-out party in an upset win over the Baltimore Ravens showcased his all-around skill set and he only got better as the season progressed. Holland has quickly shown he has a Pro-Bowl-level, and maybe even All-Pro, ceiling, and his continued growth should again give the Dolphins one of the best secondaries in the league.
2. What does Boyer have in store for safeties?
Upon being retained as defensive coordinator by Mike McDaniel, Josh Boyer was asked how the defense might be different than it was under Brian Flores. While Boyer said there would be some carryover, he added that with his roots coaching defensive backs, he sees defenses from the “back end down.” With Flores, the Dolphins always prioritized versatility but Boyer’s comments insinuate he could ask even more of his safeties in 2022.
3. Do Dolphins need to restock depth?
The Dolphins have a pair of young starting safeties on inexpensive deals but could be looking at little depth behind them this offseason. McCourty is a pending free agent and Rowe’s name has been floated as a potential cap casualty. The Dolphins won’t be strapped for cash this offseason, however, and keeping Rowe for another year would give them a proven option at safety if Holland or Jones is sidelined.
POTENTIAL ADDITIONS
The Dolphins seem set with Holland and Jones but if they wanted to make a surprise splash in free agency, the Kansas City Chiefs’ Tyrann Mathieu is expected to hit the open market. Mathieu will be 30 by the start of the 2022 season but still has multiple years of high-level football left and would give the Dolphins even more positional versatility with Holland in the secondary.
In the draft, Verone McKinley III starred alongside Holland at Oregon. McKinley is one of the best play-making safeties in the draft — he had 11 interceptions in his college career — but isn’t the physical presence around the box that Holland is. He said he’s met with the Dolphins “multiple times” and is regarded as a Day 3 prospect.
DOLPHINS POSITION REVIEWS
CB: Miami’s high-priced cornerback duo set to return for Year 3
OLB: What’s the next step for an ascending outside linebacker?
ILB: A new inside linebacker running mate for Jerome Baker?
DL: Big decisions to be made on top defensive linemen
TE: Will Miami be able to keep its free agent tight ends?
OL: Will Miami splurge on offensive line in free agency?
WR: What wide receiver will complement Jaylen Waddle in 2022?
RB: Will Miami finally use a high draft pick on a running back?
QB: Dolphins appear all-in on Tagovailoa but who joins QB room?
