Exploring Dolphins cornerback options, what makes sense. And Miami’s best/worst revealed
Already needing to fill more than a handful of holes in free agency, the Dolphins created another one when they recently released Kendall Fuller with $2.7 million in cap savings. That means they will likely need to spend decent money on a cornerback in a deep free agent market.
Expect that to be a priority next week. For years, general manager Chris Grier has said teams can never have enough cornerbacks.
In Pro Football Focus’ ranking of the top 50 free agents, seven are cornerbacks: the Jets’ D.J. Reed at No. 6, San Francisco’s Charvarious Ward at No. 13, Buffalo’s Rasul Douglas at No. 15, Detroit’s Carlton Davis III at 21, the Chargers’ Asante Samuel Jr. at 26, Minnesota’s Byron Murphy Jr. at 33 and Cincinnati’s Mike Hilton at 35.
There are more than 90 free agent cornerbacks overall, so the Dolphins might be able to find a solid starter without breaking the bank. Miami found good value, for a year, with Fuller, who was set to make only $6.4 million next season, reasonable for a veteran starting cornerback.
But I found this notable: Among the 30-plus free agent cornerbacks that were starters last season, only six of them had a better passer rating against (from a defensive standpoint) than Fuller’s 92.8 (which included one TD allowed, no interceptions and 27 completions in 43 targets for 316 yards).
In the Dolphins’ defense, there were health questions with Fuller, who was limited to 11 games by two concussions and a season-ending knee injury.
Here are those six impending unrestricted free agent starting cornerbacks who had better passer ratings against than Fuller last season:
1). New Orleans’ Paulson Adebayo at 67.0 (three interceptions, one touchdown allowed). He’s probably one of the more underrated players in free agency.
2). Pittsburgh’s Donte Jackson at 75.2. He had five interceptions and allowed four touchdowns. Has started 91 of his 95 NFL appearances for the Panthers and Steelers.
3). Minnesota’s Murphy Jr., at 80.0. He had six interceptions and permitted four touchdowns.
4). The Chargers’ Samuel at 87.3. He missed 13 games last season due to a shoulder injury and allowed 12 of 18 passes to be caught for 128 yards.
5). Detroit’s Carlton Davis at 87.9. The Lions starter allowed a lot of yards (583) but just three TDs and had two interceptions.
6). Reed, at 91.7. He permitted two TDs, had no interceptions and yielded 35 completions in 60 targets for 431 yards.
(A few fill-in starters had opposing passer ratings better than Fuller’s, including Minnesota’s Shaquill Griffin at 76.2.)
Update: You can now add Darius Slay to this league. The 34-year-old former Pro Bowl, who is being released by the Eagles, had an 82.2 passer rating against last season.
It’s important to note that passer rating against is an imperfect measurement and one of many tangible ways to judge cornerbacks.
For example, it’s safe to say most everyone in football would take Buffalo’s Douglas (116.9 passer rating against last season, three TDs, no interceptions) and the 49ers’ Ward (119.1 passer rating against, five touchdowns, no interceptions) over Fuller.
Douglas had 14 interceptions for the Packers and Bills from 2021 to 2023 but none last year. Ward was a second-team All-Pro in 2023.
The point is it’s not necessarily going to be easy to find someone better and more affordable than Fuller.
Better? Absolutely.
Healthier? Absolutely.
But more affordable and clearly better? It’s doable, but like with guard and defensive tackle and safety, the Dolphins have no margin for error. They will need to get it right.
Cap update
Bradley Chubb’s contract restructuring created $16.3 million in cap space, giving the Dolphins about $27 million at the moment. More likely will be created before next Wednesday, when players can begin signing contracts with new teams.
Final word on 2024
As we turn the page to 2025 (the new league years start Monday), here’s a final look at who were the best and worst Dolphins in a bunch of areas this past season, courtesy of PFF:
▪ Best pass blockers (minimum 50 pass blocking snaps): 1). Terron Armstead, who allowed just 16 pressures and three sacks in 501 pass-blocking snaps. 2). Kendall Lamm, who yielded 12 pressures and no sacks in 336 snaps as a pass blocker. 3). Center Aaron Brewer, who permitted just two sacks and 14 pressures in 714 pass blocking snaps.
▪ Worst pass blockers (minimum 50 pass-blocking snaps): 1). Guard Isaiah Wynn, who yielded a sack and five pressures in 70 pass-blocking snaps. 2). Tackle Jackson Carman, who gave up one sack and three pressures in 50 pass-blocking snaps. 3). Guard Liam Eichenberg, who relinquished two sacks and 29 pressures in 644. All three of those players will be free agents next week.
Couple notes: Among non-offensive linemen, running back De’Von Achane and tight end Julian Hill were rated Miami’s worst pass protectors. Achane permitted a sack and six pressures in 19 pass-blocking snaps. Hill allowed a sack and five pressures in 50 pass blocking snaps.
Robert Jones yielded the most sacks (five), but PFF rated him 12th of 19 Dolphins who pass blocked. Jones will be a free agent next week.
▪ Best run blockers (minimum 50 run blocks): 1). Armstead. 2). Brewer. 3). Receiver Jaylen Waddle.
▪ Worst run blockers (minimum 50 run blocks): 1). Receiver Tyreek Hill (he blocked on 316 runs and PFF gave him dismal grades). 2). Receiver Malik Washington (139 run-blocking plays). 3). Tight end Jonnu Smith (120).
Note: Rookie tackle Patrick Paul graded out as Miami’s worst run-blocking offensive lineman and by a large margin.
▪ Best yards after catch average (minimum 15 receptions): 1) Achane at 8.5. 2) Since-released running back Raheem Mostert at 7.5. 3). Jonnu Smith at 5.9.
▪ Worst yards after catch average (minimum 15 receptions): 1) Hill at 3.5. 2) Waddle at 4.1.
▪ Best passer rating against, among defensive backs (minimum 15 targets): 1). Kader Kohou, at 76.0; 2). Fuller, at 92.8. 3). Jalen Ramsey, at 93.5.
▪ Worst passer rating against, among backs (minimum 15 targets): 1). Impending free agent safety Jordan Poyer (130.1 passer rating on 24 for 33 targets for 294 yards). 2) Cornerback Cam Smith 122.4 (16 for 19 for 174 yards). 3). Impending free agent safety Jevon Holland (111.3, on 24 for 39 for 302).
▪ Best passer rating against, among linebackers (minimum 10 targets): 1) Tyrel Dodson, at 53.7 (13 for 17 completed but for just 112 yards and three interceptions). 2). Anthony Walker, at 102.2.
▪ Worst passer rating against, among linebackers (minimum 10 targets): 1). Released linebacker David Long Jr. (125.7 and 22 completions in 23 targets). 2). Jordyn Brooks, at 115.9, including allowing five touchdown passes relinquished.
▪ Best against the run, among all defenders (minimum 100 snaps defending the run): 1). Impending free agent defensive lineman Calais Campbell. 2). Ramsey. 3). Brooks. 4). Fuller. 5). Holland.
▪ Worst against the run, among all defenders (minimum 100 snaps): 1). Long. 2). Impending free agent nose tackle Benito Jones. 3). Kohou. 4). Outside linebacker Chop Robinson and 5). cornerback Storm Duck.
Bell fallout
The Dolphins’ decision not to tender outside linebacker Quinton Bell makes sense, because Miami already has four veteran edge players (Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, Chop Robinson and Cameron Goode) and wants to invest more time in Mo Kamara. They’ll also likely add a cheap free agent and a couple of edge players in the draft process.
Here’s our look at available free agent options at defensive tackle at guard and safety. And here’s a look at No. 3 or 4 wide receiver options. And here’s a look at Miami’s top defensive tackle options.
This story was originally published March 7, 2025 at 11:23 AM.
