Miami Dolphins decide not to tender outside linebacker Quinton Bell
The Miami Dolphins have chosen not to tender edge rusher Quinton Bell, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Friday morning.
A 2019 seventh-round pick, Bell will be a free agent come Wednesday.
The 28-year-old made the Dolphins roster in 2024 after he emerged as the “biggest surprise of training camp,” the Miami Herald wrote last August.
“You learn so much about players based upon how other players react and when he gets an edge of a lineman and is creating a hurry, pressure or sack or he’s long-arming while setting the edge, people lose their minds,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said in the early days of training camp. “And I think that’s because here’s a guy that comes to work every day with no excuses, doesn’t tally how many opportunities he gets; he makes the most of the ones that he does get. And because of that, when you have that type of mind-set, you get more and more opportunities.”
Bell earned more playing time following the Week 2 injury to Jaelan Phillips. He particularly excelled in his run defense, finishing the 2024 season ranked 33rd among all edge rushers, according to Pro Football Focus. That was higher than six-time Pro Bowler Joey Bosa, 2024 sack leader Trey Hendrickson and Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller.
“I feel like in my story of the season is really just not too many opportunities in the beginning, but towards the middle, I feel like I had opportunities and I made the most of them,” the Prarie View A&M graduate told the Miami Herald. “Then I saw myself getting more and more opportunities and continue to make the most of it.”
Bell undoubtedly had the best year of his career in 2024. He finished the season with 27 combined tackles, one sack and a forced fumble.
“The Dolphins are the first team that really have given me a real opportunity to go there in a regular season and play and improve and and grow as a player that helps his team,” Bell said.
This story was originally published March 7, 2025 at 10:35 AM.
