Dolphins reach out to Douglas, other unsigned veterans. A look at options for Miami
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier reiterated Saturday that the Dolphins will be active in veteran free agency after the draft. Miami could begin adding players as early as this coming week; free agents no longer count toward the compensatory draft formula beginning Monday.
The top priority is cornerback, where Miami has only two proven starting-caliber players: disgruntled Jalen Ramsey (who the team is trying to trade) and Kader Kohou. Cam Smith, Artie Burns and Storm Duck likely would be corners three through five if the season regrettably started today (and two through four without Ramsey).
The Dolphins also need another defensive lineman to complement Zach Sieler, rookie first-rounder Kenneth Grant and Benito Jones. There are very few good options, with Minnesota’s Jonathan Bullard (a 17-game starter last season) and former Dolphins player Raekwon Davis the best of the bunch of unsigned defensive linemen.
The Dolphins could use another edge player behind Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, Chop Robinson and Cam Goode. Options there include veteran Za’Darius Smith. (Emmanuel Ogbah agreed to a deal with Jacksonville.)
But cornerback is clearly the top need. A look at veterans who remain unsigned:
▪ Rasul Douglas: The Dolphins have been in contact with Douglas, who started 15 games for the Bills last season, and have been showing some interest. He has had a good career, with 19 interceptions and 80 starts over nine seasons.
Douglas, 30, started 15 games for the Bills last season but allowed 72 percent of passes thrown in his area to be caught, with a poor 122 passer rating in his coverage area. But he was very good in 2023 for Green Bay (and following a trade) Buffalo, producing five interceptions, three fumble recoveries, one sack, and a career-high two touchdowns in 16 games and 15 starts, despite playing part of the season with a torn MCL. Pro Football Focus rated him 12th among all cornerbacks that season.
The 6-2 Douglas, who twice has been named Defensive Player of the Week (in each conference), had some good years, too, for Philadelphia, Carolina and Green Bay, and has three interception returns for touchdowns.
▪ Asante Samuel Jr.: The former Chargers second-round pick out of Ft. Lauderdale St. Thomas Aquinas, Samuel had no interceptions but 37 passes defended in 50 games and 47 starts in his four years with the Chargers.
Samuel, 25, missed 13 games last season due to a shoulder injury and allowed 12 of 18 passes to be caught for 128 yards. According to the NFL, he’s representing himself in contract talks.
▪ James Bradberry: A second-team All Pro in 2022, Bradberry missed last season’s Eagles Super Bowl run because of a torn Achilles sustained in a late August practice.
He had 19 interceptions and 112 passes defended in eight seasons. He recently visited the Bills, and there was initial contact between the Dolphins and Bradberry’s camp a few weeks ago, but it’s unclear if Miami will pursue him.
▪ Mike Hilton: The Bengals’ skilled 5-9 nickel corner made 10 starts for the Bengals and had a 92 passer rating against. He was linked to Miami early in free agency. If the Dolphins sign Hilton as their top nickel corner, Kohou likely would play on the boundary instead of nickel corner.
▪ Stephon Gilmore: He made 15 starts for Minnesota, at age 34, and had a 94.1 passer rating against. He’s past his prime but still a decent player.
▪ CJ Henderson: The former ninth overall pick played in 12 games and started seven for Carolina and had a 106.8 passer rating against. It would be difficult to project him as a starter.
▪ Jack Jones: His career started promisingly as a fourth-round pick of New England in 2022, but he struggled with the Raiders, allowing 10 touchdown receptions that overshadowed his three interceptions last season. He also permitted a 115.8 passer rating in his coverage area and allowed 11 completions of 20 plus yards. The Raiders released him April 6 after failing to find a trade partner.
Jones had five picks in 24 games with the Raiders, who signed him after New England cut him during the 2023 season more than a week after he missed curfew before a game. He had two interceptions for New England in both 2022 and 2023.
▪ Shaq Griffin: The 29-year-old had two interceptions in 17 games and three starts for the Vikings last season, equal to a very good 76.2 passer rating in his coverage area. Perhaps he would thrive in a larger role.
▪ Emmanuel Moseley: He missed most of last season for the Lions with a torn pectoral muscle. He was limited to three games for Detroit over the past two seasons. Before that, he spent his first five seasons with San Francisco and had five interceptions and 33 starts.
▪ Others: Kendall Fuller, a 2024 starter for the Dolphins who was released earlier this offseason. Chris Grier declined to say why Fuller was cut but said nothing to suggest he would be re-signed... Former Dolphins Pro Bowler Xavien Howard, who likely would consider a return if approach. He was out of the league last season...
Daryl Worley, who made seven starts for Tennessee and had a poor 125.6 passer rating against... Jalen Mills, a former cornerback who played a lot of safety last year and allowed a 51.8 passer rating against in eight starts for the Jets... Cam Sutton, who was suspended eight games last season for a domestic violence incident; and Fabian Moreau, who has 56 NFL starts and seven interceptions in eight seasons.
Guards available
The Dolphins no longer need a starting guard after trading up in the second round to draft Arizona’s Jonah Savaiinaea, who they project as an immediate starter. But with James Daniels coming off a torn Achilles, here’s who’s left if the Dolphins want insurance beyond Liam Eichenberg:
▪ Brandon Scherff: The former first-rounder is still an effective player at 33. He started 17 games for the Jaguars last season, and PFF rated him 37th of 77 guards. Incumbent starter Liam Eichenberg was ranked 69th.
▪ Dalton Risner: On his weekly segment on the local Fox affiliate, Drew Rosenhaus mentioned his name when asked about the Dolphins’ guard search. But Risner did not mention Miami among teams on his radar during a recent interview.
He spent the first two months of last season on injured reserve but started eight games for the Vikings and played well; PFF rated him 22nd among 77 guards.
▪ Shaq Mason: PFF rated him 47th among 77 guards. But he tied for the league lead in sacks allowed by a guard last season with eight. His run blocking was much better in his 15 starts for Houston.
▪ Will Hernandez: A four-year starter for the Cardinals who played only five games last season because of a knee injury. He’s functional when healthy.
▪ Other free agents of note: The Dolphins’ Isaiah Wynn (limited to 13 games in two years in Miami because of injury), Cody Whitehair (121 career starts, including three for the Raiders last year) and Mark Glowinski (101 starts in 10 years).
This story was originally published April 27, 2025 at 11:13 AM.
