Dolphins lose Calais Campbell to Arizona Cardinals. Miami in tough spot on defensive line
Already in a precarious position with their defensive line, the Dolphins’ outlook at the position grew even more worrisome Tuesday when Calais Campbell spurned Miami and accepted a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the Arizona Cardinals.
The deal has another $2 million in incentives, per ESPN.
The Dolphins wanted Campbell back; coach Mike McDaniel said Monday the sides have been in contact.
“He was a very important player to the team last year, and I see him having the opportunity to be a very important player on the team this year,” McDaniel said.
But Campbell instead opted to return to the team that drafted him, where he spent the first nine seasons of his career.
Campbell posted this comment on social media after the Cardinals announced the signing: “What a story it would be! Started my career with a bang. Now it’s time to finish it with a bang back home where it first began.”
The Dolphins, with $16.5 million in cap space, had the ability exceed Arizona’s offer.
Campbell, 38, was exceptional for Miami last season, producing 52 tackles (including 12 for loss) and five sacks while helping the Dolphins finish ninth in the league in rushing yards allowed. Pro Football Focus rated him the sixth-best defensive lineman in the league in terms of 2024 performance.
The Dolphins have only one above-average defensive lineman under contract in Zach Sieler. They have a nose tackle, Benito Jones, who has consistently graded out among the worst in the league, per Pro Football Focus. Their only two other defensive linemen under contract are journeymen Matt Dickerson and Neil Farrell.
The Dolphins are expected to try to find a starting defensive lineman in the draft.
Four defensive tackles are projected for the first round — Michigan’s Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, Oregon’s Derek Harmon and Mississippi’s Walter Nolen. The Dolphins have the 13th pick, and Graham is widely projected to be drafted in the top 10. The other three are projected in the 20s, with some rating Grant higher than that.
The remaining free agent class on the defensive line is largely bereft of starters. The most established player still unsigned is Za’Darius Smith, a 270-pounder who had nine combined sacks for Detroit and Cleveland last season.
There are very few other established defensive line starters still available. That group includes DeMarcus Walker (47 tackles, 3.5 sacks for the Bears last season), skilled run defender Jonathan Bullard (41 tackles, one sack in 17 starts for Minnesota last season) and Houston’s Folorunsu Fatukasi (24 tackles and a sack in 11 starts for Houston in 2024).
With Campbell and Jevon Holland leaving, Miami is poised to pick up a fourth-round compensatory pick in 2026.
This story was originally published April 1, 2025 at 5:24 PM.
