Despite uncertainty at outside corner, Dolphins have faith that defense will step up
The Miami Dolphins cornerback room will be heavily discussed topic in 2025.
Not only is seven-time Pro Bowler Jalen Ramsey likely on his way out, the Dolphins only have one player – Kader Kohou — who has been a consistent starter over the last two seasons. The rest of the position group includes several practice squad players, a 2023 second-round pick, a rookie, a handful of undrafted guys and few veterans who haven’t been consistent starters in years. Still, despite the lack of experience, the Dolphins still have faith that position will be sorted by the beginning of the season.
“In our room, we don’t have a lot of guys who are established in the league so there’s just a hunger,” Kohou said Wednesday. “Like our whole room, you can just feel the hunger. Everybody’s trying to compete – competing with thee offense, competing with each other – so I’m excited.”
The lack of proven talent at the outside cornerback position means there’s not just one but two open slots. And unless a Rasul Douglas or an Asante Samuel Jr. is signed, the Dolphins will likely have to roll with who they have. That will not only require other position groups to step up but allow the guys in the cornerback room to prove they deserve to start.
“I’ve said to the group a couple times, ‘I have a depth chart to fill out, can you help me out with it?’” coach Mike McDaniel said Wednesday. “But realistically, we’re far from establishing what that is at any position. Yes, there’s guys that are not going to get beaten out, but the biggest thing is I want people to show me who they are.”
A 2022 undrafted free agent heading into his fourth season, Kohou is likely the guy who McDaniel mentioned won’t get “beaten out.” The nickel corner excelled in 2024, snagging two interceptions, tied for second on the team alongside Ramsey, in addition to a forced fumble and 31 solo tackles. He and the newly signed Artie Burns, a 2016 first-round pick, have emerged as position group leaders, according to Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver.
“First and foremost, those guys, they’ve been here from Day 1 and you can see the confidence that grows in them by day,” Weaver said May 21. “Artie has been a tremendous leader, obviously Kader.”
Thee lack of proven talent on the outside, however, will put an extra emphasis on the Dolphins’ pass rush, according to Weaver.
“If by God’s grace we’re fortunate that Jaelan Phillips can stay on the field, Bradley Chubb, Chop [Robinson] coming into Year 2, the additions we made on the defensive line and Zach Sieler, obviously, I think we can help them too by being more disruptive and creating more chaos for the quarterback,” Weaver said.
Weaver’s statement proves that which has been written about ad nauseam: the Dolphins’ defensive success ultimately depends on the pass rush, especially considering the current cornerback situation, the investment – Miami took three defensive tackles in the 2025 NFL Draft, including No. 13 overall pick Kenneth Grant – on the interior and the health of edge rushers like Chubb and Phillips, both of whom missed significant time in 2024. That’s why Chubb and the rest of his unit has adopted an apt name for the 2025 season: the “Big Dawgs.”
“We have that mantra because at the end of the day, we want to be the ones to change the game,” Chubb said Wednesday. “We want to be the ones that if we need a play, we’re going to be the ones that do it. So yes, we’ve got some inexperienced guys in the back end, but we all know who we are in that room and we take it upon ourselves not because, ‘Oh, we don’t believe in this guy,’ but because we want to walk the walk and talk the talk. It’s added pressure to us, but we know they’re going to handle their job because we’re going to handle ours.”
