Dolphins restructure RT deal, add depth at edge rusher, linebacker and safety
The Miami Dolphins were pretty active Wednesday.
In addition to restructuring the deal of starting right tackle Austin Jackson, the franchise re-signed linebacker Willie Gay Jr. as well as reached a deal with edge rusher Joshua Uche and defensive back Lonnie Johnson, bringing much-needed depth to both position groups.
Jackson took a significant pay cut, a move that allowed the Dolphins to become cap compliant prior to the 4 p.m. Wednesday deadline. He agreed to a one-year, $7 million deal — a reduction from the $11.5 million he was supposed to see — which created $8 million in cap space.
Despite being limited to just 14 games during the past two seasons due to injuries, Jackson remains a valued piece of the offensive line. He specifically excelled as a run blocker, something the Dolphins certainly need now with the signing of Malik Willis expected to bolster the rushing attack led by Pro Bowl tailback De’Von Achane.
“When you look at our football team, we don’t have the flexibility to run people out the door right now,” general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said of Jackson, adding that “I would like him to be here.”
Gay provides much-needed depth at inside linebacker, a unit that features an All-Pro in Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson who had more than 100 total tackles in 2025. The six-year veteran’s re-signing was crucial, especially after fellow free agent KJ Britt opted for a one-year deal worth the New England Patriots and the lack of bodies at edge rusher, a position that Gay has played in the past.
A 2020 second-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs, Gay has also played for the New Orleans Saints in addition to the Dolphins. His career totals include nine sacks, 281 combined tackles and 22 tackles for loss. He also won a pair of Super Bowls with the Chiefs. In 2025, Gay notched two sacks, 20 combined tackles and a pair of quarterback hits as he appeared in all 17 games.
“That dude is not faking that energy,” former coach Mike McDaniel said of Gay. “And energy is a huge piece of how football teams play the game. One of my favorite personality veteran additions that I can remember here, and I just love people that double down when they walk in the building. Willie Gay is awesome. He brings himself, but he also brings energy from out of other people. Those are the types of people in the locker room that can be compass setters.”
Uche, a six-year veteran, brings experience to a room that will likely be led by 2024 first-round pick Chop Robinson. A rotational player for the Eagles in 2025, the 2020 second-round pick racked up a sack, 23 total tackles and three quarterback hits this past season. Uche, however, has a good chance to start for the Dolphins due to the lack of depth currently at the position.
Originally selected by the New England Patriots, Uche has also played for the Kansas City Chiefs in addition to the Eagles. He has totaled 21.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss and 37 combined tackles across his career.
The Dolphins still need players at edge rusher — even with Uche, a Columbus High graduate, back in South Florida. As of this writing, the unit includes Robinson, Goode and Derrick McLendon II. Robinson will be relied upon heavily in 2026.
“Chop is in a great position because he’s going to be the elder statesmen and in a position of leadership,” Sullivan said. “My expectations for him are to work his ass off, continue to improve and be a leader in that locker room.”
Similar to Gay, Johnson brings similar positional versatility. A 2019 second-round selection by the Houston Texans, the seven-year veteran has lined up at both nickel and outside cornerback as well as played both safety spots. He has primarily been used as a free safety, per Pro Football Focus.
The Dolphins will be his sixth team since he came into the league. His longest stint was with the Texans, where he played for three seasons. He has since played for the Tennessee Titans (2022), Saints (2023), Carolina Panthers (2024) and Las Vegas Raiders (2025).
In his career, Johnson has started 22 of a potential 92 games, snagging four interceptions and registering 17 pass breakups. His most recent stint with the Raiders yielded 25 combined tackles and two pass deflections across nine appearances, two of which were starts.
Following the trade of Minkah Fitzpatrick to the New York Jets, the Dolphins’ safety room looked a bit light. As of this writing, the room only included Dante Trader Jr., Isaiah Johnson and Omar Brown. Of the trio, only Trader, who appeared in all 17 games in 2025, has real NFL experience, meaning that he could start alongside Lonnie.
Despite the plethora of moves, the Dolphins still have yet to address the cornerback position, something that likely will happen in the coming days or in the draft.
“There’s some good players in the draft,” Sullivan said of the cornerbacks, later adding that he plans “to allocate every avenue of player acquisition to build this thing out, especially in Year 1.”
