Kelly: Exploring the Dolphins defensive needs as free agency approaches | Opinion
Bradley Chubb restructuring his contract to help the Miami Dolphins create cap space was the biggest win the franchise could have made me this offseason.
Even though the details of the restructuring have not been released, the move could create as much as $13 million in cap space, which is the equivalent of roughly four mid-tier free agent signings.
It would be wise for the Dolphins to spend some those funds on defensive players.
Here’s a look at Miami’s defensive depth chart. We examine what’s in each group, provide a breakdown of one of the most recent free agent deals the Dolphins have granted and break down a possible target or two for each need.
A breakdown of the offensive depth chart can be found here.
EDGE PLAYERS
▪ Current roster: Jaelan Phillips (IR in 2024), Chubb (IR in 2024), Chop Robinson, Cameron Goode, Mohamed Kamara, William Bradley-King, Grayson Murphy (IR in 2024), Derrick McLendon II
▪ Free agents: Emmanuel Ogbah, Quinton Bell (exclusive rights free agent), Cam Brown (IR in 2024), Tyus Bowser (IR in 2024).
▪ Recent deal: Last year Miami signed veteran pass rusher Shaq Barrett to a one-year deal worth $7 million, which included bonuses that could have taken it to $9 million. The contract featured $6.75 million in guaranteed money, but the former Tampa Bay Buccaneer retired before training camp and eventually unretired, returning to the Buccaneers after Miami released him in December.
▪ Analysis: The Dolphins’ top two pass rushers are both coming back from serious knee injuries. Phillips had an ACL surgically repaired in November and might be ready for training camp in August. Chubb suffered a catestrophic knee injury in December of 2023 and sat out all of last season. Robinson had a productive season as a rookie, delivering 26 tackles and six sacks in 565 defensive snaps. But he’s limited against the run.
▪ Possible targets: Chubb’s return virtually ensured addressing this position isn’t a top priority. Eagles pass rusher Josh Sweat sits at the top of the market, and will likely land a new deal that pays him more than the $10 million he made last season. Khalil Mack, a South Florida native, turns 34 this season. But the 11-year veteran might still have what it takes to be an impactful player. So does Joey Bosa, another South Florida native who recently got released. Re-signing Ogbah, who made $3.25 million last season, is also an option.
DEFENSIVE LINE
▪ Current roster: Zach Sieler, Neil Farrell Jr.
▪ Free agents: Calais Campbell, Da’Shawn Hand, Benito Jones, Matt Dickerson.
▪ Recent deal: The Dolphins signed Sieler to a four-year deal that was worth $36.4 million a month before the 2023 season opened and guaranteed $20 million of his salary. He’s since outperformed that deal, which pays the 29-year-old $7.8 million this season and expires after the 2026 season.
▪ Analysis: The Dolphins held opponents to 3.8 yards per carry and set a franchise record with 56 sacks in 2023. The yards-per-carry average ballooned up to 4.4 yards per attempt, and Miami produced 35 sacks last season. The drastic decline can be attributed to lackluster defensive line play, especially when Sieler and Campbell weren’t on the field. The Dolphins patched the unit with one-year deals last year, but it’s critical that Miami replaces those band-aids with long-term solutions either through free agency or the 2025 NFL Draft, which is supposedly stocked with solid defensive linemen. Drafting one early, even as high as pick No. 13, would give the Dolphins a younger presence on the interior of the defensive front.
▪ Possible targets: Re-signing Campbell should be a priority because of his production, leadership and his wisdom since there are few free agents who out performed the 38-year-old last season. Miami has expressed a desire to re-sign Campbell, but the money has to make sense for this 17-year veteran, who is chasing a ring. Last year he was one of the NFLs biggest bargains, earning $2.6 million once he triggered two incentives. If Campbell leaves to join a title contender the Dolphins will be forced to target someone such as B.J. Hill, Armon Watts, Jerry Tillery, Mario Edwards or Jay Tufele because Milton Williams is likely outside of Miami’s price range. Re-signing Hand, Jones and Dickerson hasn’t been ruled out.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
▪ Current roster: Jordyn Brooks, Channing Tindall, Dequan Jackson.
▪ Free agents: Tyrel Dodson, Anthony Walker Jr., Duke Riley.
▪ Recent deal: The Dolphins signed Brooks to a three-year deal worth $26 million last season, which guaranteed him $16 million. Miami also signed Walker to a one-year deal for the NFL minimum of $1.2 million, and guaranteed the often injured South Florida native $750,000.
▪ Analysis: The Dolphins tried out three players — David Long Jr., Walker and Dodson — as Brooks’ running mate at inside linebacker, and nobody was an ideal fit. Walker showed the most potential, and helped stabilize the defense. But like most seasons, he ended the season hampered by injuries, which should remind the Dolphins they can’t bank on the eight-year veteran as a 17-game starter. Dodson put up great statistics (107 tackles, two sacks and three interceptions) in the 17 games he played for the Seahawks and Dolphins last season. But his skill set makes him more of a weak-side linebacker, which is a duplication of Brooks, and the Dolphins need to find a run stuffer with range.
▪ Possible targets: Dre Greenlaw has a history with Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel from their time together in San Francisco, but he’s still working his way back from a knee injury he suffered in the 2023 postseason. That might bring his price down, but makes him a risky acquisition. Zach Cunningham, Devin White and Isaiah Simmons are also solid options available in free agency. But none of them have accomplished much more than Walker, who will likely take another hometown discount from Miami if offered. However, the Dolphins should be focused on getting younger and more athletic in this unit by addressing it in the 2025 NFL Draft.
CORNERBACKS
▪ Current roster: Jalen Ramsey, Kader Kohou, Storm Duck, Ethan Bonner, Cam Smith (IR in 2024), Isaiah Johnson, Ryan Cooper, Jason Maitre.
▪ Free agents: Kendall Fuller, Kader Kohou (exclusive rights free agent), Siran Neal.
▪ Recent deal: Last offseason the Dolphins signed Fuller to a two-year deal that was worth $16.5 million, and $7.8 million of it was guaranteed. The nine-year veteran, who sustained a troublesome knee injury in December, has since been released.
▪ Analysis: Miami continues its search for a starting boundary cornerback to put opposite Ramsey, and if we’re honest that player isn’t on the present roster. At this point we should know who Smith is based on his struggles the last two seasons, and Duck wasn’t much better as a rookie. Kohou, who is best utilized in the nickel spot, is a restricted free agent that Miami will likely place a $3.3 million tender on, giving them the opportunity to match any multiyear deal offer another NFL team makes. Expect the Dolphins to add a veteran who has a proven track record in the NFL, but general manager Chris Grier’s history of free agent signees and drafted players at this position has been fairly sketchy.
▪ Possible targets: Charvarius Ward is a talented cornerback who has history with McDaniel, but he’s coming off a down year where he dealt with injuries. That might bring the 28-year-old’s price down to $8 million-a-season range. Expect the Dolphins to be patient at cornerback because there are quite a few mature, but inexpensive options such as Rasul Douglas, Stephon Gilmore and Darius Slay expected to be available in the second and third wave of free agency, who will likely play for $4 million to $7 million.
SAFETIES
▪ Current roster: Patrick McMorris and Jordan Colbert.
▪ Free agents: Jevon Holland, Jordan Poyer, Elijah Campbell.
▪ Recent deal: Last offseason the Dolphins signed Poyer to a one-year deal worth $2 million, with $1 million of it being guaranteed. And Miami added Marcus Maye late, signing him to a one-year deal worth $1.4 million, of which $400,000 was guaranteed.
▪ Analysis: Don’t expect Holland, a 2021 second-round pick who turned into a four-year starter for the Dolphins, to return because his production doesn’t match his expected asking price (which is supposedly north of $14 million a season), and the Dolphins would likely prefer the compensatory pick that possibly comes with losing him. However, replacing Holland and Poyer, whose play last season hints retirement’s his next step, in one offseason won’t be easy, or cheap unless Miami goes with draft picks. Losing Campbell, who is a core special teams contributor, would also be troublesome. But the fourth-year veteran shouldn’t be too difficult to re-sign.
▪ Possible targets: 49ers free agent safety Talanoa Hufanga would fit perfectly in Anthony Weaver’s defense, but he might be out of Miami’s price range. Jacksonville’s Andre Cisco, Kansas City’s Justin Reid and Baltimore’s Marcus Williams could be reasonably priced. Justin Simmons, Quadre Diggs and Tyrann Mathieu are aged, therefore cheaper, but have the potential to still be impactful.
