Kelly: Does Miami’s defense have foundational pieces in 2026? | Opinion
The shelves of the Miami Dolphins defense are virtually empty when it comes to talent heading into 2026.
This season, the Dolphins’ defense struggled in points allowed (ranked 21st), run stopping (24th), sack production (15th), and turnover production (tied with six other teams for 11th), and there’s a chance Miami might be searching for nearly half a dozen defensive starters this offseason.
Is Bradley Chubb part of Miami’s future, or would the team prefer gaining $20.2 million in cap space his release would create? And do the Dolphins have a starter to put opposite him.
Are any of Miami’s starting cornerbacks or safeties worth bringing back?
These are questions whoever runs the franchise next season must answer, but here’s a look at what the defensive side of the Dolphins roster might look like in 2026, factoring in contracts and salaries.
EDGE RUSHERS
▪ On the roster: Bradley Chubb, Chop Robinson, Cameron Goode, Quinton Bell, Derrick McClendon (practice squad), K.C. Ossai (practice squad).
▪ Under contract in 2026: Chubb, Robinson.
▪ Analysis: One of Miami’s toughest offseason decisions will be what to do with Chubb, whose 8.5 sacks leads the team. Chubb, who turns 30 in June, is under contract for $19.45 million. However, the Dolphins would clear $7.34 million in cap space by releasing him, and $20.23 million releasing him with a June 1 designation. However, cutting Chubb would eliminate one of the team’s top defenders in 2025, and there’s very little else on the roster. The Dolphins moved Jaelan Phillips, an impending free agent, at the trade deadline to get a 2026 third-round pick from the Philadelphia Eagles. That provided Robinson the opportunity to showcase himself as a starter, but the 2024 first-round pick struggled in his second NFL season, contributing just 21 tackles and four sacks in 417 defensive snaps. Robinson could blossom into a pass-rushing threat, but he’s a very scheme-driven player, and if the Dolphins switch to a 4-3-based defense in the offseason he could become collateral loss in a regime change. Goode, Bell and McClendon have upside, but all could be re-signed if the goal is to retain them.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
▪ On the roster: Zach Sieler, Benito Jones (IR), Kenneth Grant (R), Jordan Phillips (R), Zeek Biggers (R), Matthew Butler, Alex Huntley (practice squad), Simeon Barrow Jr. (practice squad).
▪ Under contract in 2026: Sieler, Grant, Phillips, Biggers.
▪ Analysis: Sieler and his unit got off to a slow start in 2025, but finished strong, effectively anchoring Miami’s defensive front, which allowed 4.6 yards per carry, and 125.5 rushing yards per game, which are each more than the league average. Sieler enters this season’s final game with 44 tackles, 5.5 sacks and one fumble recovery, which proves he’s still an impactful player despite turning 31 in September. Jones was serviceable (15 tackles, one sack in 261 snaps) for the second straight season, but it appears Miami won’t need him moving forward because Grant, Phillips and Biggers all showed upside in the second half of the season. However, their struggles early in the season contributed to Miami’s 1-6 start because every NFL team was pummeling the Dolphins on the ground in the first half of the year. After spending an entire offseason in an NFL program expect all three to make a significant jump next season if they manage to stay healthy.
INSIDE LINEBACKER
▪ On the roster: Jordyn Brooks, Tyrel Dodson, Willie Gay Jr., K.J. Britt, Jackson Woodard, Jordan Colbert (IR), Caleb Johnson (R), Jimmy Ciarlo (practice squad), Andre Carter II (practice squad).
▪ Under contract in 2026: Brooks, Dodson, Woodard.
▪ Analysis: In their first full season as Miami’s inside linebacker duo, Brooks and Dodson combined for 195 tackles, 8.5 sacks and one interception, becoming the best linebacker duo the Dolphins have had since Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett in 2012. With both under contract for 2026 they will likely be able to turn up the volume on their chemistry next season. However, expect both Brooks, who is slated to make $8,375,000 in the final year of his deal, and Dodson, who will earn $3 million in the final year of his two-year contract signed last offseason, could be seeking pay raises. Gay and Britt are free agents who shouldn’t be too difficult to re-sign, and Colbert, a converted safety, Woodard and Ciarlo are young players who might be worthy of a continued investment if re-signed for the NFL minimum.
CORNERBACK
▪ On the roster: Rasul Douglas, Jack Jones, Jason Marshall Jr. (R), Ethan Bonner, Kader Kohou (IR), Storm Duck (IR), Juju Brents (IR), Artie Burns (IR), Ethan Robinson, Jason Maitre (IR), Kendall Sheffield (IR), Clarence Lewis (practice squad)
▪ Under contract in 2026: Marshall, Brents, Duck, Bonner (RFA), Robinson, Maitre
Douglas was the biggest bargain in the NFL considering he made $1.4 million this season, and turned in one the better seasons from an NFL cornerback in 2026. According to Pro Football Focus, Douglas is ranked 13th out of 113 qualifying cornerbacks this season. The 31-year-old has a passer rating of 65.2 when targeted, which is eighth in the NFL among cornerbacks who are targeted 40 or more times this season. He should be a priority to re-sign, but in his own words Douglas said he’s not “playing for free again.” Jack Jones, who earned $1.1 million and is an impending free agent, hasn’t been as impactful because of his hot-and-cold nature. But he has been serviceable. Kohou, who has started 38 games for the Dolphins before tearing an ACL in training camp and missing the 2025 season, will be an unrestricted free agent. Brents sustained a season-ending foot injury right when he started shining as a starter. He will have a chance to compete for a starting role because he’s under contract for $1.8 million. Marshall, Duck and Bonner all have upside, but are still in the developmental stages.
SAFETY
▪ On the roster: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ashtyn Davis, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Dante Trader Jr. (R), Isaiah Johnson (IR), Elijah Campbell (IR), Jack Henderson (practice squad)
▪ Under contract in 2026: Fitzpatrick, Trader Jr., Johnson
▪ Analysis: Fitzpatrick had a solid season, contributing 82 tackles, one interception, one sack and one forced fumble. But is that worth $15.6 million in 2026? The Dolphins would gain $5.8 million in cap space if they released the former All-Pro safety, or traded him. Trader had a solid rookie season, starting three games and contributing 48 tackles, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in the 16 games he played. Johnson, a converted cornerback, shined on special teams in the four games he played before tearing his ACL in practice. He will likely spend 2026 rehabbing since his injury occurred in December. Davis and Melifonwu had decent seasons, but neither shined as a starter in their best NFL opportunities. Campbell was the Dolphins’ top special teams player before ending the year on injured reserve. He should be a priority to re-sign because he’s Miami’s top gunner on special teams.
