The Dolphins, in need of two veteran starting cornerbacks, hosted former Bills starter Rasul Douglas on a recent visit but the sides could not agree to a contract.
According to a source, the Dolphins made an offer that was rejected. Though the door wasn’t ruled out on further contact and negotiations, Douglas has moved on to a Tuesday visit with the Seattle Seahawks, which are considered a good scheme fit.
Douglas met with Dolphins officials and coaches during his visit last week, but the two sides weren’t very close on their financial visions for a deal.
Miami needs two starters to replace Kendall Fuller (who was released and remains unsigned) and Jalen Ramsey, whom the team said it intends to trade in what Miami calls a mutual decision.
Aside from nickel cornerback Kader Kohou, the Dolphins don’t have a proven starting cornerback on their team. Their other corners under contract: former second-round pick Cam Smith, Storm Duck, Kendall Sheffield (who signed Monday after a weekend tryout but hasn’t started a game since 2020), rookie fifth-rounder Jason Marshall Jr., undrafted rookies BJ Adams and Ethan Robinson, Jason Maitre, Artie Burns, Isaiah Johnson and Ethan Bonner.
One of the best remaining unsigned cornerbacks, former Fort Lauderdale Thomas Aquinas star Asante Samuel Jr., underwent neck surgery in April, ESPN reported this week. Samuel, who visited the Saints on Monday, has a check-up scheduled in early July, after which he will meet with several teams. ESPN said he will be available to play this season.
The other veteran corners still available include:
▪ James Bradberry: A second-team All Pro in 2022, Bradberry missed last season’s Eagles Super Bowl run because of a torn Achilles sustained in a late August practice.
He had 19 interceptions and 112 passes defended in eight seasons. He recently visited the Bills, and there was initial contact between the Dolphins and Bradberry’s camp a few weeks ago, but it’s unclear if Miami will pursue him.
▪ Mike Hilton: The Bengals’ skilled 5-9 nickel corner made 10 starts for the Bengals and had a 92 passer rating against. He was linked to Miami early in free agency. If the Dolphins sign Hilton as their top nickel corner, Kohou likely would play on the boundary instead of nickel corner.
▪ Stephon Gilmore: He made 15 starts for Minnesota, at age 34, and had a 94.1 passer rating against. He’s past his prime but still a decent player.
▪ CJ Henderson: The former ninth overall pick played in 12 games and started seven for Carolina and had a 106.8 passer rating against. It would be difficult to project him as a starter.
▪ Jack Jones: His career started promisingly as a fourth-round pick of New England in 2022, but he struggled with the Raiders, allowing 10 touchdown receptions that overshadowed his three interceptions last season.
He also permitted a 115.8 passer rating in his coverage area and allowed 11 completions of 20 plus yards. The Raiders released him April 6 after failing to find a trade partner. Jones had five picks in 24 games with the Raiders, who signed him after New England cut him during the 2023 season more than a week after he missed curfew before a game. He had two interceptions for New England in both 2022 and 2023.
Among others available: Emmanuel Mosley, Fuller, ex-Dolphin Xavien Howard (who didn’t play last season), Daryl Worley, Cam Sutton and Fabian Moreau.
Hill update
Agent Drew Rosenhaus said on his weekly Fox-7 segment that Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill’s second wrist procedure last week was planned and involved “taking the pins out” and “the recovery is going great” and “we expect him to be ready for the start of training camp.”
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Barry Jackson has written for the Miami Herald since 1986 and has written the Florida Sports Buzz column since 2002.