Rasul Douglas, Dolphins
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Miami Dolphins cornerback Rasul Douglas reacting in the middle of an NFL game against the New York Jets.
The New York Jets still have money to spend.
Alex Kay of Bleacher Report explained why the Jets should spend some of that cap space on Miami Dolphins cornerback Rasul Douglas. He said it would be the “perfect” signing for the Jets at this stage of free agency.
“The Jets could also use help in a defensive backfield that has some talent but is short on experience after they shipped Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts last year. The 2026 campaign will be Rasul Douglas’ 10th in the NFL, and while he has never been to the Pro Bowl, he has allowed a passer rating against of less than 75 in two of the past three years—including 2025 with the Miami Dolphins,” Kay wrote.
“The 30-year-old isn’t going to be expensive, and his veteran presence would be welcome in a cornerback room that could use a steadying hand,” Kay added.
Douglas won a Super Bowl ring in his rookie year with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017. According to Over The Cap, the Jets have $39.5 million available in cap space, which ranks fifth most in the NFL.
A Cheap Investment for the Green and White
Douglas, 30, will turn 31 before the start of the 2026 season.
Last year, he signed a one-year, $1.57 million contract. According to Spotrac, he is projected to receive a significant raise in 2026. The calculated market value projects Douglas to command a one-year $4 million contract.
However, Douglas remains a free agent less than a month out from the 2026 NFL draft.
The 6-foot-2, 209-pound defensive back first entered the league in 2017 as the No. 99 overall pick in the third round.
Across his nine years at the NFL level, Douglas has appeared in 135 games and has made 93 starts.
With those opportunities, Douglas has collected 21 interceptions, 92 pass deflections, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, three sacks, five quarterback hits, 25 tackles for loss, and 503 total tackles.
Over the last four years, Douglas has appeared in 63 out of 68 possible games.
Most recently, he was with the Dolphins. Douglas finished with two interceptions, 13 pass deflections, and a forced fumble. He played in 91% of the defensive snaps for Miami, per Pro Football Reference.
Corner Is Listed as a Need for the Jets
ESPN’s Mina Kimes revealed the “biggest needs” remaining for every team in the NFL on her YouTube channel.
She listed the cornerback spot as a trouble area for the Jets.
The green and white have one locked-in starter at that position. Brandon Stephens is written in stone as a starter, and Jarvis Brownlee Jr is probably penciled in as a starter in the slot, but that could change.
This offseason, the Jets made one veteran addition with the signing of Nahshon Wright. Last year, he was a Pro Bowler with the Chicago Bears. He only signed a one-year deal with $3.5 million guaranteed.
That type of contract doesn’t guarantee him anything. The team is high on second-year corner Azareye’h Thomas. However, he is coming off shoulder surgery. He started his rookie year hurt and ended it hurt. That isn’t a good combo.
If he wins a job this summer, then that’ll be a nice result, but the Jets need to hope for the best and expect the worst. That will require adding another piece to this puzzle.
Whether that ends up being a veteran like Douglas or a young guy in the draft will be determined over the next month.