The Dolphins have moved into the second week of free agency with a handful of critical and glaring holes on their roster: a starting cornerback; two defensive linemen (Miami hopes Calais Campbell will fill one of those spots); a starting guard opposite prized free agent pickup James Daniels; and perhaps, an established safety to compete with four young players.
Campbell is weighing interest from the Dolphins and Ravens. Beyond Campbell’s slot, the other aforementioned positions could be filled with value free agents, veterans who are cut later this offseason or picks No. 13 or 48 in April’s NFL Draft.
Where things stand now from our standpoint (and a reminder the Dolphins don’t issue a depth chart until a few days before the preseason opener).
Quarterback
▪ Starter: Tua Tagovailoa. The Dolphins so far have opted not to restructure his contract, which would create $19 million in instant cap space but also add $4.8 million cap charges to his cap number in 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029.
▪ Backup: Zach Wilson, who has a cannon for an arm but also the second-worst passer rating among active quarterbacks (minimum 15 starts).
▪ What’s next: A rookie quarterback likely will be added during the draft process — during or after. Tyler Huntley remains a possibility to be re-signed. Former Dolphins backup Skylar Thompson is gone; he entered the weekend as the only quarterback on Pittsburgh’s roster.
Running back
▪ Starters: De’Von Achane and Alec Ingold (fullback).
▪ Backups: Jaylen Wright and Alexander Mattison.
▪ What’s next: At least two more will be added. Mattison looks like the logical option in short yardage; in his career, he’s 21 for 26 on third or fourth down with 1, 2 or 3 yards needed, per Pro Football Reference. Agent Drew Rosenhaus said Jeff Wilson Jr.’s return hasn’t been ruled out.
Wide receiver
▪ Starters: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle.
▪ Top backups: Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (nine touchdown receptions for Tennessee last season) and Malik Washington.
▪ Battling for roster spots: Dee Eskridge, Erik Ezukanma, Tarik Black, Tahj Washington (who are all under contract) and a few more players to be added in the draft and free agency.
▪ What’s next: Expect at least one veteran to be added and at three to be signed during the draft process. Grant DuBose and River Cracraft remain unsigned free agents. DuBose’s return has not been ruled out; Cracraft’s future is uncertain.
Tight end
▪ Starter: Jonnu Smith.
▪ Top in-line blockers/starters: Newcomer Pharoah Brown (who started seven games for Seattle last season and is a skilled in-line blocker) and Julian Hill competing.
▪ Battling for roster spots: Tanner Connor, Hayden Rucci and players to be added in the draft process.
▪ What’s next: There will be at least one legitimate challenger added for the No. 4 tight end job to compete with Connor. And Hill won’t definitely be gifted a job if Brown beats him out, even though Hill has strong supporters internally.
Offensive line
▪ Starting left tackle: Terron Armstead (more than decent chance he retires) or Patrick Paul. The Dolphins have said they’re conducting business as if Armstead won’t be a part of the team.
▪ Starting right tackle: Austin Jackson.
▪ Starting guards: Former Steelers standout Daniels (expected to be back from Achilles injury for training camp), a pick at No. 13, a veteran to be signed in the coming months or Liam Eichenberg.
▪ Starting center: Aaron Brewer.
▪ Backup offensive linemen: Eichenberg is a sure thing to stick (as a backup guard and center) if he moves from a starter to reserve. Andrew Meyer (kept on the 53 all last season despite not playing a snap) and Chasen Hines will be competing with undetermined other interior linemen for a final guard spot on the roster.
If Armstead retires or is cut, newcomer Larry Borom (the former Bears player) would be the likely No. 3 tackle, though I wouldn’t rule out Kion Smith, because general manager Chris Grier has spoken highly of him. Borom also can play guard in a pinch.
Jackson Carman will compete with former Washington Commanders fourth-round pick Braeden Daniels, Ryan Hayes and Smith for the No. 4 tackle job if Armstead retires (behind Jackson, Paul and likely Borom).
▪ What’s next: The Dolphins still need one more starting guard and could find one in free agency or with the 13th pick in the draft (Alabama’s Tyler Booker, Texas’ Kelvin Banks or Missouri’s Armand Membou).
Defensive line
▪ Starting defensive linemen: Zach Sieler and two players to be determined.
▪ Backup defensive linemen: Journeymen Matt Dickerson and Neil Farrell, who are the only other two defensive linemen under contract.
▪ What’s next: The Dolphins eagerly await word from Calais Campbell about whether he will return to the Dolphins, retire or join a contender like Baltimore. Miami badly wants him back.
If Campbell says no, the best available 3-4 defensive end is probably Za’Darius Smith, who had nine sacks in a combined 15 starts for Detroit and Cleveland last season. Jonathan Bullard, who had 41 tackles (seven for loss) and one sack in 17 starts for Minnesota, also would be an interesting option.
Among other unsigned veteran starting defensive ends/tackles with the girth at least somewhat similar to the 307-pound Campbell, there’s also Clelin Ferrell (14 games, 10 starts, 4.5 sacks for Washington), Taven Bryan (six sacks for the Colts last season), DeMarcus Walker (47 tackles, 3.5 starts in 17 games for Chicago last season), John Cominsky (once a decent starter for Detroit who missed all of last season with a knee injury), Charles Omenihu (had seven sacks for Chiefs in 2023 but spent the first 11 weeks recovering from a torn ACL last season) and Jonah Williams (a 16-game starter for the Rams in 2023 who was a backup for Minnesota, the Rams and Detroit last season).
The Dolphins will sign at least one nose tackle, probably at or close to the minimum, with former Dolphins Benito Jones, Raekwon Davis, Jonathan Jenkins, Jordan Phillips among more than two dozen still available.
That group of unsigned veterans also includes Folo Fatukosi (11 starts for Texans last season), Linval Joseph, Jonathan Hankins and Byron Cowart.
Davis, who was drafted by the Dolphins in the second round, recently was released by the Colts with a non-football illness designation. He has been dealing with high blood pressure issues.
Of the 65 remaining defensive tackles or ends (per spotrac.com), only Omenihu ($8 million with Chiefs), Walker ($7 million with the Bears), Davis ($7 million with the Colts), Fatukasi ($5.1 million with Houston) and Cominsky ($4.2 million with the Bears) earned more than $4 million.
Most nose tackles still available played on low-money deals last season, with former Dolphin Davis the one exception.
Linebackers
▪ Starters inside: Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson.
▪ Backups inside: K.J. Britt (an 11-game starter for Tampa Bay who will get a chance to compete with Dodson) and Channing Tindall, who didn’t play a single defensive snap in his third season. The Dolphins likely another veteran or two.
▪ Starters outside: Jaelan Phillips (coming off an ACL tear last September) and Bradley Chubb (who hasn’t played since Jan. 1, 2024 because of his knee injury).
▪ Backups outside: Chop Robinson, Quinton Bell, Cameron Goode, Mo Kamara and likely another veteran or two to be added this offseason. Agent Drew Rosenhaus said on his WSVN 7 Fox segment that the Dolphins have offered a contract to re-sign Emmanuel Ogbah but “we haven’t found common ground.”
▪ What’s next: The Dolphins need more depth inside and outside and likely will add a handful of linebackers in the draft process.
Safeties
▪ Starters: Open competition among Melifonwu, Davis, Elijah Campbell and more players likely to be added.
▪ Backups: Patrick McMorris and whoever doesn’t start among the aforementioned. Those four players should all be on the team. Second-year player Jordan Colbert also will compete for a job.
▪ What’s next: The Dolphins could use an established player like Justin Simmons to give them a reliable veteran presence. Perhaps Simmons or a similar veteran could fall through the cracks in free agency. Safety is an option at No. 13 — Georgia’s Malaki Starks or South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori, who vertical jumped 43 inches and broad jumped 11 feet, 6 inches, both the best among any defensive back this year at the NFL Combine.
Cornerback
▪ Starters: Jalen Ramsey, Kader Kohou (outside or nickel) and TBA.
▪ Backups: Monday addition Artie Burns (who played just 51 defensive snaps for Seattle last season), Cam Smith and Storm Duck likely will compete for the fourth job behind Ramsey, Kohou and whatever veteran is eventually added. Ryan Cooper Jr., Ethan Bonner, Isaiah Johnson and Jason Maitre will compete with a new crop of undrafted rookies (and perhaps a drafted rookie) for a job.
▪ What’s next: The Dolphins must find a veteran cornerback from what’s left. There are only seven remaining cornerbacks who started at least seven games last season and a handful of others who were starters before 2024.
The most accomplished remaining: Asante Samuel (visited Arizona last week); Rasul Douglas (poor 122 passer rating against for Buffalo last season) James Bradberry (missed all of last season with a torn Achilles; was second team All Pro in 2022) ... Stephon Gilmore (made 15 starts for Minnesota, at age 34, and had a 94.1 passer rating against).. Mike Hilton (skilled 5-9 nickel corner made 10 starts for the Bengals and had a 92 passer rating against); Tre’Davious White (the former Bills starter had a 122.8 passer rating against in 11 games)
Michigan cornerback Will Johnson also is a top option for Miami’s pick at No. 13, though Mel Kiper projects him to go 11th to the 49ers.
This story was originally published March 17, 2025 at 3:15 PM.
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Barry Jackson has written for the Miami Herald since 1986 and has written the Florida Sports Buzz column since 2002.