It’s the first full day of free agency, and the Miami Dolphins‘ needs have come into focus.
They need at least one starting-caliber guard. They need another good defensive lineman. They could use depth pieces at wide receiver and safety.
And Miami absolutely, positively needs another cornerback to, at the very least, compete for the starting spot opposite Jalen Ramsey.
Miami Dolphins Need Another Cornerback
Xavien Howard is officially off the roster, cut Wednesday with both a post-June 1 and failed physical designation.
That means the Dolphins currently have six cornerbacks on their 2024 roster: Ramsey, Kader Kohou, Cam Smith, Siran Neal, Nik Needham, and Ethan Bonner.
The four corners not named Ramsey and Kohou had a combined 147 defensive snaps in 2023.
So either the Dolphins are expecting one of those four to take a massive leap forward in 2024 (Smith, a second-round pick a year ago, is the most likely), or they’re going to still make a significant addition to that position (or most likely, both).
“I think we’re very excited about Cam,” Dolphins GM Chris Grier said at the NFL Scouting Combine last month.” I think last preseason, you watch his preseason stuff, he played very well in the preseason. He got banged up at the end and then came back. At the end of the day, learning [Vic Fangio’s] system early, if you look at his history of guys with young players, it takes a little bit.
“He worked hard, and by the end of the season, we were really excited about it. Talking to Jalen Ramsey the other day, he was saying how he loves Cam’s game and thinks he’s going to be a good player. So no, we’re very strong in our belief in him.”
Certainly, that’s encouraging. But hope is not a plan, and if the Dolphins are just hoping the light comes on for Smith in Year 2, they’re setting themselves up for failure.
That’s why they should still actively look to upgrade — or at least supplement — in free agency or the NFL Draft.
Corners in Free Agency
We’re effectively in our fourth day of free agency, and there are still a number of solid cornerbacks still on the market.
Certainly, money is a concern. The Dolphins, as of Thursday, were right up against the cap max, so they would need to adjust some contracts to sign any of these players now.
With another $18 million coming off the books after June 1 due to the Howard cut, they could use some accounting tricks to borrow now and pay themselves back then.
If they do, these are the top options (with Spotrac’s estimated market value for those available):
- Kendall Fuller | Commanders (Four years, $54.6M; $13.6M AAV)
- Adoree’ Jackson | Giants (Four years, $45.4M; $11.3M AAV)
- Stephon Gilmore | Cowboys (One year, $11.1M)
- Ahkello Witherspoon | Rams (Two years, $20.5M; $10.3M AAV)
- Steven Nelson | Texans (Two years, $16.8M; $8.4M AAV)
- Levi Wallace | Steelers (Two years, $11.9M; $5.9M AAV)
- Xavien Howard | Dolphins
- Tre’Davious White | Bills
- Avonte Maddox | Eagles
- Isaac Yiadom | Saints
- Tre Herndon | Jaguars
Corners in the NFL Draft
Another real possibility: The Dolphins wait until after the NFL Draft to further address the position through free agency.
If they get to May 1 without making a move, it won’t impact their 2025 compensatory haul. And if they do draft a corner, even in the first round, the cost will likely still be less than signing a veteran.
KEEP READING: Miami Dolphins Build Out Back End of Roster as Free Agency Begins
While the Dolphins probably will miss out on the top of the cornerback market (Alabama’s Terrion Arnold and Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell will likely both be out of reach at 21), there should be tons of excellent options at both 21 and 55.
- Kool-Aid McKinstry | Alabama (17th on PFN Big Board)
- Nate Wiggins | Clemson (29th)
- T.J. Tampa | Iowa State (38th)
- Kamari Lassiter | Georgia (43rd)
- Max Melton | Rutgers (48th)
- Ennis Rakestraw Jr. | Missouri (51st)
- Mike Sainristil | Michigan (52nd)
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