Who Will Be Focal Point of Dolphins Rebuilt Defense?

A position-by-position breakdown of what the Miami Dolphins defense looks following the first wave of free agency

Miami Dolphins linebacker Jaelan Phillips (15) celebrates an interception during the second half of / Jim Rassol / USA TODAY NETWORK

The tone-setters of the Miami Dolphins defense for the past few seasons have all left the building.

Christian Wilkins, the defense’s emotional leader, Xavien Howard, the most productive draftee of this decade, and Jerom Baker, a pillar of consistency, have exited stage left.

Wilkins signed a massive free agent deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. Howard and Baker, who were each released to create cap space, will be playing elsewhere in 2024 (Baker signed with Seattle and Howard will likely join a team in April), and as a result the Dolphins defense will be forced to forge a new identity.

One with newly hired defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver serving as its conductor.

Here's a breakdown of what Weaver will have to work with from the Dolphins' existing defensive roster after the first wave of free agency, and a snapshot of the players who could be called on to forge Miami’s new defensive identity.

Here is a look at the Dolphins offensive depth chart breakdown.

DOLPHINS EDGE PLAYERS (6)

Signed: Jaelan Phillips (injured), Bradley Chubb (injured), Shaquil Barrett, Cameron Goode (injured), Quinton Bell, Zeke Vandenburgh

Free agents: Emmanuel Ogbah (released), Justin Houston, Bruce Irvin, Melvin Ingram

Analysis: This unit helped the Dolphins set a franchise record for sacks in a season (56), and did it without the top three edge players finishing the season because of the Achilles tendon injury Phillips suffered in November, the ACL injury Chubb suffered in December, and the foot injury Andrew Van Ginkel suffered in January. Van Ginkel signed with the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent, which led to the addition of Barrett, who is a more accomplished pass rusher, but it’s as versatile. The fact that three edge players (Goode too) are facing at least nine-month rehabilitation periods could make adding another edge player in free agency or the draft a top priority. But it’s possible - not likely, but possible - that Phillips and Chubb could be ready to play in September. It’s also possible that Bell and Vandenburgh, two youngsters Miami spent time grooming last season, could contribute on a regular basis, or that Miami could re-sign veterans like Ingram and Malik Reed to hold the unit down.

DOLPHINS DEFENSIVE TACKLES (8)

Signed: Zach Sieler, Da'Shawn Hand, Jonathan Harris, Benito Jones, Neville Gallimore, Isaiah Mack, Daviyon Nixon, Brandon Pili

Analysis: Wilkins and Sieler collectively had the most productive season a Dolphins defensive tackle tandem has ever had, combining for 128 tackles, 19 sacks, forcing two fumbles and recovering another four. They were the main factors that allowed the Dolphins defense to rank seventh defending the run (97.1 rushing yards allowed per game). The Dolphins are attempting to replace Wilkins and Raekwon Davis, who signed with the Indianapolis Colts, with five journeymen whose previous teams viewed them as expendable, Hand, a sparingly used player who was re-signed, and Pili, a second-year player who was developed on the practice squad last season. That’s asking for trouble, which is why it’s a safe bet that Miami will address the defensive tackle void early in the 2024 NFL draft, or via a trade.

DOLPHINS INSIDE LINEBACKERS (5)

Signed: Jordyn Brooks, David Long Jr., Anthony Walker Jr., Duke Riley, Channing Tindall

Free agents: Calvin Munson

Analysis: Baker, Long and Riley all had productive seasons when healthy, but Miami ended Baker’s six-year run as a starter for the Dolphins to create $9.8 million in cap space. That money was subsequently used to add Brooks, who has averaged 152 tackles the past three seasons, which equates to 9.3 per game, and Walker, who has started 75 games and produced three 100-plus tackle seasons in his seven-year career. Long, who led Miami with a career-high 113 tackles last season, will likely be paired with one of those two newcomers, and Riley will likely remain a core special teams contributor. Tindall, the Dolphins’ third-round pick in the 2022 draft, hasn’t developed in his two seasons and could be on borrowed time because of his slow play speed. The Dolphins might need to consider moving Tindall to the edge, where he can rely more on his athleticism because the instincts aren't present.

DOLPHINS CORNERBACKS (7)

Signed: Jalen Ramsey, Kendall Fuller, Kader Kohou, Nik Needham, Cam Smith, Siran Neal, Ethan Bonner

Free agents: Xavien Howard (released), Keion Crossen (released), Eli Apple, Justin Bethel

Analysis: Ramsey and Howard were one of the NFL’s top cornerback duos when they were both healthy for a midseason stretch of games. During that period the Dolphins defense rose in their standing, getting as high as the NFL’s fourth-best defense heading into the Ravens loss. Unfortunately, that stretch of games was short-lived because of Howard’s season-ending foot injury, which happened on the first series of the Ravens' loss. Releasing Howard as a June 1 release creates $18.5 million in cap space the Dolphins can use two months from now. Dolphins used some of it to sign Fuller, who has pulled down 16 interceptions, forced two fumbles and recorded two sacks in his 117 NFL games, which includes 93 starts. Expect the eighth-year veteran to be the boundary cornerback opposite Ramsey. Kohou and Needham will probably compete to determine who is Miami’s nickel cornerback. Both have seasons as starters in that role. The hope is that Smith, a 2023 second-round pick, matures enough to be counted on by Miami’s new defensive coaches. Expect the Dolphins to add at least two more cornerbacks before training camp because depth is annually an issue at this position.

DOLPHINS SAFETIES (3)

Signed: Jevon Holland, Jordan Poyer, Elijah Campbell

Analysis: Brandon Jones signed a lucrative contract with the Denver Broncos, and DeShon Elliott joined the Pittsburgh Steelers as a free agent. That motivated the Dolphins to sign Poyer, a former Pro Bowl talent who has contributed 806 tackles, 24 interceptions, 12 sacks and nine forced fumbles in his 11 seasons. Poyer’s wisdom and maturity could help Holland take the next step as an NFL veteran, becoming the versatile, playmaking safety he has the talent to be. This is a critical season for Holland, who has started 42 games in his first three seasons, because he’ll be playing on the final year of his rookie deal ($3.3 million salary in 2024) unless Miami signs him to an extension. Campbell has spent the past three seasons as a core special teams contributor, but the former cornerback possesses the talent to do more. Don’t be surprised if the Dolphins continue to sign safeties, or add some through the draft because this happens to be one of Miami’s thinnest units.

DOLPHINS SPECIAL TEAMS (3)

Signed: K Jason Sanders, LS Blake Ferguson, P Jake Bailey

Analysis: The Dolphins decided to restructure Sanders’ contact during the 2023 season. The move lowered the kicker’s cap hit from $3.7 million to $2.4 million last season. But Sanders, who made 24 of 28 field goals last season and missed just one extra point, is due nearly $3.8 million in 2024, and none of it is guaranteed. He’ll be the fourth-highest-paid kicker in the NFL. Miami signed Bailey to a new two-year deal that could be worth $5 million before free agency began. By re-signing Braxton Berrios the Dolphins retained last year’s kickoff and punt returner.