All Dolphins

Dolphins Pick Up Safety Elliott

The Miami Dolphins added another player for their defense via free agency

Alain Poupart

Dolphins Pick Up Safety Elliott
Dolphins Pick Up Safety Elliott /
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The Miami Dolphins have another contender for the starting safety job opposite Jevon Holland.

The team agreed to terms with unrestricted free agent DeShon Elliott, according to a league source.

Elliott is a five-year NFL veteran who started 13 of the 14 games he played for the Detroit Lions last season.

Here's what All Lions publisher John Maakaron had to say about Elliott:

"In 14 games last season, Elliott recorded one interception, three passes defensed, 96 tackles and three quarterback hits. His PFF grade of 66.5 ranked 39th among 75 qualifying safeties.

"His veteran presence added to the secondary, especially when things started rocky for Aaron Glenn's secondary to start the year. When Tracy Walker went down for the season with a torn Achilles, the team looked to Elliott to step in and aid in Kerby Joseph's development.

"When Elliott missed Weeks 16 and 17 against the Panthers and Bears, the inexperienced Ifeatu Melifonwu did not provide the same productivity. Miami is getting a solid veteran who should adapt quickly and fit in in Vic Fangio's defense."

ELLIOTT TO COMPETE FOR STARTING JOB IN MIAMI

The Dolphins have a star-studded secondary after the acquisition of Jalen Ramsey to join three-time Pro Bowl selection Xavien Howard and star-in-the-making Jevon Holland, but they do have an opening at the safety spot opposite Holland.

With 35 career starts, including all 16 for the Baltimore Ravens in 2020 and another six in 2021 before he landed on injured reserve, Elliott has the most starting experience of any safety currently on the roster.

Brandon Jones was the opening-day starter in 2022, but he's coming off a torn ACL and also might have been a better fit for the previous scheme than the one that Fangio will bring with him.

Other contenders for the starting job include Verone McKinley III and Elijah Campbell.

Elliott played collegiately at the University of Texas, where he was teammates with Brandon Jones.

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Alain Poupart
ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of All Dolphins and co-host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press, the Dolphins team website, and the Fan Nation Network (part of Sports Illustrated). In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.

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