Dolphins position review: Will there be a new starting safety next to Holland?
The Dolphins have one of the best young safeties in the NFL but a trio of players at his position group are set to hit free agency. With a new defensive coordinator, will Miami bring any back, or will the team look outside for a new addition?
In the 10th of a series of position reviews, the Miami Herald will examine the team’s safety situation. Next up is special teams.
2023 IN REVIEW
The Dolphins expected big things out of Jevon Holland under former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio in 2023. But injuries cut into what was expected to be a breakout season for Holland; he missed five of the last seven games of the season, including the wild card loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, because of sprained MCLs in both knees.
Miami entered training camp with a hole next to Holland, as Brandon Jones was recovering from a torn ACL he sustained in the 2022 season. DeShon Elliott, in his first season as a Dolphin, won the competition to play alongside Holland and was a serviceable starter. Though Jones wasn’t a full-time starter, he made six starts because of injuries to Holland and Elliott.
DEPTH CHART JEVON HOLLAND
Skinny: Injuries limited Holland to just 12 games played, the fewest of his young career. He recorded 74 tackles and one interception but missed four of the last six regular season games and didn’t play in the Dolphins’ playoff loss to Kansas City.
Contract: Holland, who turns 24 in March, is entering the final year of his four-year rookie contract. He has a cap hit of $2,773,401 but none of his $1,848,600 base salary is guaranteed.
DESHON ELLIOTT
Skinny: Elliott started 15 games, recording 82 tackles and one interception.
Contract: Elliott, who turns 27 in April, is an unrestricted free agent.
BRANDON JONES
Skinny: Jones was ready for the start of training camp after tearing his ACL in October 2022 but he was brought along slowly, which he acknowledged impacted his learning of a new defense. He still started six games because of injuries on the team and recorded 48 tackles and two interceptions.
Contract: Jones, who turns 26 in April, is an unrestricted free agent.
ELIJAH CAMPBELL
Skinny: Campbell appeared in 15 games, primarily on special teams, and started one game. He recorded 15 tackles and a pass deflection.
Contract: Campbell, who
turns 29 in August, is an unrestricted free agent.
OFFSEASON QUESTIONS
1. Does Miami bring back Elliott and/or Jones?
The Dolphins have greater priorities this offseason, namely resigning defensive tackle Christian Wilkins and solidifying the offensive line. But Miami must find a capable starter next to Holland in 2024. New defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said the foundation of the scheme will be what he saw with the Baltimore Ravens. And like Fangio, Baltimore used high rates of two-high safety coverages.
Elliott was a solid starter and overlapped with Weaver for one season in 2021, so he knows the
Ravens’ defense. It’d be a smart and rather inexpensive move to bring him back to Miami. Jones got to show a different skill set in 2023, but his strength still lies in blitzing and making plays closer to the line of scrimmage. Weaver said the Dolphins’ defense will be multiple and flexible, and the Ravens frequently used three-safety packages to allow Kyle Hamilton to roam all over the field. So, there could be space for Jones to make an impact even if Elliott returns.
2. Does Holland return to a more versatile role?
Holland’s impact in 2023 was stymied by his bothersome knee injury, but even when he was on the field, he didn’t have the multifaceted role that many envisioned he would under Fangio. Holland’s snaps near the line of scrimmage declined and he didn’t blitz nearly as much as he did in the first two years of his career.
Weaver has already embraced using cornerback Jalen Ramsey all over the field, calling him the “ultimate chess piece.” Could Weaver do the same with Holland? He’s shown the ability to contribute in a bevy of ways and the Dolphins should lean into it again in 2024.
3. Do the Dolphins sign Holland to an extension?
The 2021 NFL Draft brought great returns for the Dolphins but the days of those young talents playing on cheap rookie deals are coming to an end. The draft class is eligible to sign extensions this offseason and that includes Holland, who is entering the final year of his contract. Unlike firstround picks Jaylen Waddle
and Jaelan Phillips, there is no fifth-year option for Holland, which increases the urgency for Miami to get a deal done.
Holland told reporters on locker cleanout day that he was unaware he was able to sign an extension this offseason. But it’s something his representatives should bring to the Dolphins’ attention, even as the front office has more pressing matters to handle. Like Waddle, it could be beneficial for Miami to lock up a young, ascending player early instead of waiting an extra year as salaries continue to balloon.
POTENTIAL ADDITIONS
Re-signing Elliott and Jones shouldn’t be out of the question, given Elliott’s familiarity with the scheme Weaver is bringing and Jones’ unique skill set. But if the Dolphins want an outside addition, the Ravens’ Geno Stone ranked second in the NFL with seven interceptions. And he shouldn’t command a huge market in free agency.
The Chicago Bears recently cut Eddie Jackson, a two-time Pro Bowler and one-time All-Pro selection, in a cost-saving move.
Jackson, 30, has dealt with injuries in the last couple of seasons and is a few years removed from the production that at one time made him the highest-paid safety in the league. But if the Dolphins think he can still make an impact, he can likely be signed for a much cheaper deal than he signed with the Bears, which averaged $14.6 million per year.
His signing also wouldn’t count toward the NFL’s compensatory pick formula since he was released.
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