Dolphins add starting CB, depth on DL, but lose starter
On the fourth day of free agency, the Dolphins added a likely starting cornerback and depth at defensive line and tight end but lost another defensive starter.
Miami on Thursday agreed to terms with former Washington Commanders cornerback Kendall Fuller and former Detroit Lions defensive tackle Benito Jones, league sources told the Miami Herald. The Dolphins also reached an agreement to re-sign defensive lineman Da’Shawn Hand and sign former Kansas City Chiefs tight end Jody Fortson.
Meanwhile, Bleacher Report reported that safety DeShon Elliott, who started 15 games in the 2023 season, is leaving Miami to sign a two-year deal worth $6 million with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Fuller, an eight-year veteran, will sign a two-year deal worth $16.5 million, a source said. The 29-yearold just finished his second stint with Washington after being drafted by the team in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. This past season, Fuller started 15 games, recording 79 tackles, nine pass breakups and two interceptions. He allowed a career-worst nine touchdowns, according to Pro Football Reference, and his 120.4 passer rating allowed when targeted was the second-highest of his career. However, the entire Washington defense struggled, allowing the most passing yards in the NFL.
Fuller began his career as a slot corner but has lined up as an outside cornerback in recent years. Miami was in search of a veteran cornerback after releasing Xavien Howard.
Fuller also spent two seasons with the Chiefs in 2018 and 2019 and won a Super Bowl with them after
being dealt in the trade that sent quarterback Alex Smith to Washington. Fuller has played 117 games with 93 starts in his career, recording 486 tackles, 75 pass breakups and 16 interceptions.
Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said at the NFL Scouting Combine that the team is bullish on 2023 secondround pick Cam Smith, who played just 20 defensive snaps as a rookie. But Grier said Smith would have to compete for a spot. With Fuller’s ability to play in the slot and modern defense’s high usage of nickel packages, Smith could compete with third-year player Kader Kohou for a starting spot at outside cornerback. Fuller could also play outside, while Jalen Ramsey moves around the field. New defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said he intends to lean into Ramsey’s versatile skill set.
The Dolphins’ cornerback position also includes Nik Needham, who resigned with the team this week. Needham played sparingly upon his return from a torn Achilles he sustained in October 2022 but can play multiple positions in the secondary. Miami this week also signed former Buffalo Bills cornerback Siran Neal, but he has almost exclusively contributed on special teams in his career. Ethan Bonner, who appeared in three games and got snaps in the wild-card round game as an undrafted rookie, is also under contract for the 2024 season.
With the addition of Fuller, the Dolphins will likely field a secondary with two new starters in the 2024 season. Miami on Tuesday agreed to terms with former Bills safety Jordan Poyer. He is expected to form a new safety tandem alongside fourthyear player Jevon Holland amid the departures of Elliott and Brandon Jones (Denver Broncos).
The start of free agency has been one with considerable turnover on defense for the Dolphins, who also mutually parted ways with coordinator Vic Fangio after one season. The team released not only Howard but also multi-year starters in inside linebacker Jerome Baker and defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah. Miami has also seen five defensive contributors — Jones, Elliott, defensive tackles Christian Wilkins and Raekwon Davis and outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel — agree to sign elsewhere.
But the Dolphins’ newlook defense is taking shape in terms of personnel. In addition to Fuller, Poyer and Jones, the Dolphins have signed inside linebacker Jordyn Brooks and agreed to terms with fellow inside linebacker Anthony Walker Jr.
Brooks, who signed a three-year deal worth $26.25 million, is the likely replacement for Baker alongside David Long Jr. Miami has also agreed to terms with outside linebacker Shaq Barrett and defensive tackle Neville Gallimore.
Jones, who turns 27 in November, signed with Miami as an undrafted free agent out of Mississippi after the 2020 NFL Draft. He appeared in six games as a rookie, recording two tackles. Jones did not appear in a game in 2021, spending the season on the Dolphins’ practice squad. Miami waived Jones in August 2022 and he was quickly claimed by Detroit, where he has appeared in 32 games in the past two years.
Jones started 15 games in the 2023 season, recording 26 tackles and one sack. Jones, 6-1 and 335 pounds, could start at nose tackle in 2024 with Davis agreeing to sign with the Indianapolis Colts. Miami also needs to replace Wilkins, who signed with the Las Vegas Raiders.
Jones is the fourth defensive lineman to join the Dolphins since the end of the 2023 season. Miami also signed Isaiah Mack and Daviyon Nixon.
Hand, who turns 29 in November, signed with Miami last August. He appeared in 16 games in a reserve role, recording 17 tackles and one sack.
The addition of Fortson continues the Dolphins’ trend of developing tight ends out of players who didn’t play that position in college. Fortson, though, already has a big head start.
Fortson, 28, appeared in 13 games and had nine receptions for 108 yards and two touchdowns for Kansas City in the 2022 season.
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