Let’s Be Honest About Revamping The Dolphins Struggling Defense
Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images
Last week, we took a look at the Miami Dolphins offense and the changes that need to be made for them to be successful in 2025. This week it’s time to address the defense, where wholesale changes will be required for the unit to get off the field on third down. It turns out, you need to get those stops, as Dolphins fans found out during the many long drives throughout the season, where defenders walking around with their hands on their hips, trying to catch their breath was a common sight.
To make meaningful changes, the organization is first going to have to honestly assess what they have in front of them.
The first thing Miami needs to do on defense mirrors the offense’s No. 1 priority: fortify the trenches. If Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb can return to their 2023 season form after rehabilitating their respective season-ending injuries, the Dolphins will be on the right track. Those two are a terrifying duo, but add in Chop Robinson entering his second year, and they’ll have something special.
With health, the hard part is taken care of, but Miami still needs a young, ferocious defensive tackle to line up next to Zach Sieler. The team can’t count on 38-year-old Calais Campbell to be back around the team next season. While Campbell stuck it out until the end of 2024, his contract is up, leaving him free to join another team, and of course, there’s the chance he retires.
The Dolphins made a mistake by signing Campbell to only a one-year deal, but that’s looking back. Moving forward, the Phins would be best served by finding a young veteran free agent to start next to Sieler while also drafting a defensive tackle to groom and provide depth, something the Dolphins did not have last season.
When it comes to the linebacker position, the Dolphins and general manager Chris Grier struck gold last spring when they signed Anthony Walker Jr. and Jordyn Brooks in free agency. Walker played so well that he forced the Dolphins into a position of deciding between him and former team captain David Long Jr.
Walker won out, and Long was ultimately waived.
In the secondary, the Dolphins have all sorts of problems, despite Kendall Fuller and Jalen Ramsey both coming back. They’re both physical, high-end options with a wealth of experience. However, the Dolphins’ problem is they have no nickel or dime corners they can count on. Cam Smith will likely be a training camp casualty in 2025. Kader Kohou is playing fairly well, but gets beaten off the line too often and gives up too many yards. Storm Duck is a good special teams player, he’s not at the level required to even be a rotational member of the defensive backfield.
Then at safety, the Dolphins will more than likely lose Jevon Holland to free agency, as he could not agree to a contract extension last offseason, when Grier was giving them out like they were t-shirts. While he didn’t have an exceptional contract year, he’s still a very skilled player. Jordan Poyer, thankfully, signed a one-year deal and it is doubtful he will be back. People know who Poyer is because you always saw the name on the back of his jersey as he was chasing opposing ball carriers that sped past him. Marcus Maye was on a one-year deal and he did not do enough to show he deserves to come back. If he does, look for him to sign for the veteran minimum.
The only safety the Dolphins currently have under contract is Elijah Campbell, who played well in spots last season and started one game for the Dolphins. Look for Miami to push to sign Holland, at below his market value, with potential escalators based upon production. Miami will also look in free agency for another safety or two to sure up the backend. Miami will also look in the draft for a player like Malaki Starks from Georgia, who is as physical as they get and is a tremendous ball hawk.
Finally, the Dolphins might have to replace their defensive coordinator, as Anthony Weaver is on the short list for the New Orleans Saints’ head coaching position. If he leaves, chances are there will be an even greater upheaval on the defensive side of the ball. At the time of this writing, Weaver has not been offered the job, but it could be imminent. He would be the biggest loss the Dolphins have on defense, as he was making the team more physical and cutting down on broken tackles. They’ll need to find someone who can keep them going in that same direction as they seek to improve the unit.
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