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General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan has a decision to make on Rasul Douglas
The Miami Dolphins roster in 2025 was not as strong as it had been in past years, which is why general manager Chris Grier was let go during the season. The team had given out large contracts to star players who did not perform the way they were expected to. However, they did have some nice under-the-radar moves these past few offseasons.
In particular, the 2024 offseason featured some solid signings for the Dolphins. During that offseason, Miami signed Aaron Brewer and Jordyn Brooks, both of whom made All-Pro teams in the 2025 season. While the 2025 offseason did not feature the same success, as their top free agent addition played in only three snaps this season, they did sign one cornerback who was among the best bargain deals in football. Now, the team must decide whether to re-sign him or let him walk in free agency.
Miami Dolphins Decision on Rasul Douglas
Entering the 2026 offseason, the Miami Dolphins have 29 players set to hit free agency. That is not counting veteran players like Tyreek Hill and Tua Tagovailoa, who are not expected to be a part of the organization next season. The team is in a difficult position as they are projected to have the fourth-least cap space according to OverTheCap.
Sports Illustrated’s Dante Collinelli wrote about the difficult decision the Dolphins will have to make on cornerback Rasul Douglas, whom he labeled as “the Miami Dolphins’ best free agent this offseason.” When making the case for bringing Douglas back, Collinelli mentioned his strong 2025 season, saying, “Douglas’ case is almost entirely based on the fact that he had a great 2025 season. Re-signing Douglas would give the Dolphins a familiar, reliable veteran presence in a room that is likely to be filled with younger, inexperienced players next season.”
However, when making the counterargument on why Miami should let Douglas walk in free agency, Collinelli noted the cornerback’s age and the fact Douglas may command a large contract after his strong season. He wrote, “Miami might not want to invest in a player with little to no upside for the future, especially at a position like cornerback. Although the team won’t say it publicly, 2026 will likely be a rebuilding year. If the team is on the same page about that, perhaps it would be more beneficial to go young and cheap at cornerback.”
Rasul Douglas Thoughts on Returning to Miami
Ultimately, Collinelli made the decision that it was best for Miami to let go of its top free agent. He said, “It probably makes more sense to let Douglas at least explore free agency. Signing him up front would be super limiting for the rest of the Dolphins’ free agency plans, unless Miami can get him on a dirt-cheap deal.”
With the Dolphins not expected to be a contender in the 2026 season, it seems far-fetched that Douglas would be willing to take a hometown discount for a team he spent only one season with. However, Douglas did express interest in returning to the Dolphins in 2026. When a fan told him on X that he would love to see him back in Miami, Douglas replied, “Hopefully.” The former Super Bowl champion impressed in his one season in Miami and could provide a solid veteran presence if Miami tends to go with younger players in the secondary.
Another possible option the Dolphins have is replacing Douglas with a draft selection. A new mock draft by ESPN’s Matt Miller has the Dolphins selecting cornerback Jermod McCoy out of Tennessee. Miller wrote, “Players who sit out a season due to a torn ACL don’t typically get picked this high, but McCoy is worthy of being an exception. He produced elite tape in 2024 and would have been my top-ranked cornerback in the 2025 draft had he been eligible. McCoy’s injury happened last January during training, so he should be ready this spring. The 6-foot, 193-pound press corner did enough in his four-interception 2024 campaign to convince teams he’s the real deal.”
Jose Esquer Jose Esquer is a Mexican-American sportswriter and communications student based in San Diego, CA. His work spans football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. He has written for platforms like RotoWire and DolphinsTalk. You can find him on Twitter/X @JEsquer8, usually talking Dolphins, world football, or both. More about Jose Esquer
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