Rasul Douglas hopes to return to Miami
The Miami Dolphins have a complicated offseason ahead of them. They have 29 players on the roster set to hit free agency. Additionally, the team must figure out what to do with veterans like Tyreek Hill, Tua Tagovailoa and Bradley Chubb. With the fourth-least cap space in the NFL, Miami may have to release some players while being careful with their additions.
Some of their 29 free agents will hope to return to their organization; however, some of them outplayed their past contract. That would leave the Dolphins in a position where they are unable to pay them as they also have to prioritize some extensions. While they are not free agents this offseason, team leaders Jordyn Brooks, Aaron Brewer and De’Von Achane each have one year remaining on their deals and will most likely seek extensions before the 2026 season.
One Dolphins player has already taken to social media to express his desire to return to the team.
Rasul Douglas Hopes to Return to Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins signed former Super Bowl champion cornerback Rasul Douglas one week before their season opener. He started the season as a depth piece as he had little time to learn the defense. However, injuries quickly thrust him into action as starting cornerback Storm Duck left their Week 1 game with an injury. Douglas stepped in and quickly provided veteran leadership on the defense.
Aside from his leadership, his play was among the best on the Dolphins defense. Due to his strong performances, Dolphins fans have expressed their desire for Douglas to return to Miami, and he replied to one, saying, “We are all in hopes.”
Regarding the possibility of bringing Douglas back, Sports Illustrated’s Dante Collinelli wrote, “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.” In 15 games played for the Dolphins, he graded as a top-20 cornerback in the NFL, according to Pro Football Focus. On a one-year deal worth $1.5 million, Douglas was called “the best defensive bargain in football” by Fox Sports announcer Greg Olsen.
The Case Against Re-Signing Douglas
Due to Miami’s cap constraints, the team may not prioritize re-signing Douglas as he will be 32 entering next season and does not project to be a part of the team’s long-term future.
Collinelli wrote about the case against re-signing Douglas. He said, “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.”
Despite the cornerback’s desires, Miami may likely prefer to undergo a youth movement and try to find a replacement in the draft. If Douglas wants to stay in Miami, he would likely have to take less than money than he probably deserves after his strong 2025 campaign.
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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