Dolphins Sign Former 1st-Round Edge Rusher

Dolphins Sign Former 1st-Round Edge Rusher

The Miami Dolphins have signed former 1st-round edge rusher Clelin Ferrell. He was the 4th overall pick out of Clemson in 2019 by the Oakland Raiders. He spent the bulk of the 2025 season on the San Francisco 49ers roster. He has also played for the Washington Commanders and Los Angeles Chargers.

Ferrell was a dominant force on a dominant defensive front. Teaming up with the likes of Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins, the Clemson defensive line headlined the first round of that draft. Clelin Ferrell struggled to catch on as a starter with the Raiders and has since bounced around the league. Fortunately for him, he’s been able to play well since 2023.

He has recorded 11 sacks over his past 3 campaigns, more than he had in his entire time with the Raiders. The 49ers signed Ferrell after their defense was plagued with injuries. This was his second stint with the team. In just 8 games with 0 starts, he recorded 4 sacks and played over 40 percent of defensive snaps.

Ferrell has a powerful frame, weighing over 260 pounds. His playstyle relies heavily on inside rush moves and a heavy anchor. His lack of high-end athleticism hurt him as a young player, given his smaller bag of pass-rush moves. With the 49ers, he registered 17 starts in 2023 and impressed the league with his development.

Unfortunately, he hasn’t been able to land a deal longer than 1 year since his rookie contract.

It is not shocking to see Miami target an edge rusher ahead of the season. They had worked out former Buffalo draft pick AJ Epenesa ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, but opted not to sign him. Through the draft, they selected hybrid linebacker Trey Moore out of Texas in round 4 and Iowa edge defender Max Llewelyn in round 7.

The room was clearly incomplete, with 2 veteran minimum deals as the only options across from Chop Robinson. Adding a 3rd may not be a reason to get your Super Bowl hopes up, but Ferrell adds depth and a potential starter late into the offseason.

Jeff Hafley is loading up on players with diverse skill sets. Ferrell adds power in a rather weak edge rushing group, with Chop Robinson and Josh Uche relying on athleticism rather than strength. There are no set starters on this defensive line, with the interior also having a slew of players who are good at many distinct things.

Ferrell will come into camp ready to compete for a roster spot, and potentially some playing time. This may seem like an irrelevant signing, but the Dolphins front office is making smart, cheap moves to load up the roster for the season ahead.