The Cornerback Void

The Cornerback Void

The Miami Dolphins are entering the 2025 NFL season with a serious concern in the secondary. Both starting cornerback spots are up in the air, and the options currently on the roster don’t inspire much confidence. The team is relying heavily on young and unproven talent, such as rookie Jason Marshall Jr. and second-year corner Bump Cooper Jr., as well as young players like Kader Kohou and Storm Duck.

Although the Dolphins recently signed veteran Artie Burns, he’s more of a depth addition than a solution to their starting cornerback dilemma. The front office now faces the difficult task of patching one of the league’s most critical positions without much financial flexibility.

One of the biggest challenges Miami faces is its tight cap situation. With less than two million dollars in available cap space, the Dolphins have little room to maneuver. This leaves the team with few straightforward options. They could try to find value in free agency by targeting inexpensive, high-upside cornerbacks, though it’s unlikely that kind of signing will immediately shore up both starting roles.

Another path is the trade market, which offers a chance to acquire proven talent from other teams, but such a move would require not just draft capital, but cap space that the Dolphins currently don’t have. The team has already restructured Bradley Chubb’s deal this offseason to create some relief, but more aggressive financial gymnastics will be needed to make any real additions at cornerback.

Restructuring quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s contract is one obvious option. His deal carries enough weight that altering it could free up significant space, possibly enough to sign or trade for a starting-caliber corner.

However, that would push more money into future years, a risk that could tighten their financial flexibility down the line. The Dolphins could also explore trading or cutting veteran players who carry sizable cap hits but aren’t essential to the core of the roster. That approach could generate space quickly but would come at the cost of depth or experience in other areas.

Ultimately, the Dolphins find themselves in a precarious position. With limited cap space, an unproven cornerback group, and a defense that risks being exposed through the air, the pressure is on the front office to find creative solutions.

If they can’t bring in reliable talent at cornerback, the team could find itself in trouble, especially in a league where strong secondary play is essential to surviving deep playoff runs. The next few months will be crucial as Miami seeks to revamp its defensive backfield and maintain competitiveness in the AFC.