Tyrel Dodson went through a lot in 2024, yet he's still free agency's best value at linebacker heading ino the 2025 offseason

It's safe to say 2024 didn't go the way Tyrel Dodson envisioned when he signed a one-year deal with the Seattle Seahawks before the season started.

By the time November rolled around, Dodson found himself off the team and looking for a new home. It was a pretty surprising move, considering he led the team with 71 tackles at the time of his release. It's not like he wasn't producing or anything - the Seahawks simply saw his inability to defend the run as one of the catalysts behind their poor run defense at the time. Therefore, they decided it was best to move on.

Fortunately for Dodson, the Miami Dolphins saw a use for him and he finished the year in South Beach.

Even with the rough year, there's a lot to like about Dodson. Sure, his issues in run defense are something to certainly take note of, but he's very good in coverage and he can get after the quarterback when asked. Those two are very important traits for off-ball linebackers when considering how offenses work in today's NFL.

The best passing offenses are the ones that can attack over the middle and that's not easy to do. Having a guy like Dodson roaming the middle of the field would make it even harder for opposing offenses to accomplish this feat and smart defensive coordinators can mix things up when considering his blitzing ability. Zone-pressure and simulated-pressure looks, two of the more effective pass rush strategies, would be aplenty with Dodson on a roster that knows how to pull that off.

The best part is he's still in his prime as he enters his age-27 season and he won't break the bank, whatsoever.

Dodson signed a one-year contract with the Seattle Seahawks in last year's free agency period, and despite ranking in the top 15 in defensive stops through Week 9, with two sacks to boot, he was waived by the team due to struggles in the run game. The Miami Dolphins claimed him, and Dodson had three interceptions over just 251 snaps with the team to close out the year, highlighting further how he's a feast-or-famine player who can make a splash or give up a big gain. - Pro Football Focus

Dodson provides a unique skillset that comes at a very effective projected price point

NFL cap analysts Josh Queipo and Kyle DeDimincantanio have Dodson pegged at $4,333,333 per year, while Pro Football Focus has him at $5.25 million per year. Either number is fine, especially considering teams will know how to maximize his abilities. 

Again, Dodson's skillset is something that NFL teams need and this price tag is more than a bargain. The team that signs him should immediately boost its pass rush and coverage, which is key when facing today's offenses.