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The Miami Dolphins are evaluating their secondary, searching for reliable starters among young cornerbacks and low-cost veterans. New coach Jeff Hafley's expertise in defensive backs provides a foundation for this rebuilding phase.
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(Amy Beth Bennett/South Florida Sun-Sentinel/TNS)
MIAMI GARDENS — All along the secondary, the Miami Dolphins have much to figure out without many sure-fire starters.
Through the phases of offseason workouts, they’re looking for solutions among their young cornerbacks and safeties and veterans on minimum or near-minimum contracts at those positions.
New coach Jeff Hafley’s background is in coaching defensive backs, though, so there’s a foundation to build from in developing the options Miami has to start its rebuild under the new regime of him and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan.
The restructuring of the unit could have its first core piece in first-round pick Chris Johnson.
“The thing that stood out to me the most was the way he plays the game, his play style, which we talk a lot about here,” new defensive coordinator Sean Duggan said Wednesday. “You see corners a lot that can cover and can run and can play man and play zone. The thing that really jumped off about him is he embraces contact. He’s got heavy hands at the line and he can tackle.”
Beyond the physical traits, the Johnson stands out early for how he excels with the mental facets of the game.
“I’ve noticed already how smart he is,” said defensive backs coach Ryan Downard, who was with Hafley and Duggan in Green Bay. “We kind of got a feel for that in the draft process, but we verified that, once he’s gotten here, just his ability to process and understand what we’re trying to get done.
“And then, obviously, there’s all the things to love physically, his ability to cover. The thing that stuck out to me the most was how competitive he was. He’s super scrappy, wants to win every single rep. So that stood out to me on a tape.”
The Dolphins secondary is struggling to find reliable starters, relying on young players and veterans with minimal contracts.
The new coach is Jeff Hafley, who has a background in coaching defensive backs, which is crucial for developing the team's secondary.
The Dolphins are exploring options among young cornerbacks and safeties while leveraging the experience of low-cost veterans.
General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan is overseeing the roster decisions as the Dolphins begin their rebuild under the new coaching staff.
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That feisty, physical nature is what could make him a candidate to play the nickel when Miami goes to five defensive backs, which would put a lot on his plate switching inside and out as a rookie coming into the NFL out of San Diego State.
“I think he’ll tell us whether or not he’s ready for that,” Downard said. “And we’ll find it out as we go here with more time with him.”
“He’s in the fold there,” added cornerbacks coach Jahmile Addae. “There’s some other young defensive backs that we’re working with, just to try to figure out who has the ability to service us both inside and outside. So, quite frankly, that’s a little bit of a fluid situation.”
Last year, the Dolphins, under previous defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, leaned plenty on veteran safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to play the nickel. He has since been traded to the New York Jets.
Needing a quick fix to start the year after Kader Kohou went down with a preseason ACL tear, the previous staff tried rookie Jason Marshall Jr. as a nickel. That’s one thing the new staff doesn’t appear inclined to do.
“I see him just more as an outside corner,” Duggan said.
Added Downard: “Our nickel has got to be physical in the box. Whoever’s going to be in that position is going to have to be strike blockers, get off, make tackles. (Jason) can do that, but I think his coverage traits are top-notch. We said that when he was coming out (in the 2025 draft). He stuck out to us on the tape when he was coming out as a corner. So we never really looked at him as a nickel.”
In free agency, the Dolphins also found veteran starting experience in Darrell Baker, formerly of the Tennessee Titans.
“He’s an elder statesman,” Addae said. “He’s been through it, you can tell. And so with that, he has a different lens that he sees things through. … I think in our room, he’s one of those guys that the younger guys can attach themselves to.”
Addae added fellow cornerback JuJu Brents has looked good coming back from injury this offseason, as Storm Duck, while exhibiting he has a sharp mind for the position, is a little behind Brents in his recovery.
The Dolphins also need a pair of starters to emerge from the safety group. Downard spoke highly of rising second-year player Dante Trader Jr.
“Very promising. I love Trader,” Downard said. “He’s extremely focused on getting better in every little facet. He brings an element of physicality and play style, which we look for in the safeties. And he’s very intelligent. He can process. He, too, understands what we’re trying to get done and is able to make all the checks in the defense.”
The former Packers defensive assistants now in Miami had Zayne Anderson with them in Green Bay as he surfaced as a formidable reserve option. Downard highlighted how he always prepared like a starter, even when he wasn’t.
The Dolphins also signed veteran Lonnie Johnson, whom Downard touted for his size as a safety who still moves well.
In the draft, Miami picked up Texas safety Michael Taaffe in the fifth round, and linebacker Kyle Louis possesses versatility to play safety.