{"id":283882,"date":"2026-05-25T18:31:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T18:31:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/283882\/"},"modified":"2026-05-25T18:31:13","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T18:31:13","slug":"kelly-why-the-dolphins-should-add-veterans-to-aid-rebuild","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/283882\/","title":{"rendered":"Kelly: Why the Dolphins should add veterans to aid rebuild"},"content":{"rendered":"

Imagine an offense with a well-behaved Stefon Diggs and a healthy Tyreek Hill out wide, with Deebo Samuel in the slot, and Darren Waller and\/or Jonnu Smith serving as the tight ends.<\/p>\n

Taylor Decker, Cam Robinson and Mekhi Becton are opening up running lanes for Najee Harris or Nick Chubb, and protecting quarterbacks Russell Wilson or Jimmy Garoppolo.<\/p>\n

How about a defense led by linebackers Bobby Wagner and Kyle Van Noy, one that features L\u2019Jarius Snead, Rasul Douglas and Trevon Diggs at cornerback, with Christian Wilkins, A.J. Epenesa, Cameron Jordan, Joey Bosa and Jadeveon Clowney on the defensive front.<\/p>\n

While this collection of NFL free agents might seem like an aged, fragile team, and maybe features a few challenging personalities, all these out-of-work former and present NFL standouts \u2014 if not stars \u2014 would likely beat the Miami Dolphins in a head-to-head matchup if given the same amount of practice time.<\/p>\n

Sean McDermott, who was fired by the Buffalo Bills this offseason and shunned by the league this hiring cycle, can coach them.<\/p>\n

We can call this team \u201cThe Discards\u201d because there\u2019s annually a pile of players unemployed at this point of the season who can still play, but will be asked to take 70 cents on the dollar for what they will eventually contribute in 2026.<\/p>\n

This is the way of the NFL, and we \u2014 teams, the media, and fan base \u2014 often pretend it\u2019s healthier to go with young, cheap and inexperienced players, like what the Dolphins are doing this season in the first year of a massive rebuild.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s something wrong with that picture considering most of these above-mentioned players would easily become starters on this talent-starved Dolphins team, which will gain $20.2 million in cap space in a week when Miami reaps the benefit of Bradley Chubb\u2019s June 1 release earlier this offseason.<\/p>\n

Douglas certainly did last season while being paid $1.5 million for a starting role after signing with Miami late. And wouldn\u2019t you know the 31-year-old cornerback was not only one of the Dolphins\u2019 top defenders, but ranked in the top 15 for his position based on analytics-driven sites.<\/p>\n

So are you telling me this Dolphins team couldn\u2019t use Douglas again?<\/p>\n

They sure could, but for now we will pretend he\u2019s a progress-stopper for Ethan Bonner and Jason Marshall Jr., who struggled massively last season, and JuJu Brents, who hasn\u2019t proven he can stay healthy his entire three-year career.<\/p>\n

In a rebuild it\u2019s wise to invest in young talent, giving first- and second-year talents time on task to learn and grow from those reps.<\/p>\n

But that doesn\u2019t mean this Dolphins roster, which is filled with veterans who signed, or are playing for the NFL minimum, and 24 rookies \u2014 wouldn\u2019t benefit from an infusion of some veteran wisdom, and playmaking, especially if they came at the right price.<\/p>\n

While many of these unemployed, established NFL starters are cherry-picking their situation, and teams, and some are probably looking to avoid the offseason program by signing with a team during training camp, a handful of them would jump at the opportunity to continue their careers as starters if offered a contract tomorrow.<\/p>\n

The Dolphins would be making a mistake by not adding Wilkins, who would likely welcome an opportunity to reunite with Zach Sieler, getting the Salt & Pepper band back together, attempting to re-establish his NFL career.<\/p>\n

Epenesa, who took a visit to Miami before the draft, likely to gauge his recovery from a neck injury, would likely help Jeff Hafley\u2019s team set the edge of Miami\u2019s defensive front. Someone will sign him with an injury waiver. Why not Miami?<\/p>\n

Say whatever you would like about drama-filled receivers such as Diggs, Hill and Samuel, but this offense, and inexperienced quarterback Malik Willis, would benefit from adding a receiver who has kept opposing defensive coordinators up at night.<\/p>\n

Smith set franchise records for tight end productivity in Miami in 2024, so let\u2019s not act like he\u2019s washed up at 30, and couldn\u2019t help this year\u2019s Dolphins win games.<\/p>\n

But for now, Miami would rather roll the dice with Greg Dulcich, who has caught all of 67 passes in his four previous seasons, and two draftees in Will Kacmarek and Seydou Traore.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s fine, but let\u2019s call this season what it is, which is an investment in youth and potential, a season not expected to produce an immediate return in wins if veteran players are absent from the roster.<\/p>\n


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