Cornerback is the Position Battle to Watch in Minicamp
During this off-season, Miami’s cornerback room went through a major overhaul.
Veterans like Jack Jones and Kader Kohou are now gone, and Rasul Douglas, another veteran who played meaningful snaps for the Dolphins a year ago, is still on the free agent market.
While there are still some young holdovers from the previous regime in Storm Duck, Juju Brents, Jason Marshall Jr., and Ethan Bonner, many of the faces at the position are brand new and trying to impress the new regime of Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley, in hopes of earning a roster spot.
In the free agency period, Miami brought in Marco Wilson, Alex Austin, and Darrell Baker Jr.
The only player that the Dolphins added at the position who is guaranteed a spot is first-round rookie draft selection Chris Johnson.
While Johnson should be able to nab a spot as an outside cornerback for game one of the regular season, the battle opposite him and in the nickel spot should be fascinating.
Heading into June and looking towards training camp, it would seem that Baker Jr. and Marshall Jr. have the inside track at earning the other two spots on the boundary and in the nickel, respectively.
I would also expect that Juju Brents, Alex Austin, and Storm Duck are strong candidates to make the roster should they all be healthy.
Brents, a former second-round pick, showed last year that he could be a starting outside cornerback with his performance in a win over Buffalo, where he shut down Keon Coleman.
While Wilson and Bonner should not be counted out, the others listed above them have more of an inside track.
There is also a chance, as Sullivan has mentioned, that Miami looks externally to the organization for more help before training camp begins.
That could lead them to a reunion with Rasul Douglas.
Maybe that means a look at Trevon Diggs, who at one point led the NFL in interceptions and had an audition with Hafley in Green Bay after being released by the Cowboys last season.
Whether they made an addition between now and training camp, expect the Dolphins’ cornerback room to be the toughest position group battle in the summer heat in Miami.
