All Dolphins

Dolphins Claim Defensive Lineman Off Waivers

The Miami Dolphins have swapped young defensive linemen
Alain Poupart|
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Matthew Butler (91) during an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium last season.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Matthew Butler (91) during an NFL game against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium last season. | Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

In this story:

Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins swapped young defensive linemen Tuesday when they claimed Matthew Butler off waivers from the Las Vegas Raiders.

To make room for him, the Dolphins waived Tre'vonn Rybka, who was signed as a rookie free agent after going undrafted this year.

Butler (6-3, 290) appeared in 15 games with one start in three seasons with Las Vegas, which made him a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL draft.

Butler was part of a Raiders defensive line group last season that included three former Dolphins players — Christian Wilkins, John Jenkins and Adam Butler.

His one career start came against the Pittsburgh Steelers last season on the Sunday after Wilkins sustained a season-ending foot injury against the Denver Broncos.

He played collegiately at Tennessee, where he made 26 starts and recorded 152 tackles and 9.5 sacks.

The Dolphins now have made at least one roster transaction five of the past six days, the only exception coming Sunday.

Along with the defensive line moves, the Dolphins also had transactions with their long-snappers — releasing Blake Ferguson, signing and releasing rookie free agent Kneeland Hibbett, and signing veteran Joe Cardona — along with signing cornerback Kendall Sheffield after he took part in the rookie minicamp on a tryout basis.

DOLPHINS DEFENSIVE LINE ROOM

Butler will join a group of young Dolphins defensive linemen who will be competing for a roster spot and playing time.

2024 team MVP Zach Sieler will be one starter, first-round pick Kenneth Grant also should start, and other players who figure to be on the roster among the defensive linemen are fifth-round pick Jordan Phillips and returning veteran Benito Jones.

If the Dolphins keep five defensive linemen as they did for most of 2025, that would leave room for one player among a group that includes Butler, Matt Dickerson, rookie seventh-round pick Zeek Biggers and rookie free agent Alex Huntley.

More Miami Dolphins Coverage:

Published
Alain Poupart
ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of Miami Dolphins On SI and host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press and the Dolphins team website. In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books, such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.

Share on XFollow @PoupartNFL
Home/News