Former Dolphins Free Agents and Whether They Should Be Brought Back

The Dolphins might still sign other free agents before training camp, so would it make sense to go with players they've already had

While the first wave of NFL free agency is over, there remain plenty of veterans available on the market for the Miami Dolphins.

And a good number of those players so happen to be former Dolphins, players with whom the organization should be familiar.

So let’s take a look by position at those former Dolphins free agents and whether it would make sense for Miami to consider bringing them back for another go-around.

QUARTERBACKS

There’s only one name here, and it’s Ryan Tannehill of the Tennessee Titans. But there’s zero reason to think he’s coming back given that the Dolphins already are set at quarterback unless they suddenly decide to swap out Mike White as the top backup.

Jacoby Brissett also was a free agent this offseason, but he signed with the New England Patriots and Teddy Bridgewater retired to become the head coach at Miami Northwestern High School.

RUNNING BACKS

There are two former Dolphins currently without a team, Brandon Bolden formerly of the Las Vegas Raiders and Matt Breida of the New York Giants. Given that the Dolphins are bringing back every back from last season, there’s really not a need to add a veteran at the position anymore.

Among free agent signings, Chase Edmonds re-signed with Tampa Bay.

WIDE RECEIVERS

The Dolphins do have a need here to add depth and two free agents are former Dolphins players Jakeem Grant last of the Cleveland Browns and Lynn Bowden Jr. of the New Orleans Saints. Bowden looked like a promising prospect as a rookie in 2020, but his career has fizzled since and Grant is trying to come back from a nasty knee injury. Of the two, Grant would make the most sense if he can’t regain his older form because he could jazz up the return game.

Already this offseason, DeVante Parker signed with Philadelphia, Mack Hollins signed with Buffalo and Trent Sherfield signed with Minnesota

TIGHT ENDS

There will be no reunion at this position because the only free agent former Dolphins tight end was Mike Gesicki and he signed with Cincinnati. Not this there was a strong possibility of Gesicki coming back in the first place.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

The Dolphins probably are set at tackle after re-signing Kendall Lamm to back up Terron Armstead and Austin Jackson, which probably would eliminate the idea of either Billy Turner or Geron Christian coming back.

The other former Dolphins players who were free agents already have found new teams: Michael Deiter signed with Washington, Dan Feeney signed with Minnesota, and Evan Browns signed with Arizona.

INTERIOR DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

The Dolphins already have brought in five newcomers at this position before and after losing Christian Wilkins, and we’re not sure either Jordan Phillips of the Buffalo Bills or Jonathan Ledbetter of the Arizona Cardinals would represent an upgrade. So we wouldn’t expect a reunion here.

The Dolphins did have a free agent visit with former Dolphins defensive tackle John Jenkins, but he then re-signed with Las Vegas, as did Adam Butler.

EDGE DEFENDERS

The Dolphins do have a need at this position because of the uncertain status of Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips (lot of hope, but no guarantees) and Kyle Van Noy absolutely would have made sense at the right price before he ended up re-signing with the Baltimore Ravens. The two names left on the market as former Dolphins are 2017 first-round pick Charles Harris of the Detroit Lions and Shaq Lawson formerly of the Bills.

LINEBACKERS

The Dolphins already addressed this position in free agency by signing Jordyn Brooks and Anthony Walker Jr., so they very well might be done here, though Sam Eguavoen from the Jets perhaps would earn consideration for a return to help out on special teams, with the same applying to Kamu Grugier-Hil of the  Carolina Panthers.

Speaking of linebackers with a strong special teams background, former Dolphins draft pick Neville Hewitt re-signed with Houston.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

The Dolphins might or might not be done adding free agent DBs after signing Jordan Poyer and Siran Neal from the Buffalo Bills, but if they do bring in somebody else, it won’t be a former Dolphins player because former first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene was the only free agent and he signed with the Washington Commanders.