Howard (foot) was fully cleared for football activities earlier this month, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports.
This news, which was relayed by Howard's doctor in a letter, should help pave the way for the free agent cornerback, who dealt with a foot issue late last season, to catch on with another team. Prior to missing Miami's last two contests (Week 18 and the team's wild-card loss to Kansas City), Howard -- a four-time Pro Bowler -- had recorded 45 tackles and an interception in 13 games.
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Dolphins' Jaelan Phillips: Getting fifth-year option picked up
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General manager Chris Grier said Tuesday that the Dolphins will exericse the fifth-year option on Phillips' (Achilles) rookie contract before May's deadline, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN.com reports.
A torn right Achilles' tendon limited Phillips to just eight games last season, but he's reportedly on track to be ready for Week 1 of the 2024 campaign. He's been one of the Dolphins' more impactful pass rushers over the past three seasons, and the team will be more in need of him than ever with Christian Wilkins having moved on to Las Vegas.
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Dolphins' Jaelan Phillips: Expects to be ready for season
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Phillips (Achilles) said Saturday that he will "definitely be back healthy for the season," Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.
Phillips tore his Achilles during Miami's win against the Jets on Nov. 24 and underwent surgery less than a week later. He recently indicated on social media that he is walking without a boot, and his comments Saturday lend further optimism about his ability to be ready to suit up in time for the start of the 2024 regular season. Phillips racked up 43 tackles (28 solo), including 6.5 sacks, and an interception over eight games before suffering the Achilles injury last year.
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Dolphins' Bradley Chubb: Restructures deal with Miami
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The Dolphins have restructured Chubb's (knee) contract in order to create additional salary cap space, Field Yates of ESPN reports.
Per the report, the move converts $13.8 million of Chubb's base salary into a signing bonus, which creates $11 million in cap space for the Dolphins. Given that Chubb is recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered in Week 17 last season, it's unclear if he'll be ready for Miami's season opener, which also applies to fellow linebacker Jaelan Phillips (Achilles). With that in mind, the team recently added Shaquil Barrett to the mix via free agency. In 16 regular-season games in 2023, Chubb racked up a career-high 73 tackles and 11.0 sacks.
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Seahawks' Jerome Baker: Inks deal with Seattle
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The Seahawks signed Baker (wrist) to a one-year, $7 million deal Saturday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Baker was released by the Dolphins with a failed injury designation earlier this month, and he's now found a new home in Seattle. The 2018 third-round pick dealt with a wrist injury that forced him to miss four games in 2023, but he was still productive when on the field, recording 78 total tackles, including 1.5 sacks, while also intercepting two passes. Baker is expected to be an integral part of the Seahawks' linebacker corps in 2024, as the team lost both Jordyn Brooks and Bobby Wagner in free agency.
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Steelers' DeShon Elliott: Finds new home
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Elliott signed a two-year contract with the Steelers on Thursday.
Elliot will join his fourth different team in four years after stops in Baltimore, Detroit and Miami. The 26-year-old started 15 games for the Dolphins last season, recording 82 tackles (53 solo) and seven passes defended, including an interception. Although a starting job won't be certain for the veteran safety, he should at least bolster the depth in the Steelers' secondary in 2024.
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Xavien Howard: Released with failed physical
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The Dolphins released Howard (foot) on Wednesday with a failed physical and post-June 1 designation.
The move was expected after the Dolphins informed Howard in February that he would be released at the start of the league year. Once healthy, Howard will likely be in high demand, as the 30-year-old cornerback is a four-time Pro Bowler and has posted at least 12 passes defensed in six of the past seven seasons.
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Dolphins' Siran Neal: Changes AFC East teams
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Neal signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins on Wednesday, Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network reports.
Neal was cut by the Bills last Wednesday, and he'll now join Buffalo teammate Jordan Poyer in Miami's secondary. The Jacksonville State product has primarily been a special-teams player since entering the league in 2018 and will likely earn a similar role with his new squad.
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Colts' Raekwon Davis: Inking two-year pact with Indy
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The Colts have agreed to terms with Davis on a two-year, $14 million deal, James Boyd of The Athletic reports.
Davis turns 27 in June and spent the first four seasons of his career with the Dolphins after being selected in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Davis appeared in all 17 games last season, making seven starts and finishing with 28 tackles (15 solo), including 0.5 sacks. He'll be a prominent fixture in the Colts' defensive line rotation.
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Dolphins' Jalen Ramsey: Re-working contract with Miami
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The Dolphins plans to clear more than $19 million in cap space by restructuring Ramsey's contract, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
On a day with a lot of movement around the league, the update from Miami indicates that Ramsey will be sticking around for 2024. He was able to suit up for only 10 games in 2023, and he's set to turn 30 in October, but he still figures as the Dolphins' top cover corner.
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Vikings' Andrew Van Ginkel: Changing squads
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Van Ginkel (foot) is slated to sign a two-year, $20 million contract with the Vikings on Wednesday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Van Ginkel saw extra opportunities in 2023 and was able to record a career-high 6.0 sacks among 69 total tackles along with eight passes defended, including an interception. He should step right into a starting role on the strong side of Minnesota's linebacker corps, while D.J. Wonnum (quadriceps) will likely move into a depth role.
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Broncos' Brandon Jones: Set for three-year deal in Denver
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The Broncos are slated to ink Jones to a three-year contract, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports.
Jones logged an impressive end to his rookie deal in Miami with 48 tackles (36 solo), four pass breakups, two interceptions and one forced fumble (which he recovered) in 2023. The soon-to-be 26-year-old should be able to solidify a Denver defense that's struggled under coach Sean Payton. The Broncos could continue adding to the safety room, but for now, Jones and P.J. Locke look like the likeliest candidates to start the 2024 campaign.
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Raiders' Christian Wilkins: To call Las Vegas home
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Wilkins is slated to sign a four-year, $110 million contract with the Raiders, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Wilkins will immediately form one of the league's most dangerous pass-rush tandems alongside Maxx Crosby in Las Vegas, giving the Raiders one of the most intimidating defensive fronts in the league. The Dolphins opted not to franchise tag Wilkins after he broke out with 65 total tackles (10 for loss), 9.0 sacks, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries in 2023, and the contract now offered to him by Las Vegas is clearly one Miami couldn't have matched. The 28-year-old is one of the few interior defenders in the NFL to truly boast an ability to thrive as both a run stuffer and pass rusher, making him a premier fantasy asset in IDP formats that require starting DTs.
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Dolphins' Nik Needham: Returning to Miami
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Needham and the Dolphins agreed to a one-year contract Saturday, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports.
Needham appeared in five games with Miami during the 2023 campaign, recording seven tackles while playing 66 defensive snaps and 31 snaps with the special-teams unit. The 27-year-old will likely operate as a reserve option at cornerback with the Dolphins in 2024.
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Dolphins' Elijah Campbell: Remains with Dolphins
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Campbell signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins on Thursday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Campbell has been a strong producer on special teams across the last two seasons in Miami, tallying 289 and 301 snaps, respectively. He's unlikely to play much of a role on defense, however, and he's never recorded more than 15 tackles in a single campaign.
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Jerome Baker: Gets let go
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Baker (wrist) was released by the Dolphins with a failed injury designation Tuesday, Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN reports.
Baker's exit comes as Miami works to get under the salary cap ahead of the March 13 deadline. The Ohio State product has been with the Dolphins since being selected in the third round of the 2018 Draft, but he'll have to find a new home. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Baker and the team tried to work out a restructured contract, but the two sides couldn't come to an agreement.
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Dolphins' Christian Wilkins: Franchise tag deadline passes
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The Dolphins did not place the franchise tag on Wilkins ahead of Tuesday's 4:00 p.m. EST deadline, David Furones of the South Florida Sun Sentinel reports.
The defensive tackle will hit free agency for the first time in his NFL career, after putting together his best season to date in 2023. While playing 17 games for a third straight campaign, Wilkins racked up 65 total tackles including 9.0 sacks, plus one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, as he thrived both rushing quarterbacks and stuffing running backs. The fact that Wilkins didn't receive the franchise tag doesn't preclude Miami from re-signing him, but it seems almost guaranteed he'll be offered a contract on the open market sizable enough that the cap-strapped Dolphins can't match it.
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Keion Crossen: Gets cut loose
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Crossen (leg) was released by the Dolphins on Tuesday, Daniel Oyefusi of the Miami Herald reports.
Crossen -- who was released with a failed physical designation -- missed the 2023 season after sustaining a season-ending leg injury during the team's final practice before roster cuts. His departure will save Miami $3 million in cap space, as the team works to get under the salary cap ahead of the new league year, which begins March 13. It's not clear where the 27-year-old is in his injury recovery, and if or when he'll be ready to return to the field ahead of the 2024 campaign.
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Dolphins' Christian Wilkins: Not expected to be tagged
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The Dolphins are not expected to franchise tag Wilkins by Tuesday's 4:00 p.m. ET deadline, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Wilkins will immediately become one of the top free agents on the market if Miami indeed opts not to place the franchise tag on him. That won't necessarily mean Wilkins' future with the Dolphins is over, but given that the 28-year-old DT is coming of a career-best season in which he produced 65 total tackles (10 for a loss), 9.0 sacks, one forced fumble and two fumble recoveries, a team around the league could reasonably offer a contract that Miami can't match. Wilkins is one of the few interior defenders in the NFL to boast a truly complete combination of run-stuffing and pass-rushing aptitude.
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Emmanuel Ogbah: Officially cut by Miami
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The Dolphins released Ogbah on Friday.
As expected, Miami is cutting ties with Ogbah and freeing up roughly $14 million in cap space by doing so. The 30-year-old edge rusher appeared in 57 games across his four seasons with the Dolphins, logging 114 total tackles, including 24 sacks, while also defending 19 passes and forcing five fumbles.
