As the Miami Dolphins prepare for the 2025 offseason, the team faces some critical decisions in regard to player retention. With a solid core in place, the Dolphins will need to prioritize which players to re-sign to maintain their competitive edge, build depth in key areas, and solidify their roster for the upcoming season. In this article, we will dive into which players should be prioritized for re-signing and why each of these players plays a pivotal role in Miami’s plans moving forward. This analysis is based on the Dolphins’ current needs, performance in the 2024 season, and potential future impact.
Introduction: Setting the Stage for Free Agency
The 2025 NFL offseason brings a number of pivotal decisions for the Miami Dolphins. With some important roster spots to fill and cap space to manage, the team must carefully weigh its options in free agency. Some of the team’s pending free agents have been critical contributors to Miami’s success in recent years, and ensuring their return could provide much-needed stability.
Not only will the Dolphins need to make these crucial decisions to keep their roster intact, but they also face pressure to continue building on the success they’ve achieved under head coach Mike McDaniel. Re-signing key players who performed well during the 2024 season will be a key step in ensuring continued progress. Let’s take a closer look at the players the Dolphins should prioritize bringing back in 2025.
1. Jevon Holland (Safety)
Why He Should Be a Priority:
Jevon Holland has become one of the most exciting young players in the Dolphins’ secondary since his arrival in 2021. Holland’s ability to patrol the deep zone and serve as a versatile defender in the secondary makes him a cornerstone piece for Miami’s defense. With his ability to impact the game in various ways—whether it’s through ball hawking, solid tackling, or covering tight ends and wide receivers—he has earned his place as one of the NFL’s top safeties.
In 2024, Holland continued to demonstrate his elite playmaking ability, recording multiple interceptions, passes defended, and consistently showing his ability to be a difference-maker in the secondary. While the Dolphins are not expected to use the franchise tag on him, they should absolutely prioritize bringing him back as he is the heart and soul of their defense. His leadership, awareness, and coverage ability make him irreplaceable.
Impact Moving Forward:
Re-signing Holland will not only strengthen the Dolphins’ defensive backfield but also help to maintain continuity on a defense that has shown promise. With a secondary anchored by Holland, Miami will be well-equipped to handle high-powered offenses and remain competitive in the AFC.
2. Calais Campbell (Defensive End)
Why He Should Be a Priority:
At 38 years old, Calais Campbell has defied Father Time with his ability to remain productive and dominant on the defensive line. Campbell’s vast experience and leadership have been invaluable to the Dolphins’ defense, and his presence cannot be overlooked. Although Campbell is no longer at the peak of his career, his veteran savvy and ability to take on double teams still make him a force to be reckoned with.
In 2024, Campbell continued to be an integral part of Miami’s defensive line rotation, generating consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks and being a disruptive force in the run game. His ability to get after the quarterback and provide a solid veteran presence in the locker room makes him an ideal player to bring back for another season.
Impact Moving Forward:
Re-signing Campbell would provide the Dolphins with a stable presence along the defensive line. Although Miami is likely to continue to develop younger talent at the position, Campbell’s mentorship would help elevate the play of the team’s up-and-coming defensive linemen. His ability to play both as a pass rusher and run stopper is still a valuable asset to a team looking to compete for the playoffs.
3. Emmanuel Ogbah (Outside Linebacker)
Why He Should Be a Priority:
Emmanuel Ogbah has been a key contributor to the Dolphins’ pass rush over the past few seasons. As an outside linebacker in Miami’s 3-4 defense, Ogbah has consistently generated pressure on opposing quarterbacks, tallying double-digit sack totals in recent seasons. While he had some struggles with injuries in 2024, Ogbah remained a key piece of the Dolphins’ defense when on the field.
Ogbah’s combination of size, strength, and speed makes him a dangerous edge rusher, capable of altering the outcome of games with his relentless pursuit of the quarterback. As a player with the ability to disrupt the opposing offense and generate momentum-shifting plays, he should be a top priority for the Dolphins this offseason.
Impact Moving Forward:
By bringing back Ogbah, Miami ensures that its pass-rushing unit remains intact and that the team can continue to generate consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. With a defensive line featuring both Ogbah and Calais Campbell, the Dolphins would maintain a strong presence in the trenches, which is key to any championship-caliber team. Additionally, re-signing Ogbah would allow Miami to continue focusing on developing its secondary and linebacker corps to further strengthen its defense.
4. Da’Shawn Hand (Defensive Tackle)
Why He Should Be a Priority:
Da’Shawn Hand has been a valuable rotational piece for the Dolphins’ defensive line in recent years. Although he has not always been a starter, Hand’s ability to provide solid play in the interior of the defensive line has been crucial to Miami’s defense. In 2024, Hand played a key role in both stopping the run and providing interior pressure on quarterbacks.
Hand has been a low-cost, high-value addition to the team, and he should remain in Miami’s plans moving forward. At 29 years old, Hand still has plenty of good football left in him, and his ability to contribute in multiple roles on the defensive line is something the Dolphins can’t afford to lose.
Impact Moving Forward:
By re-signing Hand, the Dolphins add depth and flexibility to their defensive line. Hand’s ability to play both defensive tackle positions gives Miami the luxury of rotating fresh bodies along the front, which is critical for staying competitive throughout a long season. With the Dolphins looking to strengthen their defense as a whole, Hand would be an important depth piece to bring back.
5. Robert Jones (Offensive Guard)
Why He Should Be a Priority:
While Robert Jones may not be one of the more high-profile players on the roster, he has quietly been an important contributor on the offensive line. As a rotational guard, Jones has provided solid depth and has stepped up when needed to fill in for injured starters. His versatility in playing both left and right guard gives the Dolphins flexibility along the offensive line.
With the offensive line needing to continue its improvement in 2025, retaining Jones would ensure that Miami has reliable depth at the guard position. While he may not be a starter, he provides valuable experience and stability, which are vital for maintaining a solid offensive front.
Impact Moving Forward:
Retaining Jones would give the Dolphins much-needed depth along the offensive line. The team can continue to focus on improving the starting guard spots but will have Jones as a reliable backup if injuries or poor performance require a shuffle in the lineup. Keeping him on the roster would help the Dolphins avoid a situation where they’re thin on the line, which is an area where many teams struggle.
6. Liam Eichenberg (Offensive Guard)
Why He Should Be a Priority:
Like Robert Jones, Liam Eichenberg has been a part of the Dolphins’ offensive line for several seasons. Eichenberg has faced some struggles during his tenure with the Dolphins, but he has shown flashes of promise and still has potential to be a solid contributor moving forward. As a former second-round pick, the Dolphins have a lot invested in Eichenberg, and bringing him back would allow the team to continue developing him.
While Eichenberg’s future as a starter remains uncertain, he still provides valuable depth at a position where the Dolphins need help. With the offensive line continuing to evolve, the Dolphins would be wise to give Eichenberg another year to see if he can improve and solidify his role on the team.
Impact Moving Forward:
Re-signing Eichenberg would give the Dolphins another shot at solidifying their offensive line depth. While he may not be the long-term answer as a starter, bringing him back gives the Dolphins more flexibility and time to determine whether he can reach his potential.