Cornerback remains an area of need for the Dolphins at the onset of training camp. Rasul Douglas is still a clear target for the team on the free agent market. 
Douglas has been linked to Miami on multiple occasions this offseason. The eight-year veteran would offer the Dolphins a starting-caliber option in the wake of Kendall Fuller‘s release and the long-awaited trade which ended Jalen Ramsey‘s tenure in South Beach. To no surprise, then, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports team and player remain in active contract discussions.
Douglas’ market has not seen many developments this offseason, one in which the Bills have moved forward without him. The 29-year-old does not anticipate a return to the Packers, but other suitors could see him as a worthwhile summer investment. Douglas and the Dolphins were not believed to be far apart in terms of finances earlier this month, so it would certainly be feasible for a deal to be struck soon.
Douglas has 80 starts to his name and he totaled 14 interceptions across the 2021, ’22 and ’23 seasons. The former third-rounder had a down year in Buffalo last season, something which will no doubt hurt his value on a new deal. The Dolphins are not in a position to afford a lucrative signing at the moment anyway, as they have roughly $2MM in cap space.
Another potential move to watch for regarding Miami is a potential Zach Sieler extension. The veteran defensive tackle is coming off his second straight 10-sack season and is thus a candidate for a raise on a new deal. Two years remain on Sieler’s contract with scheduled cap hits of $12.45MM and $14.75MM over that span. Regardless of what happens on the extension front, a training camp holdout will not take place in this case.
Agent Drew Rosenhaus said on Sunday (via Jackson) that Sieler will be in attendance for the start of training camp this week. When asked about participating in on-field work, he noted that will be a decision made internally amongst himself, Sieler and the Dolphins. Players angling for an extension often engage in a hold-in by attending training camp (and thus avoiding mandatory daily fines) but not taking part in practices until an agreement is reached.
A former seventh-round pick, Sieler has emerged as a vital member of the Dolphins’ defense during his time in Miami. The 29-year-old has seen his workload increase over each of the past four years, and he has operated as a full-time starter since 2022. In 2023, a $10.25MM-per-year extension was worked out; Sieler logged a full campaign in the first year after signing the pact and missed a pair of games last season. Durability should not be an issue during extension talks.
As the Ramsey situation illustrated in 2024, extending players early can wind up having negative effects (although his split with the team was based largely on a falling out with head coach Mike McDaniel). The Sieler situation could play out differently, of course, but it will be worth monitoring as the team explores at least one outside addition in the secondary.