Miami Dolphins cornerback Kader Kohou has been named as the most important free agent that Miami needs to re-sign.
After a disappointing season that saw the Miami Dolphins miss the playoffs with a 7-10 record, the organization is looking to rebuild with new head coach Jeff Hafley.
With a more defensive-minded head coach, the Dolphins are looking to make even more big changes. However, one of those changes shouldn't be away from cornerback Kader Kohou.
In fact, ESPN named Kohou as the Dolphins' most important free agency decision heading into the 2026 NFL Season.
"Kohou missed the entire 2025 season after tearing an ACL early in training camp, but he has been a consistent producer at nickel corner for the past three seasons," Marcel Louis-Jacques of ESPN said.
"The former undrafted free agent is an unrestricted free agent this offseason, as are fellow cornerbacks Rasul Douglas and Jack Jones -- all of whom Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley should consider re-signing.
"Coming off an injury, the amount Kohou asks for shouldn't be a backbreaking price for a Dolphins team that needs to navigate a tight salary cap this offseason."
Since Kohou missed this last season, it's easy to forget the massive impact he had on the Dolphins' defense.
Despite going unselected in the 2022 NFL Draft, Kohou has been a consistent presence for Miami. In his first season, Kohou recorded 72 combined tackles (63 solo), 10 pass deflections, five tackles for loss, one interception, and one forced fumble across 15 games, 13 of which he started.
Kohou has kept up this level of play in the three seasons he made it onto the field, totaling 180 combined tackles (148 solo), 28 pass deflections, 13 tackles for loss, five quarterback hits, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and one sack across 47 games, 38 of which he started.
Anyone who has paid any attention to Kohou's career shouldn't be surprised by this. He was a standout player when he was at Texas A&M–Commerce, helping the team to the NCAA Division II national championship in 2017 as well as being named second-team All-LSC in 2018 an first-team All-LSC in 2019.
Because he is coming off of injury, Kohou could be an absolute steal for any team looking to buff up their defense, and the Dolphins showed that they needed him in the 2025 NFL Season.
In 2024, the Dolphins were the fourth-best defense in the NFL, only allowing 314.4 yards per game and 36 touchdowns. In 2025, Miami dropped to 22nd and allowed 348.8 yards per game and 50 touchdowns.
Hopefully, Kohou will remain in Miami and help the Dolphins become the dominant defense they once were.