Miami Dolphins free agent cornerback Rasul Douglas has been linked to a division rival as the 2026 offseason continues.
The Miami Dolphins have had quite the offseason. With a new regime taking care of things down in South Beach, the Dolphins are in the midst of a rebuilding year.
Miami has overhauled like no other by clearing their cap space in a significant way, as well as moving away from their core pieces like Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill, Minkah Fitzpatrick, and Jaylen Waddle, to name a few.
The Dolphins are shifting toward a long-term strategy, focusing on draft capital and developing a new foundation. Because of that, the Dolphins could likely lose out on standout cornerback Rasul Douglas.
Douglas remains a free agent this offseason after an incredible 2025 season. He has only played one season with the Dolphins, and there is a chance he could leave for Miami's division rival, the New York Jets.
Bleacher Report's Gary Davenport listed the perfect free agent signings for teams with the most cap space. Davenport believes Douglas is a good fit for the Jets.
"However, the Jets could also use help in a defensive backfield that has some talent but is short on experience after they shipped Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts last year.
"The 2026 campaign will be Rasul Douglas' 10th in the NFL, and while he as never been to the Pro Bowl, he has allowed a passer rating against of less than 75 in two of the past three years—including 2025 with the Miami Dolphins.
"The 30-year-old isn't going to be expensive, and his veteran presence would be welcome in a cornerback room that could use a steadying hand."
Douglas had a solid season with the Dolphins in 2025. He was reliable as they come, joining the team late in the preseason.
The 30-year-old provided instant stability to the Dolphins' secondary. In the season, he recorded 62 total tackles, 13 passes defended, one forced fumble, two interceptions, two tackles for loss, and two quarterback hits in 15 games with 13 starts.
Prior to his time in Miami, Douglas played for the Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Buffalo Bills, and the Carolina Panthers. Douglas played a limited role with the Eagles in their 2017 Super Bowl season.
That was at the start of his NFL career. Over time, Douglas has developed and established himself as a good cornerback who has elite ball skills, physical playstyle, and a high IQ.
At 6-foot-2, Douglas excels in zone coverage, using his strength, anticipation, and route recognition to generate turnovers. His 2025 performance ranked him among the top 15 cornerbacks, as he allowed just an 86.0 passer rating when targeted.
Last season, Douglas signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins in late August 2025. In Week 14, Douglas earned the AFC Defensive Player of the Week after five pass breakups and one interception in a win over the Jets.