The Miami Dolphins have released offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg and have tendered exclusive rights to Ethan Bonner.
The Miami Dolphins continue to make moves, as the team announced that offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg has been released. Additionally, the team tendered exclusive rights for cornerback Ethan Bonner.
Eichenberg was released due to a failed physical designation.
Eichenberg was initially drafted by the Dolphins in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He bounced around the line, playing snaps at every position, with most coming at right guard.
There was an undisclosed injury issue that occurred in 2025, which saw the veteran lineman miss the entire season.
Conversely, the Dolphins also tendered exclusive rights on Ethan Bonner as a free agent. This means he will get paid a minimum deal, and has to either accept it, or find himself benched for the entire season.
Using the exclusive rights free agent (ERFA) tender means that Bonner will be retained for one year, and can not negotiate with other teams. With the young corner not playing three full seasons, this free agent situation applies.
The reason for the Dolphins using the ERFA on Bonner is likely due to not wanting to miss out on depth at the cornerback position, while also retaining the young corner to play on special teams.
Miami may be playing things smart on the cornerback side of things, as there are several players who may end up leaving in free agency, such as Jack Jones, Rasul Douglas, Artie Burns, and Kader Kohou.
Should the majority of those players find new teams, the Dolphins will be without starters and depth in the secondary. Bonner is also a young upstart defender who can also blossom with a bit more time.
The Dolphins securing him for one more season may lead to more growth, and a bigger contract when the 2026 season concludes.
With the release of Eichenberg, the Dolphins unfortunately do not receive any sort of cap help due to him already being an unrestricted free agent. Also, tendering Bonner will not break the bank for the front office either.
Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan has been busy ensuring the team gets out of cap hell, and Eichenberg now joins wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, guard James Daniels, and linebacker Bradley Chubb as players who have been released thus far.
Chubb has not been formally released, but that is due to Sullivan and the front office likely still not determining if he will be a post-June 1 cut or not.
Either way, expect more releases ahead of this important free agency under the new Dolphins front office.