The Miami Dolphins have signed veteran safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. to a one-year deal.
The Miami Dolphins have signed veteran safety Lonnie Johnson Jr. to a one-year deal.
NFL insider Jordan Schultz shared the news via X.
After one season with the Las Vegas Raiders, Johnson will head to South Florida and join Jeff Hafley's defense.
Johnson signed a one-year deal with the Raiders last offseason and will head to Miami after an injury-riddled season in 2025. He had a challenging 2025 season with the Raiders. Johnson missed the first eight games of the season due to a fractured fibula that he sustained in training camp.
He was activated in early November and returned in Week 10 against the Denver Broncos. Johnson's return to the lineup provided a significant boost in the Las Vegas secondary.
In nine games with two starts, Johnson recorded 25 total tackles and two passes defended.
Johnson will enter his eighth season in the league and his sixth team of his career. The Houston Texans drafted Johnson in the second round with the No. 54 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft out of Kentucky.
After spending the first three seasons of his career in Houston, he was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs for a 2024 conditional seventh-round pick in 2022. However, he was waived a few weeks before the start of the 2022 season.
Since then, he's bounced from the Tennessee Titans, New Orleans Saints, the Texans again, the Carolina Panthers, and the Raiders.
In his career, Johnson has recorded 224 total tackles, one tackle for loss, 17 passes defended, four interceptions, three quarterback hits, and one fumble recovery in 92 games with 22 starts.
The Dolphins badly needed to upgrade their secondary, and Johnson could help address that need by providing veteran stability. While he may not be the flashiest name available, he fits the direction Miami appears to be heading.
The situation to add to the secondary became even more urgent after the team traded All-Pro safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the New York Jets a few days ago, creating a significant void in the defensive backfield.
Injuries also took a toll on the cornerback group during the 2025 season. Artie Burns, Kader Kohou, and Storm Duck all dealt with health issues, leaving the team thin at the position and forcing Miami to rely on undrafted free agents and short-term additions such as Rasul Douglas.
Miami will be searching for stability and reliability in its secondary heading into 2026, and Johnson will be counted on to help provide exactly that.