The Miami Dolphins have been shedding contracts and veterans since Jon-Eric Sullivan took over, but there is a strong case to be made for the return of cornerback Rasul Douglas.
When teams engage in a full reset, that is exactly what must be done. The Miami Dolphins have been doing so in a major way under new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. While the team has been shedding its bigger contracts, not every veteran deserves to be released or to sign with another team, and that heavily includes cornerback Rasul Douglas.
After releasing quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, and trading Jaylen Waddle, among many other cap-cutting moves, the consensus is to build in a big way through the draft. This does raise the question as to whether or not keeping older veterans will be entertained.
As it stands, Zach Sieler is the oldest player on the Dolphins' current roster, and he sits at 30 years old. The next oldest is center Aaron Brewer, who is 28.
The point being that the Dolphins are aiming to get younger, which is why Sullivan has been preaching building through the draft. It makes sense as to why he would want to rebuild Miami's roster in his manner, as his former team, the Green Bay Packers, has been consistently competitive for this reason.
The issue with this way of building is that it could lead the Dolphins to not retain some very important veterans, one of whom is Douglas. The longtime cornerback is 30 years old and would be playing in his 10th season in 2026.
While keeping him would go against the presumed influx of building on younger talent, his 2025 contributions are hard to ignore. Douglas came in when the Dolphins lost Artie Burns, Storm Duck, and Kader Kohou to season-ending injuries.
Douglas took full advantage of the situation, starting in 13 games and playing in 15, while securing two interceptions, 13 passes defended, one sack, and 62 total tackles. He also gave up three touchdowns, a 54.5 completion percentage, and a 73 passer rating to opposing quarterbacks.
In a very down season for the Dolphins, Douglas was one of the shining spots on an ailing defense. His overall 72.7 grade was ranked 21st on Pro Football Focus, and his pass rush grade was ranked ninth.
The biggest reason why the Dolphins would and should bring Douglas back is his ability to mentor the young talent that comes in. If Miami lands LSU's Mansoor Delane at No. 11 overall, the veteran could be his guiding light.
This is the case for any younger player added in the secondary, for that matter.
Douglas has played for multiple teams, has experienced down years, and good years. The Dolphins may want to get younger, but they do need those team leaders to step in and help the college talent transition into the pros.
It would be different if Douglas were just another body in a jersey that was brought in as a stopgap option for the Dolphins when it mattered, but he showcased that he can still be a solid cover cornerback.
Douglas is also predicted to get a contract of about $4 million. While that may not break the bank, the Dolphins also have a little over $2 million to work with, per Spotrac.
It could be that the team needs to engage in some more cap-cutting moves to bring back a player like Douglas. Either way, Miami would benefit greatly from not having to completely rebuild the defense.