The Miami Dolphins cornerback room is in dire need of a breakout candidate. Cam Smith, Ethan Bonner, Isaiah Johnson, and my personal favorite, Storm Duck, are all fighting for bigger roles. Duck, a second-year defensive back who made Miami’s roster as an undrafted rookie last year. With the team needing new starters after moving on from veterans like Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller, Duck could be in line for a bigger role. Duck was an average corner last year for a rookie, but he showed flashes on tape and shows potential to be another Dolphin’s hit in the undrafted free agent market (Kader Kohou, Nik Needham).

Here are five reasons why Storm Duck will break out in 2025.

1. He’s Already Overcome the Odds

Duck went undrafted in 2024 despite a solid college career at North Carolina and Louisville. He turned that setback into motivation, winning a roster spot and sticking all season. Few undrafted rookies make the 53-man roster, let alone see real snaps. Duck played in 14 games, made three starts, and held his own when injuries forced him into action. That early experience sets him up to compete for more snaps in year two.

2. His Instincts and Tackling Are Reliable

One of Duck’s biggest strengths is his route anticipation. He showed in college that he can read quarterbacks and jump routes, picking off five passes at North Carolina. In the NFL, he didn’t get an interception in year one but did break up four passes and made 35 tackles, including a key tackle for loss against the Titans. He’s not afraid to come up and make a stop, which is valuable in Miami’s scheme.

Strengths

Storm Duck brings a physical edge to the cornerback position that stands out on tape. He’s aggressive attacking receiver blocks and tackles more like a safety than a corner, never shying away from contact.

He transitions quickly from coverage to closing on the ball, showing strong hands and sharp reactions to go for interceptions. When the ball is in the air, he attacks it with authority and doesn’t wait for the play to come to him.

His length and athleticism make him a good fit for press coverage, where he can disrupt receivers off the line. He also plays smart zone coverage, reading routes well and closing fast to limit yards after the catch.

Duck mirrors underneath routes smoothly, with quick feet and the ability to change direction without wasted motion. He takes good angles to the ballcarrier, and finishes plays as a willing, physical tackler.

He’s built for defensive schemes that value corners who aren’t afraid to stick their nose in against the run and who can stay glued to receivers on short and intermediate routes. With his blend of toughness, awareness, and versatility, Duck has the traits teams look for in a young corner trying to make a name for himself in the league.

3. He’s Getting First-Team Reps in Camp

Reports from training camp say Duck has been active and noticeable. He’s had multiple pass breakups in early practices and is getting looks on the boundary. With Kader Kohou dealing with an injury and Cam Smith needing to prove he can stay healthy, Duck has a real shot to move up the depth chart. He’s facing top receivers like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle every day in practice. Competing against elite talent every day should speed up his development.

4. The Dolphins Need Young Corners to Step Up

The Dolphins’ secondary has seen big changes. Ramsey is gone, Fuller was released, and the team didn’t spend big money to replace them. Instead, Miami brought in budget veterans like Mike Hilton and Jack Jones while betting on young players like Duck and Smith to take a step forward. If Duck can tighten up his off-ball coverage and show more ball skills, there’s a clear path for him to breakout in year 2, especially with the potency of Miami’s front seven and the revamped safety room.

5. He Plays with an Edge

Duck’s story has already made him a fan favorite. His name gets him attention, but it’s his work ethic that keeps him on the roster. He chose Miami over other teams because the Dolphins showed trust and gave him a shot. He’s used that chip on his shoulder to keep proving people wrong. If he can build on what he did as a rookie, he could be one of Miami’s surprise contributors in a cornerback group that badly needs fresh talent.

Ducks’ latest media appearance- Storm Duck meets with the media | Miami Dolphins

Final Thoughts

Storm Duck still has to fix parts of his game. His top-end speed is average for an NFL corner and his technique needs some polishing. But the Dolphins need bodies in the secondary, and Duck has the mindset and the early flashes to make the most of that chance. If he stays healthy and keeps building trust with Anthony Weaver’s staff, Storm Duck might just live up to the buzz in Miami Gardens this fall.

Duck has the intangibles, the work ethic, and the chance — now it’s up to him to capitalize.

Christian Wilkins: Should the Dolphins Consider a Reunion?

Christian Wilkins began his Miami Dolphins career with a bang — famously jumping on NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on draft night — and brought tremendous energy and production to the team. Wilkins formed a formidable duo with Zach Sieler, earning the nickname “Salt and Pepper.”

In his 2023 “contract year” with the Dolphins, Wilkins delivered his best season yet: 9 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 23 quarterback hits, and 65 total tackles. Despite this, Miami chose to let him walk in free agency, and he signed with the Las Vegas Raiders on a four-year, $110 million deal. Unfortunately, Wilkins suffered a season-ending foot injury last year and was recently released by the Raiders in a surprising move.

Now, some Dolphins fans would love to see a reunion — but should the Dolphins entertain it, and more importantly, can they?

Why Was Christian Wilkins Released by the Raiders?

Wilkins was released by the Raiders due to a dispute over his rehabilitation from a Jones fracture in his left foot, suffered in Week 5 of the 2024 season. The Raiders voided the remaining $35.2 million in guaranteed money on his contract, claiming Wilkins failed to maintain his physical condition — specifically citing his refusal to undergo a recommended second surgery.

Wilkins has since filed a grievance with the NFLPA to contest the voiding of his guarantees. If he wins, he could recoup some or all of the $35.2 million (per Adam Schefter).

Should the Dolphins Consider a Reunion?

Reasons to Consider It

1. Past Performance and Chemistry
Wilkins was a standout for Miami from 2019–2023 and his “Salt and Pepper” duo with Zach Sieler anchored the defensive line. His familiarity with the team and locker room culture could make his return smooth and productive. Wilkins is one of the highest energy guys I have ever seen and is a great locker room guy.

2. Potential Cost Efficiency
If Wilkins wins his grievance, he may already secure his guaranteed money from the Raiders, making him more likely to accept a short-term, lower-cost deal. This could be a rare chance to add a proven veteran without breaking the bank.

3. Immediate Impact
When healthy which he was his whole tenure as a Dolphin, Wilkins is an elite run-stopper and disruptive interior pass rusher — a valuable asset for any playoff push.

Reasons to Avoid It

1. Youth Movement and Roster Direction
Miami has clearly shifted to a younger core, parting ways with veterans like Jalen Ramsey, Jonnu Smith, Raheem Mostert, Terron Armstead (retired), and Calais Campbell. Wilkins, turning 30 in December 2025, doesn’t fit this plan. Young talents like Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips, and Zeek Biggers offer long-term upside at a lower cost and need snaps to develop.

2. Injury Concerns
Wilkins’ Jones fracture, rehab setbacks, and refusal to undergo a second surgery raise red flags. His recovery timeline remains uncertain.

3. Financial Implications
Even on a “discount,” Wilkins could strain the Dolphins’ salary cap, especially with Zach Sieler due for an extension and other defensive commitments. If Wilkins loses his grievance, he may push for a bigger deal to make up lost money.

4. Positional Priorities
Defensive tackle is not a top need for Miami right now. The bigger concern is cornerback, where Kendall Fuller and Jalen Ramsey’s departure left a glaring hole. Limited resources should be allocated to higher-priority positions.

5. Contract Dispute Uncertainty
Until Wilkins’ grievance is resolved, any deal carries legal and financial unknowns. That risk is unnecessary for a team already well-stocked at the position.

Can the Dolphins Afford It?

Overthecap.com has the Dolphins with only $964,997 in cap space, which can increase with restructures.

Financially, it depends on how Wilkins’ grievance plays out and how willing he is to sign a team-friendly deal. Cap-wise, Miami would have to get creative, but the bigger question is whether it’s worth it at all.

With Sieler, Grant, Phillips, and Biggers in the fold, the Dolphins have a strong defensive tackle group at a fraction of the cost. The franchise has made clear moves toward a younger, cheaper core — Wilkins simply doesn’t fit that vision anymore.

Final Recommendation

The Dolphins should not pursue a reunion with Christian Wilkins.

His past production and fan-favorite status are undeniable, but the team’s youth-focused, cost-controlled approach should take priority. The risks — injury, financial strain, positional overlap, and locker room dynamics — outweigh the potential benefits.

Instead, the Dolphins should focus their resources on more urgent needs, like shoring up the secondary, and continue building around the promising young defensive tackle group led by Zach Sieler.

When the Dolphins needed him most last season, Tyreek Hill did what no player at any level should ever do — he quit.”. Fans remember how he pulled himself from a must-win game against the Jets and doubled down after the season with his “I’m out” comment. Now, with training camp underway, Hill wants a fresh start. But trust lost isn’t won back by talking — it’s earned on the field.

Hill has posted career-best numbers in Miami, but the success has been personal, not team-wide. From off-field drama to on-field exits, he insists he’s ready to change:

(Everybody remembers the final moment where you basically said you wanted out, but that was the first year that you had never qualified for the playoffs. What were the emotions going through your mind at that point?) – “My whole life, I’ve always been a competitor. My grandparents raised me that way. I enjoy winning. I know how to lose, but in those moments like that, I need to be better as a leader and I realized that throughout this whole entire offense because ever since me and family got here, this fanbase has been special to us – showing up to different engagements.

Whenever we meet people in the community, they’ve been great. As a leader of this team and also as a leader of this community, I just need to be better in that sense and then just know there are a ton of little kids that look up to me as a player, as a role model. So I’ve just got to remind myself of that and then just take hold of that and then own it.

That’s why this year, this whole entire offseason, I’ve been busting my tail. Me and my dad – I told my dad, I said, ‘I want to see what it looks like whenever I focus just on football and I just focus on myself and family.’ Because I feel like I really haven’t been giving the best version of me, of Tyreek, my whole entire career. I’ve always been trying to be here, be there.

But me being able to slow down a little bit, train and bust my tail for myself and then also for this community and this team, I feel like it’ll be worth it. So I just want to see what that version of myself looks like, so I’m looking forward to it. Today was our conditioning test and at 31 years old, I must say I haven’t lost a step. (laughter) I’m feeling great. I’m feeling great. That’s all I’m going to say.”

Hill has said the right things all offseason and looks more locked in than ever — but Dolphins fans know talk is cheap. It’s the highlights, not headlines, that will define him.

Hill still has big goals — like chasing 2,000 receiving yards — but now he says stats come second:

(As far as your pursuit, you had mentioned getting 2,000 yards which I think could fit into the offense. How big of a goal is that for you and what do you think that would do for this offense and for this team?) – “I think it would be great, but at the end of the day, football is all about winning games. Being there for your team in those big moments, those crucial downs like third down and just being available for my team. Two thousand – I feel like that’s just a personal goal that I would like for myself, but I feel like the even bigger goal for myself and also for this team is just to win games, win playoff games and continue to build from there.”

Hill’s putting the team above the stat sheet. If he means it, he’ll prove it in January, not July.

Dolphins fans have heard big promises before. So has his quarterback — and Tua Tagovailoa made clear Hill has work to do:

(You talked about WR Tyreek Hill and relationships, after what he said last year did you guys have to rebuild your relationship together?) – “Sure. I would say we’re still continuing to do that. But it’s not just with me, it’s with a lot of the guys. I’m not the only one that heard that. You guys aren’t the only people that heard that. A lot of people that follow football, that follow the Miami Dolphins, that follow Tyreek, that are fans of his; everyone has seen that. So when you say something like that you don’t just come back from that with a ‘hey, my bad.’ You’ve got to work that relationship up, you’ve got to build everything up again. It’s still a work in progress. Not just for me, but for everybody. Like I said he’s working on himself, he’s working on the things that he says he wants to get better with and do better on. That’s the first step to me and so I commend him for doing that.”

Those are the words of a leader. Tua didn’t sugarcoat anything — he knows trust isn’t handed out, even for a superstar. Quietly but firmly, Tagovailoa has grown up. He’s holding one of the league’s loudest voices accountable — and that says plenty about who runs this locker room.

Head coach Mike McDaniel echoed that theme:

(Yesterday WR Tyreek Hill said that he hasn’t been giving the best version of himself his entire career. I’m curious was that self-reflection of his point that he shared with you or was that something you guys spoke about together?) – “Absolutely. He’s been within this building – you can see thus far, the three months that the team has been working at it, that he’s saying that publicly. Why do I say that? Because he’s come to work every day with vigor and determination. I think first and foremost, the only way that you can dictate the terms in life, is you have to take a realistic evaluation of what’s going on and if you’re not happy with certain things you have to put in the work to change it.

I think the whole point – if I can affect the team and the players on it in any way – the one thing that I think is ever-pervasive is adversity is adversity. You have the choice of making it an opportunity or whatever you don’t like about it, you can live that into existence. So humble, accountable, deliberate, intentional daily focus; that’s what we’re looking for and I’m excited for him to get another opportunity to stack another day today, which is Wednesday, Practice 1.”