What Does Adding Rasul Douglas do For the Dolphins Defense?

The Miami Dolphins recently signed Rasul Douglas, ending a long-awaited arrival as Miami has been in contact with Douglas all off-season.

Miami Dolphins Sign Veteran CB Rasul Douglas to One-Year Deal

Head coach Mike McDaniel said in his press conference Thursday when asked if Rasul was signed to start, “we aren’t in the business of handing over those positions, especially in a competitive environment” Talks about how the Dolphins are better because of Rasul.

So, what does Rasul Douglas do and how can he elevate this Dolphins defense?

Two years ago, I would have said a lot, Douglas was one of the NFL’s top corners, recording 4+ interceptions for three years straight, while being a sure tackler and allowing a less than 65% completion percentage across the three seasons. This all came to a screeching halt for Douglas as last season he allowed a 72.9% completion percentage and a 122-passer rating, among the NFL’s worst.

Yet, Douglas will have a chance, due to the talent level in the Dolphins corner back room. The Dolphins are rolling out, second-year undrafted free agent Storm Duck, inconsistent Jack Jones, and rookie Jason Marshall Jr. with little to no depth behind them. So although McDaniel says there are no handouts, Douglas comes in as the most prolific, proven player and will make an immediate impact for the Miami Dolphins.

Douglas comes in as a sure tackler, something Miami has always struggled with, Douglas has a nose for the ball and isn’t afraid to make a tackle. The Dolphins added a lot of sure tacklers this offseason which will surely help limit the explosive plays after contact.

Douglas is reliable- he doesn’t miss games; he has appeared in all but 12 games in 9 seasons and has played in at least 87% of defensive snaps each season since 2020. The Dolphins are notorious for health issues, and Douglas could be the glue that holds the unit together.

The veteran the cornerback room needs: Douglas comes in as Miami’s oldest corner and can mentor this young room, something he did in Buffalo with Christian Benford, Kaiir Elam, and in Green Bay with Jaire Alexander. Douglas can also help lead Jack Jones. A very talented player that has dealt with off the field issues, something he has personally addressed. Douglas will come in as a leader, and his leadership will be essential to the development of the room.

Most importantly, it’s what he can bring on the field. Even after a down year Miami is giving Douglas the proverbial prove it deal. Douglas, primarily a zone corner, fitting right in with Anthony Weaver’s defensive scheme. Douglas’s worst work this past season was in man, and with Miami’s versatility across the secondary will enable Weaver to create a scheme to play to his defense’s strengths.

Grier on adding Douglas

“He’s been a player that’s very smart, instinctive, tough, competitive, so I’m really happy to add him to the group,”

Douglas has the profile to help Miami succeed but he is on the casual cornerback downfall, lose their man-to-man skills, sign a deal late in camp, and have to prove that they can be who they once were. For Douglas he benefits from having Anthony Weaver by his side, and a young hungry defense that coach Weaver gave great praise to last season, giving them a comparison to Dolphins “No-Name Defense” of the seventies.