The Miami Dolphins continue a targeted focus on their defensive secondary and special teams as the NFL’s 2026 free agency period kicks off. According to reports, the Dolphins have added former Las Vegas Raiders defensive back Lonnie Johnson, Jr., former Green Bay Packers safety Zayne Anderson, and former New England Patriots cornerback Alex Austin.
Miami, FL
Dolphins focus on secondary, special teams with addition of three players
The Dolphins added cornerback Darrell Baker and re-signed cornerback A.J. Green III earlier on Wednesday.
Who is Lonnie Johnson, Jr.?
A 2019 second-round pick by the Houston Texans, Johnson has bounced around the league, with Miami marking his seventh different team as he enters his eighth season. He spent three years with the Texans before a preseason stint with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2022. He was claimed off waivers by the Tennessee Titans, spending the 2022 season there before moving over to the New Orleans Saints in 2023.
Johnson returned to the Texans in 2024, but was released at the end of the preseason. He signed to the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad that year, then was promoted to the active roster. In 2025, he signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, starting the year on injured reserve before being activated in Week 10.
In seven seasons, he has 224 tackles, one fumble recovery, 17 passes defensed, and four interceptions in 92 games played (22 starts). Last year, he was primarily a safety for the Raiders, however he has spent much of his career playing both defense and special teams.
What are Johnson’s contract details?
Johnson and the Dolphins agreed to terms on a one-year contract. No monetary information was reported.
An undrafted free agent out of BYU in 2021, Anderson first joined the Kansas City Chiefs, spending two seasons primarily on the team’s practice squad. He joined the Buffalo Bills ahead of the 2023 season but was cut at the end of the preseason and was claimed off waivers by the Packers. The 29-year-old has appeared in 47 games during his five-year career, tallying 36 tackles, two fumble recoveries, two passes defensed, and an interception.
He played just 22 defensive snaps last year for the Packers, but was in on 206 special teams plays. For his career, he has 700 special teams snaps, compared to 145 defensive snaps.
Anderson ended 2025 with an ankle injury, but had seen action in all 16 games prior to the final week of the season. He follows new Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley and new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan from the Packers to Miami. The Dolphins are also expected to sign former Packers quarterback Malik Willis.
What are Anderson’s contract details?
Anderson was a restricted free agent prior to Wednesday, but the Packers did not place a qualifying tender on him. They had tried to work out a new contract below the $3.5 million tender, but could not come to an agreement and Anderson was allowed to become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year began at 4 p.m. Eastern.
No details of Anderon’s contract were reported.
The former Patriots cornerback continues to work his way through the AFC East, having originally been a seventh-round draft pick in 2023 by the Buffalo Bills. He was waived at the end of the preseason and was claimed off waivers by the Houston Texans, then was waived on November 1 and signed to the practice squad. The next day, the Patriots poached Austin, signing him to their active roster.
After bouncing aorund as a rookie, Austin returned to the Patriots for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. He has appeared in 29 games (6 starts) during his three seasons, recording 31 tackles, eight passes defensed, and an interception.
As with the other two players above, Austin has seen plenty of playing time on special teams and likely will continue with that role with the Dolphins.
What are Austin’s contract details?
Like Anderson, Austin was set to be a restricted free agent, but the Patriots chose not to tender him. According to Schultz, Austin has agreed to a one-year contract with Miami. No compensation was reported.
NORTH MIAMI, Fla. — A North Miami man is facing an attempted murder charge after police say he stabbed another man multiple times at his home, leaving the victim with life-threatening injuries.
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The suspect arrested in the case was identified by North Miami police on Friday as 53-year-old James Mackenzie.
According to an arrest report obtained by Local 10, officers responded around 10:45 a.m. Thursday to the 500 block of Northeast 132nd Terrace in reference to a reported stabbing.
Police said they located Mackenzie with blood on his hands in the backyard near an efficiency at the back of his home.
Investigators conducted a safety sweep of the home and located the victim who they say was “suffering from multiple stab wounds to the chest.”
The report states that the victim was seated in a walker used as a wheelchair and was having difficulty breathing and speaking after he was stabbed.
Police said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue medics transported the victim to HCA Florida Aventura Hospital for treatment.
Hospital staff later told investigators the victim had been stabbed approximately seven times, with at least one wound piercing his heart, according to the report. Police said the victim, who has not yet been identified, remains in critical condition as of Friday afternoon.
Investigators said while inside the home, they found large amounts of blood in a bedroom where the victim was discovered.
They also confirmed that a small folding pocketknife with what appeared to be blood on it was also located inside Mackenzie’s home.
The report states other residents heard an argument between Mackenzie and the victim but did not witness the stabbing.
A surveillance camera inside the home captured audio of the victim saying, “I’m bleeding everywhere, please. I need to go to the hospital,” according to the report.
Police said Mackenzie made several statements that were redacted from the publicly released report before invoking his right to an attorney after being read his Miranda rights.
Jail records show he is facing one count of second-degree attempted murder.
As of Friday afternoon, he was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, where his bond was listed as “to be set.”
A motive for the stabbing remains unclear at this time.
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Miami, FL
Michael Stern’s JDS to bring on partner Jeff Soffer at Mercedes-Benz Miami project, working on $1B loan
Michael Stern’s JDS Development Group is nearing a deal to bring on Jeff Soffer’s Fontainebleau Development as a partner and secure an over $1 billion loan for the Mercedes-Benz Miami condo project, The Real Deal has learned.
The deal, which has not yet closed, will replenish the project’s capital stack and would resolve litigation with the existing lender, allowing the nearly 800-unit branded condo project to resume. Byron Trott and Michael Dell’s firm, BD&T & MSD, is one of the lenders, according to sources.
The $1.06 billion financing package includes a C-PACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy) component, which encourages the use of energy efficient and sustainable materials and design.
JDS and Fontainebleau Development declined to comment. A representative for BD&T & MSD did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The project has been tied up in a foreclosure suit with Cottonwood Management. In May, Cottonwood sued the JDS affiliate alleging the developer failed to repay the loan by the January 2025 maturity date. The JDS affiliate countersued, accusing Cottonwood of underhandedly acquiring the note while JDS was in the market for a construction loan.
Cottonwood took over the loan in late March of this year from Maxim Credit Group, which provided an $86 million refinance in 2022.
The 791-unit, two-tower development is valued at more than $2 billion once completed, according to a court filing. The 67-story development is planned to have 130,000 square feet of amenities and hospitality space, 200,000 square feet of office, health and wellness space, a 174-key hotel, retail and parking. It will mark the first Mercedes-Benz branded condo development once completed.
The project, designed by ShOP Architects, launched sales in 2024 with unit prices starting at $500,000. Ryan Serhant’s firm, Serhant, is leading sales and marketing of the project.
In one of its court filings, the JDS affiliate stated that the foreclosure suit caused “immediate, significant and potentially irreparable damage” to the developer and the project. After the foreclosure was filed, the city of Miami notified the developer that it had defaulted under the public benefits agreement, which requires JDS to build a new fire station for the city. JDS’ approval in 2020 hinged on the developer agreeing to build an $8 million firehouse for the city, and $5 million into public benefits, including a redesign of the adjacent Southside Park.
JDS’ other South Florida development is the Dolce & Gabbana-branded condo project planned for 888 Brickell Avenue. One Sotheby’s International Realty, the brokerage firm hired to lead sales and marketing of the project, sued the JDS affiliate behind that tower, seeking more than $500,000 in allegedly unpaid commissions, expense reimbursements, marketing fees and other costs the brokerage has incurred while selling the project, according to a lawsuit in May.
Fontainebleau Development and its partner Starwood Capital Group recently secured a $104 million refinancing from BDT & MSD for an oceanfront condo project in Tequesta called 1 Homes Jupiter Island. Soffer’s completed condo projects include the luxury condo tower Turnberry Ocean Club in Sunny Isles Beach. His firm’s portfolio includes the iconic Fontainebleau Miami Beach resort, where Soffer plans a controversial water park expansion.
How Jeffrey Soffer turned the Fontainebleau name into a real estate empire
Development
South Florida South Florida Dirt: In Brickell, Michael Stern fights foreclosure. In Miami Beach, his proposed tower moves on without him
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South Florida Lender moves to foreclose on JDS affiliate’s Mercedes-Benz Miami project
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After starting their season off on the West Coast against Stanford, the Miami Hurricanes will return to Coral Gables for their home opener against the Florida A&M Rattlers.
Scheduling an in-state HBCU will never be a bad look for Miami, and while keeping these traditions alive is important, what the U will really gain out of this is a solid crowd for its home opener, a chance to score a lot of points, and ample opportunity to show off its new, glittery offense.
That being said, this is a FAMU team that went 5-7 last season and did make a trip to Hard Rock Stadium for its season opener against Howard in the Orange Blossom Classic, so the Rattlers aren’t walking into a totally new environment. The new-look Rattlers also bring a fresh head coach to the table, who will look to make a statement against the Canes.
2026 Miami Football Early Opponent Preview, Game 2: FAMU
The Offense
The buzz around Tallahassee and FAMU is all about first-year head coach Quinn Gray, who came to FAMU from Albany State, where he posted three consecutive winning seasons. He brought in a litany of transfers from Albany State, including quarterback Isaiah Knowles.
This is a homecoming for Gray, who played quarterback at FAMU before logging a more-than-solid career in the NFL. Alongside Knowles, FAMU added two quarterback prospects: one from the portal in Alabama State transfer James Hayes, and another in Thomas County Central (GA) prospect Jaylen Johnson.
While Gray’s offense will still need to be proven in the SWAC, Albany State managed to put up 33 points per game in 2025 and averaged nearly 200 rushing yards per contest. Couple that with around 200 pass yards per game, and the offensive resumé for Gray gets harder to ignore.
This won’t be the FAMU of last year, but that doesn’t mean that Miami shouldn’t still handle its business.
Defense
The defense for FAMU was its Achilles’ heel in 2025. In fact, Gray and company almost bested the Rattlers in Club Bragg when Albany State visited last season. The Golden Rams managed to put up 25 points on the Rattlers.
When it played against the upper echelons of the SWAC, the same story held true. Jackson State, Alabama State, Bethune-Cookman and Mississippi Valley State all put up at least 35 points against the Rattlers. FAMU hopes that the addition of Ryan Lewis Sr. as defensive coordinator will remedy its troubles, or at least start to do so, in 2026.
Lewis comes to FAMU from Alabama State, where his defenses were among the most impressive in the SWAC.
Schedule
After traveling to Stanford for the season opener, having a team like FAMU awaiting the Hurricanes in Coral Gables is as good of a get as one could ask for. The first two matchups of the year are as low-pressure as could be.
While the U is probably paying close to seven figures for this game to take place, it’s worth it for the final tune-up before ramping up the schedule and to keep a tradition alive in the Sunshine State.
Much like Game One, Miami will be a heavy favorite in this matchup, and rightly so.
Outlook
All signs point toward Miami having no trouble starting the year off 2-0. Stanford and FAU shouldn’t put up much of a fight against Miami’s hopes of returning to the National Title game.
Next week, though, is when things get serious as ACC play rolls on with a bout against Wake Forest.
The Game
Date: September 10
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV: ACC Network +
Location: Hard Rock Stadium
Series History: Miami leads 3-0
Last Meeting: 2024
The Team
The Coach: Quinn Gray
Offensive Coordinator: Nicholas Sewak
Defensive Coordinator: Ryan Lewis Sr.
2025 Record: 5-7
2025 Rankings: N/A
Players to Watch: Isaiah Knowles, QB
Top Newcomer: Mike Peterson Jr., WR, Florida
Biggest Question: How will Gray’s offense transition to the next level?
The School
Location: Tallahassee, Florida
Founded: October 3, 1887
Enrollment: ~8,000
Nickname: The Rattlers
Colors: Pantone 151 (Orange), Pantone 348 (Green)
Mascot: “Venom” the Rattler
The Program
Last Win in the Series: N/A
Last ACC Title: N/A
National Championships: 1978 (DI-AA), 17 Black College Football Nat’l Championships
Playoff Appearances: N/A
Last missed bowl season: 2025
Heisman Trophies: N/A
The Schedule
September 10, 9 p.m., Miami Hurricanes vs. FAMU Rattlers
This is the second story in Miami Hurricanes on SI’s early preview series of all 12 regular-season opponents for Miami football in 2026.
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