Who Will Step Up as Fourth Dolphins Cornerback?

The highest of the Miami Dolphins cornerback depth chart is one arguably is the strongest group on Miami’s roster. It’s led by Xavien Howard, Byron Jones and Nik Needham, who all have confirmed themselves as at the very least high quality NFL starters with Howard turning into a star.

Nevertheless, Miami’s depth on the cornerback place is a query mark. The remainder of the depth chart is crammed largely with unproven younger gamers and veterans who’ve bounced across the NFL for the final couple of years.

We’ve determined to deep-dive into some gamers who probably might fill Miami’s fourth cornerback spot this season. Whether or not Howard’s accidents flare up once more, Jones has points recovering from his offseason leg damage or the Dolphins play a crew with a deep receiver room, this participant must play vital snaps.

Noah Igbinoghene

Since being drafted within the first spherical of the 2020 NFL draft out of Auburn, Igbinoghene has struggled to earn constant taking part in time. He performed in seven video games with only one begin final season, missed two video games on the Reserve/COVID-19 record, and was inactive for one more six video games.

When he’s been on the sphere, issues haven’t been fairly. He completed with a 53.8 protection grade in 2021 and a 38.8 protection grade in 2020, per PFF. Whereas that factors to some enchancment, it’s vital to recollect he performed solely 78 snaps in 2021 in comparison with 286 snaps in 2020.

On movie, Igbinoghene nonetheless has loads of the identical points that have been evident in his school tape at Auburn. He nonetheless struggles to find the ball over his shoulder, stick with the receiver by means of a number of breaks, and skim the eyes of the quarterback whereas staying disciplined in zone protection.

With all that stated, Igbinoghene has the pure athletic traits to be an efficient cornerback within the NFL. He ran a 4.48 40-yard sprint and jumped 128 inches within the broad soar, which is within the eighty fifth percentile for NFL cornerbacks, on the NFL mix.

Igbinoghene turning his profession fully round and residing as much as his draft pedigree is extremely unlikely, but when he can enhance to the purpose the place he isn’t a complete legal responsibility he may earn reps because the crew’s fourth cornerback.

Quincy Wilson

Wilson is probably the most skilled of the group sitting behind Miami’s high three cornerbacks as he enters his sixth season after being chosen by the Indianapolis Colts within the second spherical of the 2017 NFL draft.

Wilson at the moment is listed on the Dolphins roster as a “defensive again,” that means he’s in all probability getting reps at each security and cornerback. He’s value mentioning because the crew’s fourth cornerback as a result of the competitors within the security room is far more durable.

Wilson’s first two seasons with the Colts confirmed some promise. Between 2017 and 2018, he appeared in 20 video games with 10 begins and completed with two interceptions, eight move breakups, and 39 solo tackles.

These numbers aren’t groundbreaking and neither are his PFF protection grades of 68.3 in 2017 and 62.9 in 2018, however as a fourth cornerback for Miami, these numbers can be satisfactory.

Nevertheless, as a substitute of getting higher over time, Wilson has gotten worse. In 2019, he completed with a protection grade of 32.6 and had no ball manufacturing. He then left Indianapolis for the New York Jets in 2020 and he performed simply 4 video games, and he missed all the 2021 season with an ankle damage.

Wilson turning into a productive participant once more is a protracted shot. Regardless of that, Wilson is  one in all Miami’s few choices with something resembling high quality play and a big pattern dimension on their resume.

Keion Crossen

Crossen is the next-most skilled candidate as he’s coming into his fifth season within the NFL after the Patriots chosen him within the seventh spherical of the 2018 NFL draft. Which means Crossen spent his rookie season below Dolphins defensive coordinator Josh Boyer.

Like Wilson, Crossen is listed as a defensive again, however once more, because of the stage of competitors within the security room, Crossen’s greatest likelihood to earn reps might be at cornerback.

Crossen spent the 2021 season with the Giants the place he report zero ball manufacturing and simply 13 complete tackles in restricted reps.

The Western Carolina product did play 441 complete snaps for the Texans from 2019 by means of 2020, however he didn’t precisely grade out properly. His greatest season was 2020 when he completed with a PFF protection grade of 61.5 in comparison with his 2019 grade of 44.2.

Crossen seemingly might be a constant contributor on particular groups no matter what number of reps he will get on protection. Miami might worth him for his expertise and provides him a possibility to step up this offseason.

Javaris Davis

Davis is the primary of many gamers of their first or second yr within the league combating for a spot on the depth chart. He performed 10 defensive snaps in complete final season, and so they all got here in Week 12 in opposition to the Carolina Panthers.

To Davis’ credit score, he did report two tackles and one move breakup in these 10 snaps.

Davis was a UDFA from Auburn who initially signed the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ apply squad in 2020. In school, Davis performed in 49 video games with 35 begins whereas recording 150 complete tackles, two sacks, eight interceptions, 37 move breakups, one compelled fumble, and one pick-six.

The cousin of former Dolphins first-round choose Vontae Davis, Javaris Davis is listed at 5-8 and 183 kilos on the Dolphins’ official roster, so if he’s going to make an affect on protection this season it seemingly might be as a slot cornerback.

Trill Williams

Williams is one other former UDFA who joined Miami after getting waived by one other crew. He made Miami’s 53-man roster final offseason after getting lower by the New Orleans Saints.

He made his NFL debut in Week 18 in opposition to the Patriots final season, however he didn’t report any stats and was inactive for 12 of Miami’s video games.

The Syracuse product did have a powerful three-year profession earlier than going undrafted. He performed in 28 video games with 15 begins and recorded 93 complete tackles, 4 interceptions, 10 passes defended, three compelled fumbles, one fumble restoration, and one pick-six.

Williams is listed at 6-1, 205, making him a prototype outdoors cornerback for a heavy man protection scheme, which is an ideal match for the Dolphins protection.

Elijah Campbell

Campbell joined the Dolphins after being claimed off waivers from the New York Jets early in 2021. He performed in seven video games final season, was inactive for 4 video games, after which was positioned on injured reserve in November, ending his season.

Campbell seemingly figures into Miami’s roster as a particular groups contributor, one thing he did final season. His odds to make an affect as a fourth cornerback are somewhat low given his lack of expertise within the NFL.

Campbell’s solely defensive stat from final season was a single deal with.

He was productive in school, although, ending with 24 video games performed, 87 tackles, 15 passes defended, and eight interceptions in two years at Northern Iowa.