After impressing Mike McDaniel and his coaching staff during last weekend’s rookie minicamp, the Miami Dolphins have officially signed veteran cornerback Kendall Sheffield, the team announced on Monday.
Sheffield, 28, was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round (111th overall) of the 2019 NFL draft. During his three seasons with Atlanta (2019-2021), Sheffield started 20 of 38 games, finishing with 101 tackles, six pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. He’d bounce around in 2023, with stops in San Francisco and Tennessee before landing in New York with the Jets in 2024.
In New York, Sheffield appeared in six games with the Jets last season, primarily as a special-teams contributor. He finished the season with nine tackles. In total, Sheffield has appeared in 49 career games with 20 starts.
Despite signing Sheffield, the Dolphins still have a lot of work to do in the secondary, especially if the team plans to trade Jalen Ramsey at some point this summer, which seems like a foregone conclusion. Trading Ramsey leaves a massive hole in Miami’s secondary, one that Kader Kohou can’t fill alone. Will Cam Smith finally step up and prove his worth? Is Storm Duck ready to take the next step? Is it finally Ethan Bonner’s time to shine?
I’m hesitant to trust anyone not named Kohou, and in my opinion, he’s best suited for the slot. Which means Miami will likely bring in another veteran free agent once Ramsey is traded. Could that be Rasul Douglas, a player the team has been linked to heavily, and has familiarity starting on the outside? Or maybe another marquee name, like Asante Samuel Jr.? Perhaps they pick up the phone and trade for another disgruntled cornerback.
Whatever General Manager Chris Grier decides to do, it will be hard for anyone to replicate the type of player that Jalen Ramsey is. But with so many young players on the roster with loads of talent, the hope is that the cream rises to the top. If not, expect Miami to once again be searching for cornerback help.
What are your thoughts on the Dolphins signing cornerback Kendall Sheffield? Do you think he’ll be anything more than a special teams contributor? How concerned are you with Miami’s secondary, assuming a Jalen Ramsey trade is right around the corner? Let us know in the comments section below!
