Two weeks after 2025 NFL Free Agency kicked off, I think it’s safe to say that the Miami Dolphins’ most-prized free agent was former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman James Daniels.
Daniels, 27, signed a three-year deal with the Dolphins this offseason worth an estimated $24 million. A contract that comes with a great deal of expectations, from fans and coaches alike. This is something Daniels not only welcomes but understands:
“Every free agent signing, especially when it’s a multi-year deal for a total of double digits, you understand that you’re being signed to a team for a reason…I understand the position I’m in, and I understand that the Dolphins believe a lot in me and that the fans are expecting a lot from me.”
Asked what attracted him to Miami Gardens in the first place, Daniels was clear that he had long admired what Mike McDaniel was doing in Miami and believes he can be an asset in the offense.
“There’s a lot of playmakers. I’ve always watched – I think two years ago the Dolphins were like top five in the league in rushing. They’ve always been a great rushing team for the past couple of years, so it’s always attracted me. I’m very excited to get the chance to play in the offense and it seems really fun.”
Drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 2nd round (39th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft, Daniels started 48 out of 54 games during his first four seasons in the league, lining up primarily at guard with some time at center sprinkled in.
He’d join the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022, where he’d go on to start the next two seasons at right guard before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury that ended his 2024 campaign. A catastrophic injury that Daniels can somehow find the good in.
“Luckily, I have been rehabbing since the first week of October… I’ve had multiple months of rehab …Again it definitely is pretty tough, but I’m lucky I have a good support system around me and that’s happened… I’m going to be fully healthy when the season starts, so I can’t complain about that.”
Asked the ever-important question of whether he prefers to line up on the left or right side of the offensive line, Daniels was adamant it didn’t matter to him.
“I feel at home anywhere. Yes, I’ve played right guard the past three seasons, but in Chicago, I played left guard and I played center as well….left guard or right guard, it really doesn’t matter.”
Daniels continued: “Ever since going back to my Iowa days – I was a center at Iowa, but whenever you do stuff at Iowa, it’s like they always make sure you do snaps at right guard, snaps at left guard, snaps at center. Luckily, even going back to all of my Iowa days, I’ve always been taught to always do right and left stuff. So I’ve been fortunate for that.”
He also went on to answer an important question that I proposed on a recent episode of Another Dolphins Podcast, and that’s whether or not it wouldn’t be more beneficial for Daniels to line up next to a second-year left tackle like Patrick Paul — Daniels didn’t seem to think it mattered.
“No, it really doesn’t matter because the coach is teaching the same technique to the left guard, he’s teaching the same technique to the right tackle, left tackle. The techniques are the same…He’s not coaching people differently. So I mean it really doesn’t matter if it’s a rookie at left guard, me at left guard, rookie right guard, me at right guard. It really doesn’t matter because the coaching points are the same… whoever is out there… you’re expected to play to the standard of being dominant offensive line, helping the offense be a dominant offense.”
It may be uncertain where Daniels will start on Miami’s offensive line, but whether it’s left guard or right guard, the team hopes he’s the missing ingredient to help stabilize the Dolphins’ offense. Hell, maybe he can even make them dominant… oh, how nice that would be!
*All Quotes were taken from the Miami Dolphins’ official website
What are your thoughts on James Daniels? Do you think he should play on the left or right side of the offensive line? Better yet, who should the other starting guard be? Do you think Miami will add a starting offensive lineman in the draft? Let us know in the comments section below!
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