Here's the competition battle to watch during the Dolphins' offseason

C. Isaiah Smalls II, Miami Herald on May 17, 2026

Published in Football

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Tyrel Dodson had quite the memorable opening news conference.

“I’m pissed off,” the Miami Dolphins linebacker said in November 2024. At the time, Dodson had just been released by the Seattle Seahawks for an unknown reason and scooped up off of waivers by the Dolphins. “I’m very pissed off, and I’m going to probably stay pissed off until my career ends down the road.”

So when the Dolphins selected Jacob Rodriguez in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, he likely felt a similar feeling not because he wasn’t excited to get a new teammate but because his days as a starter could potentially be numbered. The consensus best linebacker in college football last season, Rodriguez posses the unique blend of instincts and takeaway ability that could immediately challenge Dodson for his starting spot. All with the new regime’s emphasis on competition, all eyes will be on this position battle from now until the end of training camp.

“He’s a leader,” general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said of Rodriguez. “He’s a green-dot guy. He’ll call the defense in time, and I think he’ll fit really well in the room with [Jordyn] Brooks and ‘T. Dot’ and he’d be a great addition to the Miami Dolphins.”

Added Sullivan: “Iron sharpens iron, you know what I mean? And anybody in this building that is afraid of competition or doesn’t welcome it or embrace it shouldn’t be here. That’s where we are. It’s pretty simple.”

Dodson, to his credit, won’t go away easily considering his production during the last two seasons. Despite just eight appearances and three starts in 2024, he led the team in interceptions (three) in addition to his 36 total tackles and four pass deflections. He followed that with more than 100 tackles in 2025 to go along with a forced fumble, three pass break-ups and a career-high five sacks as a full-time starter.

The Texas A&M standout, however, benefited greatly from a lack of competition in 2025. As the green-dot guy, Dodson serves as a play-caller for the defense, a responsibility that Brooks didn’t necessarily want.

“It’s not easy. It’s not easy. I [would] much rather play the [weak-side linebacker] position because of the constant communication you have to have with the entire defense,” said Brooks, who served as the green-dot player in 2023, his last in Seattle. “You’re trying to diagnose the play in front of you. It’s a lot. You [have] to be smart to play that [role]. I tell T-Dot every day ‘I’m with you. I’m going to help you as best as I can. But that’s your job!’”

As Sullivan mentioned, Rodriguez could one day be the defensive play-caller. And when you listen to coaches discuss the former Texas Tech standout, it’s obvious that they feel great about what he could potentially bring to the franchise.

“To get a guy that you really like, to get a guy that you covet, to get a guy that you have ranked on your list as the No. 1 guy, it’s exciting for all the reasons,” said Joe Barry, the Dolphins’ run game coordinator/ senior defensive assistant. “He’s a great kid, He’s a great player. He’s a great husband. He’s a great teammate. He’s been productive as hell his entire college career both in tackles and taking the ball away.”

What makes the situation particularly complicated is that Dodson’s deal expires after the 2026 season, an extension given by the previous regime. Dodson, for all intents and purposes, still needs to prove that he can be effective in this new system.

Rodriguez, on the other hand, still just wants to find his role.

“Just trying to be a part of the team is the biggest thing,” Rodriguez said. “We’re team first. Coming in here and just learning about the guys and learning about their relationships with everybody and trying to just fill my role and just be a pro.”

This has all the makings and more for a great, great summer.

“We’re going to play the best guys,” defensive coordinator Sean Duggan said. “Everything’s a competition right now. That’s what guys are doing out there. They’re competing in every drill they do, every sprint. They just did basically gassers and they were competing. Guys were talking to each other and letting them know who won. I view everything as a competition, and we’re going to play the best guys.”