Omar Kelly: Malik Herring's thankful for opportunity Dolphins can provide

Omar Kelly, Miami Herald on Sep 7, 2026

Published in Football

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MIAMI — Imagine being told you will have to relocate to a new work site, in a new environment, learning how to exist with new coworkers and new management to keep your chosen profession.

That’s what life is like for NFL players who were plucked off the waiver wire last week, or those who have signed with a new team last week after not making their old team’s initial 53-man roster.

It’s often a shock to most player’s systems, dealing with the realization that they were waived, rejected, thrown away, and then coveted by another in the span of 24 hours and asked to relocate in time to participate in practice the next day.

And ultimately, asked to prove themselves all over again to keep their often-fragile NFL dreams alive.

Welcome to life at the bottom of an NFL team’s 53-man roster.

“It shows you the real side of being a professional athlete, the good and bad,” said Malik Herring, who was one of 16 newcomers the Miami Dolphins added last week after claiming seven off the waiver wire, adding Herring as a free agent signee and signing eight newcomers to the practice squad.

“I feel like what more could I have done at my last place,” Herring said, referring to the Tennessee Titans, the team he signed with this offseason after spending the past five seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs, the franchise he won two Super Bowl championships with. “I [was] still wanted so that’s a positive.”

While Herring, a former Georgia standout, is thankful for the opportunity, especially since the Dolphins will be guaranteeing his $1.2 million salary for the season by keeping him on the 53-man roster next Sunday, he openly admits he’s still getting his bearings.

The Dolphins full-court pressed Herring because of his skill set and reputation as a stout run defender, which is a massive need for the 2026 team new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan is putting together and Jeff Hafley’s responsible for coaching.

Chop Robinson and Josh Uche are expected to begin the season as Miami’s starting edge rushers, but neither has an established reputation as an edge-setter, which is necessary for the defense to clamp down against an opponent’s rushing attack.

The Dolphins envision Zeek Biggers, a 2025 seventh-round pick, serving as an edge-setting defensive lineman, and now they can add Herring to the mix of players capable of working as a five or six-technique defensive end, which primarily lines up in front of offensive tackles in a 3-4 front.

That’s the role Herring had served in Kansas City, appearing in 28 career games with one start in four seasons with the Chiefs (2022-25), recording 28 tackles (15 solo), 1.5 sacks, one pass defensed, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

“He’s got good size,” Hafley said of the 6-foot-3, 257-pounder. “He gives us a bigger end who we feel is a physical guy that could set edges, play a 6-technique, reduce down, play a 9-technique and can be really strong against the run.”

Last year’s Dolphins defense struggled defending the run, allowing 4.8 yards per rushing attempt and 132.4 rushing yards per game, and inconsistent play of Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips and Biggers was a major factor in those struggles. Especially early as the trio of rookies adjusted to the speed and strength of the NFL game.

Only six teams allowed more rushing yards (2,241) than the Dolphins last season, and Miami can’t afford to repeat those struggles because the defense needs to put opposing offenses in difficult down-and-distance situations to have success on third downs.

That’s where players such as Biggers, Herring and possibly Keith Cooper Jr. enter the equation. Fortunately for them Austin Clark, the Dolphins’ defensive line coach, has a solid reputation for developing his players and getting the most of out his units.

Clark’s reputation, and Miami’s vision for Herring, is what sold him on picking Miami over a handful of other teams making offers.

“I’m thankful for the opportunity. Thankful to be in this position, to be with a lot of young guys. I’m getting their energy, feeling young,” said Herring, who turns 29 in November. “I heard what the coaches had envisioned for me, the plan they had for me, and I felt like it was thought out all the way through.”

The location of his new NFL team didn’t hurt either.

“This is Miami. Great location, great weather,” Herring continued. “This is a fresh start for everybody, and I have an opportunity to make a name for myself. That’s all anyone could want.”

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