Who is Harold Landry? Meet the Patriots' new pass-rusher, a former Boston College standout.
Related
:
Here are four things to know about Landry.
He's been an effective pass-rusher for years
Landry, 28, might have been released by the Titans this week ahead of free agency amid what was a slight dip in his pass-rushing production.
But the veteran linebacker has been a regular force when it comes to getting after opposing quarterbacks and putting them under duress.
Laundry appeared in 17 games with Tennessee in 2024, leading the team in sacks (nine) while also racking up 71 tackles, 15 QB hits, and 15 tackles for loss. Among edge defenders,
Get Starting Point
A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday.
Enter Email
Sign Up
He earned Pro Bowl nods for the 2021 season after recording 12 sacks and 22 QB hits — only to then miss the entire 2022 campaign after suffering a torn ACL during practice in August.
Advertisement
Amid the concerns of his game potentially slowing down, Landry has still recorded nine or more sacks in each of the past three seasons.
Every Harold Landry sack from 2024.
Some really impressive wins here. But a lot of stunts and effort plays rather than true pass rush dominance. Weird player, but production is production even if manufactured.
2024 was his worst season. Maybe Vrabel will make me eat my words.
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF)
He has plenty of familiarity with Mike Vrabel
It should come as little surprise that Landry identified the Patriots as a fit before the start of free agency, considering that
Vrabel was coaching Tennessee in 2018 when the Titans drafted Landry in the second round, with the young edge player immediately carving out a role on Vrabel's defensive unit.
Speaking at the end of the 2023 season, Landry was candid when asked if he could envision himself playing for any other coach than Vrabel.
'Not really to be honest,' Landry said of Vrabel shortly before his eventual firing, via
Advertisement
''I feel like with [Vrabel], my entire career, situationally, I've been as prepared as I can possibly be for every game. I feel like if you just look at [the Titans' season-ending win over Jacksonville], guys are playing hard for him, guys are wanting to win for him and … I really can't imagine him not being the Titans head coach. I mean, I just can't.'
Landry addresses an immediate need
The Patriots' most pressing offseason needs revolve around the team's porous offensive line and a dearth of playmakers on offense.
But New England's pass-rushing talents also left a lot to be desired in 2024.
New England struggled to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks all season long, with the Patriots finishing last in the league with just 28 sacks on the season. New England was also tied with the Browns for the second-lowest mark in the league with just 0.7 takeaways per game.
Landry should remedy some of those pass-rushing woes, with his sacks (nine) and tackles for loss (15) last year both leading New England had he been on the roster.
It was to be expected for New England's defense to regress following the decision to trade Matthew Judon in August 2024.
But the addition of Landry should help bolster a defensive unit that should have more room to grow, especially if Christian Barmore is cleared for game action and Keion White continues to develop.
He was a former standout at Boston College
Landry already has plenty of ties to the New England region. The Spring Lake, North Carolina, product played at Boston College from 2014-17.
Advertisement
Landry recorded 26.0 sacks over his four seasons at Chestnut Hill, with his 16.5 sacks during the 2016 season tied for the program record for most sacks in a single year, shared by 2025 NFL Draft prospect Donovan Ezeiruaku.
Conor Ryan can be reached at
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
New England Patriots 2025 NFL Season Preview
New England Patriots 2025 NFL Season Preview originally appeared on Athlon Sports. [Editor's note: This article is from Athlon Sports' 2025 NFL Preview Magazine. Order your copy today online or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.] Advertisement The New England Patriots didn't undergo a complete makeover this offseason, but it's safe to say that head coach Mike Vrabel and de facto general manager Eliot Wolf just about tore the franchise down to the studs — quarterback Drake Maye, cornerback Christian Gonzalez and some other foundational elements — with the hope of building back another championship team in its place. Vrabel takes over from another former New England linebacker in Jerod Mayo, who went 4-13 in his one season at the helm while proving to be the latest example of 'Don't be the guy who follows the guy.' As a result, the post-Bill Belichick hangover still lingers over this franchise, but the shadow of the old coach doesn't loom as large as it once did. More NFL team previews AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders Advertisement NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks The Patriots were hyper-aggressive in free agency, landing blue-chip talent and high-character locker room guys on both sides of the ball. They weren't shy about parting with established veterans, getting rid of some of their last links to the Super Bowl era. And they went hard in the draft, going after help for Maye and creating another layer of depth on all three levels of defense. The result? A sense of guarded optimism. That, mixed with Vrabel's brand of swagger and enthusiasm for the rebuild, has created a heightened sense of expectation. Only one team has won fewer games than the Patriots since the start of the 2023 season, so there's nowhere to go but up, right? 'We all want to win. That's why we're here,' Vrabel says. 'That's why I got hired; it's to win, to put a product on the field [fans] can be excited about, that they can care about, and they can support. Like, that's the whole goal. And I don't think they should have to wait very long.' Offense Vrabel brought back offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, who has been charged with guiding Maye and the rest of the New England attack. The third overall pick in 2024, Maye underwent his share of growing pains as a rookie thanks in large part to a woeful offensive line and a lack of skill-position players around him. If McDaniels can figure out a way to get Maye to the next level, it'll represent a sizable step in the right direction for one of the worst offenses in the league last year. New Patriots head coach Mike VrabelEric Canha-Imagn Images One thing that will help is a retooled offensive line. The Patriots started 12 different offensive linemen last year, two shy of the all-time record. They landed veteran offensive linemen Morgan Moses (right tackle), Wes Schweitzer (guard) and Garrett Bradbury (center) in free agency. The hope is they can fit with some of the holdovers like Mike Onwenu (right guard) and Cole Strange (left guard), as well as rookies Will Campbell (left tackle) and Jared Wilson (center). Advertisement When it comes to the skill-position players, they shored up the receiving corps with veterans Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins and rookie Kyle Williams. That group, as well as holdovers Kendrick Bourne, DeMario Douglas, Kayshon Boutte, Ja'Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, will engage in some of the fiercest position battles on the roster. Most teams usually lean on six receivers, which means two familiar faces won't be around when the season begins. There's also a spicy position battle brewing at running back, as second-round pick TreVeyon Henderson will fight with established vets Rhamondre Stevenson and Antonio Gibson for reps this season. The one area that will likely remain status quo is tight end, where Hunter Henry (one of Maye's favorite targets in 2024) and Austin Hooper deliver an adequate 1-2 punch. Defense On defense, Vrabel and new coordinator Terrell Williams have changed the scheme — and personnel. For years under Belichick — as well as last year's plan with Mayo — the Patriots' defensive linemen were more about occupying space in a 3-4 alignment to free things up for the linebackers. Now, they're eying a more attacking, disruptive playing style, particularly for the defensive line. Advertisement But at the end of the day, a lot of the success or failure of this defense will hinge on the health and continued development of two players: Gonzalez and defensive lineman Christian Barmore. Gonzalez has emerged as a No. 1 corner, capable of putting the clamps on elite receivers on a regular basis. Meanwhile, Barmore was sidelined for much of last year with blood clot issues. If he can return at 100%, his ability to get after opposing passers while remaining stout against the run would bring an added three-down dimension to the defense that no one else on the roster can match. Eagles Super Bowl LIX hero Milton Williams meets with Patriots media after signing a free-agent deal with New Canha-Imagn Images In addition, free-agent pickups Milton Williams and Khyiris Tonga, as well as Barmore and fourth-round pick Joshua Farmer, should make for a beefed-up interior that will keep offensive line coaches busy game-planning. Edge defenders like Keion White, Harold Landry III and Anfernee Jennings are expected to round out the bulk of the defensive front. Linebacker Robert Spillane and cornerbacks Gonzalez and Carlton Davis III, a free-agent pickup from Detroit, figure to lead the second level. Safety has remained the most stable position for New England the last few seasons, and that should be the case again with veterans Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger. Specialists When it comes to special teams, changes are coming, as the rookie long-snapper Julian Ashby replaces veteran Joe Cardona and rookie kicker Andres Borregales steps in for Joey Slye. Punter Bruce Baringer and gunner Brenden Schooler remain; the duo were the best and most consistent part of the Patriots' special teams units the last two seasons. Gibson and reserve cornerback Marcus Jones will be involved on returns. Final Analysis So much hinges on a few key elements: Maye's continued growth. The ability of Campbell to handle the responsibilities of the left tackle spot. If Barmore can return at 100% after a bout with blood clots. The truth of the matter is that if the Patriots aren't able to answer those questions, they could be bound for another four-win season and more instability. Advertisement But if everything breaks right and the Patriots stay healthy, eight or nine wins aren't out of the question, given the schedule and improved roster. That would represent a step in the right direction for a franchise that aims to return to greatness sooner rather than later. 'We have to improve. I mean, I think that's the goal,' Vrabel says. 'Our expectations aren't going to change; it's going to be to win the division, it's going to be host playoff games, and it's going to be to compete for championships. So we're never going to put a timetable or any sort of prediction on when that may happen. But it has to happen. 'We're going to build a program, we're going to have a foundation, we're going to give them something to believe in and be proud of. And hopefully, they are able to hold each other accountable to that standard.' More NFL team previews AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks Related: Athlon Sports 2025 NFL Preview Magazine Now Available This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
NFL offseason power rankings: No. 32 Tennessee Titans hope Cam Ward puts them back on the map
When the Tennessee Titans fired general manager Ran Carthon, a year after practically choosing him over coach Mike Vrabel in a power struggle, it made the Titans look like a directionless franchise. It was actually a moment of clarity. Titans owner Amy Adams Strunk provided a blunt and grim assessment of where her franchise was. Advertisement "It's impossible to ignore that our football team hasn't improved over the past two years," Strunk said in a statement. "I am deeply disappointed in our poor win-loss record during this period, of course, but my decision also speaks to my concern about our long-term future should we stay the course." A 3-14 season was a wake-up call. The Titans not only fell to the bottom of the NFL, they slid deep into obscurity. Tennessee was truly awful but other than regular Will Levis memes and first-year head coach Brian Callahan's outward hostility toward Levis, nobody cared. They had no identity, no marketable star, a decayed roster and only one hope for the future. That hope was the first pick of the draft. The Titans could have traded that pick or taken Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter, but they knew the best path back to relevance was hitting on a pick at quarterback. That's why Cam Ward is a Titan. Ward, the only true standout quarterback prospect in a weak draft class at the position, provides gives Tennessee a chance at an identity going forward. He's used to starting at the bottom, too, after beginning his college journey at Incarnate Word. He started there because he had no FBS scholarship offers. Advertisement Ward's first college game was on Feb. 27, 2021, after Incarnate Word opted to play a spring schedule after COVID-19. It was at McNeese State and 2,394 people were in attendance. His final game that season, at Sam Houston State, the official attendance was 743. The Titans aren't Incarnate Word, but Ward isn't starting at the top of the food chain in his NFL career either. Over Tennessee's last 22 seasons, the Titans have won three division titles. Since losing Super Bowl XXXIV on Jan. 30, 2000, they've won only five playoff games. The franchise has never won a Super Bowl. Since hitting on Steve McNair many years ago the the Titans have tried over and over to find a quarterback in the first three rounds of the draft: Vince Young, Jake Locker, Marcus Mariota, Malik Willis, Levis. Young, Locker and Mariota were all picked in the top eight overall. None of them succeeded. In steps Ward, who set an NCAA record with 158 touchdown passes at Incarnate Word, Washington State and then Miami. "His journey is unique," Callahan said. "He's experienced a lot of things when it comes to new places, new faces, new teammates, and his ability to connect with all of them was incredibly impressive." Advertisement There's a long way to go and Ward won't fix all of that. There were a few bright spots on the roster — Jeffery Simmons is a star on the defensive line, 2024 rookies DT T'Vondre Sweat and CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr. had promising debuts, Tony Pollard and Calvin Ridley had 1,000-yard seasons in a bad situation — but rebuilding will take a while. If Ward hits, at least that's a start. "All I need is one shot and I'll make the most of it," Ward said. "For them to draft me number one overall I know they won't regret it. I'll make sure they don't." No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward (1) gives the Tennessee Titans a new hope at quarterback. (AP Photo/George Walker IV) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) Offseason grade Drafting Cam Ward was the easy part. The Titans' miserable season earned them the first pick, and it quickly became clear Ward was worth that pick. Building around Ward is the big step. The team tried improving a below average offensive line, signing tackle Dan Moore Jr. to a four-year, $82 million deal. Moore was overpaid, but it's hard to find offensive line help. The Titans also signed veteran guard Kevin Zeitler. Those acquisitions, along with 2023 first-round pick Peter Skoronski, 2024 first-round pick JC Latham and center Lloyd Cushenberry, should calm down the line. There were additions to the defense including linebacker Cody Barton, edge defender Dre'Mont Jones and safety Xavier Woods in free agency and outside linebacker Oluwafemi Oladejo in the second round of the draft. It was an OK start to a long-term project. Advertisement Grade: B- Quarterback report Cam Ward clearly separated himself in a quarterback draft class that didn't have another QB go in the top 24 picks. Ward's production in college is undeniable. He had 18,184 career passing yards with 158 touchdowns and also rushed for 20 touchdowns. His NFL traits are good too. He does everything at a high level, even if his arm strength isn't necessarily top tier (read this breakdown of Ward from Yahoo Sports' Nate Tice for an in-depth look). Given Ward's skill set and his long college career, having played 57 games at three schools, it's possible he has an immediate impact. The upside of the NIL/transfer era in college football is quarterbacks like Ward coming in with an abundance of experience. BetMGM odds breakdown From Yahoo's Ben Fawkes: "The Titans were an almost impossible 2-15 against the spread last season — the worst ATS mark for any team in the Super Bowl era. Even after drafting QB Cam Ward No. 1 overall, they are only favored in two games this season and don't have any prime-time matchups. With 200-to-1 Super Bowl odds at BetMGM, it could be another long season in Nashville." Yahoo's fantasy take From Yahoo's Scott Pianowski: "Calvin Ridley is no longer an exciting fantasy player entering his age-31 season. But he's also the best target in the Tennessee receiver room, and now that the Titans have a credible QB starter in Cam Ward, Ridley could be an interesting value play. Ridley currently holds an affordable sticker price of WR36, something he can easily beat in a healthy season. This is also a show of faith in play designer Brian Callahan, who knew how to utilize Ridley last year." Stat to remember Last season the Titans had a -16 turnover margin. Only the Las Vegas Raiders, at -22, were worse. The obvious culprit was bad quarterback play. Will Levis threw 12 interceptions (and they always seemed to come at the exact worst time) and Mason Rudolph had nine. The Titans also lost 13 fumbles, and their 34 giveaways were tied for the most in the NFL. Then there wasn't much playmaking on defense. Safety Amani Hooker had five interceptions and no other Titans player had more than one. Getting the defense to make more plays should be a big priority. But little will change unless the Titans take better care of the ball. If Cam Ward can be reasonably safe and avoid having a huge turnover season, that alone will be an upgrade for Tennessee. Burning question Is Brian Callahan the right answer? The Titans' official line after a bad season was that Callahan was a new head coach and new play-caller, and that it was going to take more than a year for him to grow into his job. Advertisement "Brian was one of the hottest candidates last year on the market, and we believe in Brian, and we want to give him the opportunity to grow into the head coach that we think he can be," Titans president of football operations Chad Brinker told the team's site. "He knows, and we've talked about it, that it wasn't good enough this year." It's fine to be patient, but there weren't many tangible reasons to be optimistic that Callahan will be a great coach. The Titans didn't get better. His outbursts at Will Levis' mistakes were a bit startling. Callahan didn't have a lot on his résumé other than being an offensive coordinator with the Bengals who didn't call plays. He had a positive reputation around the league and that's why he was hired, but the Titans would have been justified to move on after one horrific season. They're sticking with their evaluation of Callahan, but the results better improve this season. Best case scenario It wasn't like everyone was high on the 2023 Texans or 2024 Commanders. One home run pick at quarterback can change everything. It's very hard to believe the Titans will ascend to a playoff spot like those two aforementioned teams, but that shouldn't be the realistic goal anyway. If an improved offensive line helps Cam Ward, Ward hits his rookie ceiling and a defense that wasn't too bad last season takes even a modest step forward (getting 2024 bust L'Jarius Sneed healthy would help), the Titans could flirt with a .500 record. That would be a great season for the Titans. Nightmare scenario We could see a scenario like the 2024 Bears, where it's clear pretty early on that the No. 1 overall pick at quarterback was saddled with a coaching staff that should not have gotten another season. Firing coaches after only one season should only happen in Urban Mayer-level disaster situations, but there were few signs that Brian Callahan is a good head coach. It would be rough to figure out shortly into Cam Ward's career that maybe the 2024 Titans record wasn't all Will Levis' fault. Ward should be a good player for the Titans, though that's impossible to know yet. The job gets a lot tougher if the offensive line isn't great, a thin skill position group doesn't help and the coaching staff proves to be inept. Wasting a year of Ward wouldn't be fun, though then Tennessee would pick early again in the 2026 NFL Draft. The crystal ball says The Cam Ward pick was the right one and he'll be a good player. That doesn't mean he's going to be C.J. Stroud or Jayden Daniels right away. This seems more like incremental improvement for the Titans, with a lot of losses this season but confidence by the end of the season that Ward is the right foundational piece. Then next offseason will bring some more talent to lift the roster.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Miami Dolphins 2025 NFL Season Preview
Miami Dolphins 2025 NFL Season Preview originally appeared on Athlon Sports. [Editor's note: This article is from Athlon Sports' 2025 NFL Preview Magazine. Order your copy today online or pick one up at retail racks and newsstands nationwide.] Advertisement The weather isn't the only thing warm in South Florida. Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier might want to check the temperature of their seats. The tandem was brought back after a disappointing 8-9 2024 season, but owner Stephen Ross' statement, released about an hour after last season's finale, made it clear that the status quo was not acceptable. Miami remains the franchise with the NFL's longest playoff win drought, last winning a postseason game on Dec. 30, 2000. The franchise did make wild-card appearances in the 2022 and '23 seasons, but after failing to make the playoffs in '24, merely sneaking in and bowing out in the first round this season would feel like a positive trend. More NFL team previews AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders Advertisement NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks One reason for pessimism: The roster, on paper, doesn't stack up to those of recent Dolphins teams. Three-time All-Pro and seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey is certain to be traded away. Another possible future Hall of Famer, defensive lineman Calais Campbell, fled to the Arizona Cardinals while still playing at a high level at age 38. His departure and the retirement of five-time Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead create a huge leadership void. The most high-profile remaining veteran, wide receiver Tyreek Hill, is now at a point where he creates more off-field distractions than on-field production after failing to reach 1,000 receiving yards in 2024 and missing the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career. Offense The most important factor for the Dolphins offense is quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's availability. He missed six games in 2024 — four due to an IR stint for a concussion and two more with a hip injury at the end of the season. Miami was 2-4 in those games. Advertisement Although he led the league in completion percentage a year after directing the league's No. 1 passing offense, Tagovailoa's play left much to be desired. But his presence still matters a great deal to this offense. Dolphins head coach Mike McDanielVincent Carchietta-Imagn Images Uploaded: If Tagovailoa misses time again, new No. 2 Zach Wilson's familiarity with a similar offense under offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur with the New York Jets can only help. Wilson, though, still feels more like a project than a proven, veteran backup who can keep a season afloat if Tagovailoa is sidelined again. The wide receiver tandem of Hill and Jaylen Waddle could use a resurgence to its form from the pair's first two years together. They were unable to beat a variety of bracket coverages deriving from two-high-safety looks last season. Advertisement One facet that can help is the addition of Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who gives the receiving corps a bigger-bodied red-zone threat to complement the smaller, speedy Hill and Waddle. Westbrook-Ikhine is also touted for his blocking, which can help open up a struggling run game. Tight end Jonnu Smith, who broke Dolphins records at the position last year with 88 receptions for 884 yards and eight touchdowns, can also take some of the heat off Hill and Waddle, but Smith, Miami's lone Pro Bowl selection last season, is a liability as a blocker. Miami boasts a big-play run game with running back De'Von Achane — but it's very hit or miss. The Dolphins don't convert well in short-yardage situations, and while Achane can hit the home run, he gets tackled behind the line of scrimmage too often. The offseason started with Grier saying he needed to invest in the offensive line. He dished out his biggest contract in the first wave of free agency to guard James Daniels, who's coming off a torn Achilles early last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Grier also traded up in the second round of the draft to take another guard in Arizona's Jonah Savaiinaea. Liam Eichenberg re-signed, but he will have to be better to retain his starting spot. Armstead's retirement means that 2024 second-round pick Patrick Paul, who was still raw as a rookie and needs to make strides, is the new starting left tackle. Defense The Ramsey trade talks greatly impact coordinator Anthony Weaver's defense. Ramsey was used as what Weaver called an 'ultimate chess piece.' The Dolphins will no longer have a versatile shutdown corner to put on an opponent's top receiving threat or slide inside to play the nickel and even blitz from that position. Advertisement Aside from nickel Kader Kohou, it's a brand-new secondary in Miami. Safety Jevon Holland departed to the New York Giants in free agency; safety Jordan Poyer is a free agent who may retire; and cornerback Kendall Fuller was released. New safety Ifeatu Melifonwu can be that versatile defender in the secondary, capable of playing in the box, on the boundary as a corner, over the slot and in the traditional safety roles. His problem has been staying healthy. Miami also brought in a ball hawk in Ashtyn Davis at safety. Special teamer and reserve Elijah Campbell and second-year safety Patrick McMorris will also compete for playing time. The Dolphins are sure to scour the remaining free-agent cornerback market for a starter, while youngsters Cam Smith and Storm Duck vie for a starting spot. Defensive tackle Zach Sieler anchors the defensive line, and he is coming off back-to-back double-digit sack seasons, underscoring that he is a consistent interior pass-rusher to go with his prowess in defending the run. He has been joined by an infusion of youth on the defensive line, as Miami used the No. 13 pick of the draft on Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant and added a fifth-rounder (Jordan Phillips) and seventh-rounder (Zeek Biggers). Dolphins linebacker Chop Robinson (44) celebrates with teammates after a defensive play during the third quarter against the Houston Texans last Taormina-Imagn Images Chop Robinson, a first-round pick in 2024, is coming off a six-sack season that saw him finish fifth in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting, but he needs to set the edge better against the run. The Dolphins hope fellow edge rushers Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb can return to some semblance of their former selves following their respective torn ACLs. Chubb's injury occurred late in 2023 and cost him all of last season. Advertisement The Dolphins defense has a rock in the middle in linebacker Jordyn Brooks and his 132 tackles. Miami has shuffled through inside linebackers next to him, but Tyrel Dodson finished strong there last season and looks to hold off newcomers K.J. Britt and Willie Gay Jr. Specialists Kicker Jason Sanders was exceptional in 2024, making 90% of his field-goal attempts, including 12-of-14 from beyond 50 yards. New special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman has brought in his former punter — the Tennessee Titans' Ryan Stonehouse, who has one of the bigger legs in the NFL but still has to beat out incumbent Jake Bailey. Second-year receiver Malik Washington should be solid in the return game. Aukerman will have to get the Dolphins' kickoff and punt coverage units in order, though. Final Analysis With a net loss of talent on the roster, it'll take McDaniel, Tagovailoa, Hill and others to be at their best, or it will be another season of hovering around .500 and hoping for help in Week 18 to sneak into the playoffs. Advertisement More NFL team previews AFC East: Bills | Dolphins | Jets | Patriots AFC North: Bengals | Browns | Ravens | Steelers AFC South: Colts | Jaguars | Texans | Titans AFC West: Broncos | Chargers | Chiefs | Raiders NFC East: Commanders | Cowboys | Eagles | Giants NFC North: Bears | Lions | Packers | Vikings NFC South: Buccaneers | Falcons | Panthers | Saints NFC West: 49ers | Cardinals | Rams | Seahawks Related: Athlon Sports 2025 NFL Preview Magazine Now Available This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
