On position switch, defensive line drama, young corners and 5 thoughts on Dolphins defense

Five things I think about the Dolphins defense heading into this week’s mandatory minicamp that runs Tuesday through Thursday:

▪ The decision to use Andrew Van Ginkel some at inside linebacker is a smart one, because of new starter David Long’s durability questions and because it makes sense to get Van Ginkel on the field more.

Long is an upgrade over Elandon Roberts, particularly in pass coverage.

Hamstring injuries sidelined Long for seven games in 2021 (the opener and six in November/December) and kept him out for the final five games in 2022. Titans coach Mike Vrabel said after last season that he wants Long to find a way to avoid soft tissue problems, calling him a “repeat offender” with those types of injuries.

For whatever reason, he was only a partial participant in last Wednesday’s session, the most recent one open to reporters.

Van Ginkel - if he can master the position - gives the Dolphins another option, besides Duke Riley, if Long is sidelined.

We won’t know what the Dolphins have in second-year player Channing Tindall until padded training camp practices and preseason games.

▪ There should be great comfort that the Dolphins will be better positioned to survive an injury to a cornerback than they were a year ago.

Not only does Jalen Ramsey make this a top-five cornerback room in the league, but rookie second-round pick Cam Smith has flashed early, making nice plays in coverage in the two sessions open to reporters.

And Nik Needham is progressing in his return from a torn Achilles’; he posted a video of himself running last week.

Kader Kohou, who had a pass breakup during the open media practice last week, looks like he’ll be a solid secondary piece for years. Kohou is the only Dolphins defensive back who has ever intercepted new Jets QB Aaron Rodgers.

With Needham, Kohou and potentially Smith, the Dolphins - ideally - could have five players worthy of a top-three cornerback spot on a team.

If there aren’t any July/August injuries (and if Needham is healthy enough to start the season on the 53, which isn’t totally clear), it’s difficult to see a path for Justin Bethel or Noah Igbinoghene to make the team, presuming Keion Crossen sticks as a sixth corner.

If Needham needs more time, Bethel or Igbinoghene could make the 53.

None of Crossen’s $2.8 million 2023 salary is guaranteed, and his cap hit drops from $3.1 million to nothing if he’s cut. But he played well enough last season on special teams and at cornerback to warrant a return, provided he’s decent in training camp.

▪ There are going to be difficult financial decisions at defensive tackle.

The Dolphins and Christian Wilkins’ camp have been negotiating for weeks, but as of the weekend, there was no extension in place. Both sides want to get it done, but getting to a number appears challenging. David Mulugheta is Wilkins’ agent.

At least Wilkins is earning good money this upcoming season regardless ($10.7 million).

Sieler - who hasn’t attended the two OTA sessions open to reporters - will earn a team-friendly $2.5 million in 2023 – a salary way below his value - and it’s no secret that he wants a new contract. It will be interesting to see how Sieler and agent Drew Rosenhaus play this.

While all practice sessions up to this point have been voluntary, this week’s minicamp is mandatory.

Then there’s the issue of how much to pay Raekwon Davis if the Dolphins keep him beyond 2023, the final year of his contract.

Davis, earning $1.4 million in the final year of his contract, looked slimmer last week but declined to share a weight.

Davis has put some pressure on the quarterback in OTAs and said getting better as a “pass rusher” is my new thing.

It remains a mystery why Davis was good enough as a pass rusher to have 8.5 sacks in his second year at Alabama but just two sacks over his final 26 games at Alabama and 1.5 in 46 games as a Dolphin.

But he’s a critical part of Miami’s run defense.

▪ Keep on an eye on UM rookie edge rusher Mitchell Agude. He has had at least three sacks in the two OTA sessions open to reporters.

If the Dolphins keep nine linebackers, there’s an opportunity for Agude or someone else to supplement Baker, Long, Van Ginkel, Tindall, Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, Riley and Malik Reid (who seems likely to stick, but isn’t guaranteed anything).

Of the undrafted rookies on defense, Agude has made the biggest impression during the open practices.

His seven forced fumbles in 30 games at UCLA and UM show his ability to be disruptive.

I’ll be curious to see what Jackson State linebacker Aubrey Miller (a high volume tackler) and USC defensive tackle Brandon Pili do when training camp begins and contact ratchets up. Both undrafted rookies got $100,000 guaranteed.

There’s still a need to add a low-budget veteran defensive tackle as depth.

▪ In the undrafted free agent market, the Dolphins’ greatest talent is their ability to find young defensive backs.

They struck with Needham and Kohou, and they have a high regard for former Mississippi State and Kentucky defensive back Keidron Smith, which became clear when they agreed to guarantee him $125,000. That’s believed to be the highest guarantee of any of the team’s undrafted rookies.

Smith began his career as a cornerback with the Rebels, then moved to safety in his final season there, and then transferred to Kentucky, where he returned to cornerback in his only season there (2022).

But the Dolphins have him playing safety, and his size (6-2) and ball skills make a potentially intriguing fit in this defense, if he makes the 53 or practice squad.

Smith permitted an exceptional 55.5 passer rating in his coverage area as a cornerback last season, with 22 of 37 targets caught for 234 yards (10.6 average) but no touchdowns and two interceptions.

He’s competing with Elijah Campbell, Verone McKinley III and undrafted Oegon rookie Bennett Williams for a fourth, and perhaps, a fifth safety job behind Jevon Holland, Brandon Jones and former Detroit Lions starter DeShon Elliott.

The Dolphins are listing Bennett Williams and Smith as safeties and Stanford rookie Ethan Bonner at cornerback.

Of the 19 defensive backs under contract, two - Crossen and Campbell - are listed as defensive backs without any position designation.

Though Mike McDaniel has implied that Trill Williams is cross-training at safety, he’s listed as a cornerback. He missed last season with a knee inury.

Here are five thoughts on the Dolphins’ offense heading into minicamp, which concludes the team’s offseason program.