The Miami Dolphins’ linebacker position toward training camp depleted with three players inactive, or not participating. Pass rushers Bradley Chubb and Jaelen Phillips were placed on the active/physically unable to perform list and two-time Super Bowl champion Shaquil Barrett announced his retirement a week before camp.
Luckily for Miami, the current active linebackers on the roster come with plenty of firepower and experience. Rookies such as 2024 NFL Draft first-round selection Chop Robinson will compete early against All-NFL talent to provide immediate help on defense. However, more additions can come into play later this week before camp to spice up the competition.
Miami Dolphins 2024 Training Camp Preview: Linebacker
The Door Open for Brooks Amid Recent Changes
Linebacker Jordyn Brooks signed with the Dolphins on a three-year, $26.25 million deal. The long-term investment by Miami guarantees the former Seattle Seahawk will be a piece in its mission for a Super Bowl. Brooks’ commitment is huge in the Dolphins’ current situation.
His durability is also a key component that benefits Miami. On the first day of 2023, the linebacker suffered an ACL injury but was ready to go once the season started that same year. Brooks has missed only four games throughout his four-year career. Seattle’s first-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft has garnered more than 100 tackles a season three times. Last season, Brooks finished the year with 111 total tackles, forced a fumble, intercepted a ball, and sacked quarterbacks for a career-high 4.5 times.
The range of Brooks’ play style gives him an advantage on defense against teams. The dual-threat linebacker can be sent on a blitz and carry routes down the field in coverage. This versatile element will be a plus in training camp over the rest of the room. Especially with its top pass rushers inactive.
Other Veterans Picked up From Free Agency
Linebackers Anthony Walker Jr. and Cam Brown were both signed by the Dolphins prior to training camp. Both players join Brooks as the only active linebackers that are new to the roster. Each linebacker comes into camp with different paths in their respective careers.
Walker, 28, has spent most of his professional career as a middle linebacker. The 6-foot-1-inch Northwestern alum spent four years with the Indianapolis Colts and three with the Cleveland Browns. Walker since his rookie year in 2018 has been a regular starter on Sundays — only not starting in two of his 75 career games played.
The seven-year veteran has recorded 513 total tackles and 4.5 sacks in his career. Despite a few injuries to report in his last two seasons at Cleveland, there should be no worries for Walker to start camp as one of the sleepers on this roster.
Brown was a rotational piece on the New York Giants for the last four years. The outside linebacker never started a game in his career in the Big Apple. Brown recorded 35 total tackles and three quarterback hits throughout his career. He’ll look to make the 53-man roster looking outside of the bubble with returnees favored.
Riley Could Take the Starting Role Through Camp
Linebacker Duke Riley is one of the many returnees active in the linebacker room to start camp. However, he has the best shot to fill the role of starter with Chubb and Phillips inactive at the moment. The eight-year veteran has spent the last three seasons in Miami and will work under his third different defensive coordinator since he joined in 2021.
Despite starting in only 34 of 107 games played, Riley’s time with the Atlanta Falcons and the Philadelphia Eagles gave him key experience as a contender. Most notably, the 29-year-old linebacker’s rookie season was on Atlanta’s 2017 team, which appeared in Super Bowl LI.
New defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver can look to Riley as a place for leadership in the fairly young position group. He can impress Weaver not only in camp but also throughout the preseason as in-game reps will be crucial for Riley to keep ahead in the competition.
Long Jr. Enters Camp After Successful Inaugural Season in Miami
Linebacker David Long Jr. was a vital piece in the Dolphins’ 2023 defense. The West Virginia alum started in all of Miami’s games last season, including in its playoff loss against the Kansas City Chiefs. Long finished with a career-high 113 total tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble.
Heading into the last year of his contract, the linebacker will look to try to lock himself on this year’s roster and another deal. A focal point in the league’s seventh-best defense against the run in yards last season, Long can easily become a captain early in camp entering his sixth season in the league.
Expectations for Robinson Early
Robinson was a monster at Penn State. The 6-foot-3-inch freight training, weighing 254 lbs, was unstoppable as a pass rusher off the edge in the Big 10 Conference. Robinson posted 60 total tackles, 11.5 sacks, and forced three fumbles throughout his three years with the Nittany Lions.
NFL Network Draft Analyst Lance Zierlein described the Dolphins’ first-round pick from this year’s draft to offer the type of athleticism seen from All-NFL talent such as Micah Parsons and Myles Garrett. His hand skills and explosive attack will be the first thing that people will see at training camp. Robinson’s floor to open his career is as good as a starter, Zierlein said.
With that, Robinson enters camp with high expectations with little to no veterans with his type of game active in camp. However, Chubb has a similar skill set to the rookie and will be present at camp. The former Pro-Bowler’s presence will be huge for Robinson in his first NFL training camp.
Two Rookies to Keep an Eye On
Besides Robinson, two other rookies make up the linebacker group heading into camp. 2024 NFL Draft fifth-round selection Mohamed Kamara and undrafted rookie free agent Grayson Murphy will be in a tight race between each other for a roster or practice squad spot. Both players spent five years in college.
Kamara’s entire collegiate career was at Colorado State. The New Jersey native racked in multiple Mountain West accolades, including the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2023. Kamara finished his time in college as a team captain with 179 total tackles and five forced fumbles. The 6-foot-1-inch defensive player comes off a career-high season and has already worked with Robinson before the draft, he said.
“Me and Chop (Robinson) were already working out in Arizona, so we already have a relationship there,” Kamara said. “Both of us worked in Arizona and did what we had to do, and we already butt heads because that’s the relationship we have. We’re good friends, great friends at that.”
Murphy finished his best season in his two-year stint at the University of California, Los Angeles last year. The North Texas transfer had 32 combined tackles and forced two fumbles in UCLA’s last season in the Pac-12. Murphy is seen as an average pass rusher but is aggressive with quick hands on the edge.
The Texas native will be on the bubble for the 53-man roster to start camp. Kamara has a better chance to make the cut, but both rookies can make their case with an injured linebacker group. Still, more players waiting in free agency loom with Miami actively working guys out before camp. Anyone can walk in to disrupt the rookies.
Main Photo: Michael Chow/The Republic-USA TODAY NETWORK
