Dolphins position review: Depth needed with top outside linebackers rehabbing

By mid-November, the Dolphins’ defense was fully healthy and hitting its stride, with its starting edge defenders in the best stretch of their careers. Less than two months later, both were sidelined by severe lower-body injuries and started arduous rehabilitation that put their availability for the start of the 2024 season in question.

In the eighth of a series of position reviews, the Miami Herald examines the team’s outside linebacker situation. Next up is cornerbacks.

2023 in review

The Dolphins entered the 2023 season with high expectations for the outside linebacker tandem of Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips. Chubb was starting his first full season in Miami after coming to the team at the 2022 trade deadline. Phillips was viewed as a breakout candidate in his third season.

Phillips’ start was hampered by injuries as he missed three of the first five games. But when he returned to the field, he and Chubb were among the best pass-rushing duos in the NFL. Chubb recorded his most sacks since his rookie year and Phillips had a stretch of five straight games with a sack.

But injuries struck. It began with Phillips, who tore his Achilles against the New York Jets on Black Friday. Five weeks later, Chubb tore his ACL in the final minutes of a blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens. Even Andrew Van Ginkel, who was effectively a starter and had a career high in sacks, injured his foot in the regular-season finale, keeping him out of the wild-card loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Dolphins’ depth at outside linebacker became so dire at the end of the season that they faced the Chiefs with a quartet of veterans — Melvin Ingram, Justin Houston, Bruce Irvin and Malik Reed — who weren’t on the roster a month prior.

Depth chart

Bradley Chubb

▪ Skinny: In his first full season with the Dolphins, Chubb’s 11 sacks led the team and were the most since he had 12 as a rookie in 2018. However, Chubb’s ACL tear in his right knee is the second of his career; he tore the ACL in his left knee in 2019.

▪ Contract: Chubb, who turns 28 in June, is entering the second year of a five-year extension he signed in 2022. He has a cap hit of $26,851,488, the third largest on the team.

Jaelan Phillips

▪ Skinny: When he was healthy, Phillips looked like the star so many envisioned he would morph into in 2023. Phillips recorded 6.5 sacks and from Weeks 6 to 12, he had a sack in each game. But his Achilles injury prematurely ended a promising season.

▪ Contract: Phillips, who turns 25 in May, is entering the fourth year of his five-year rookie contract, which includes a team option for the fifth season. He has a cap hit of $4,460,338.

Andrew Van Ginkel

▪ Skinny: Van Ginkel was a de facto starter because of injuries and made the most of his extended playing time. He recorded a career-high six sacks and showed his versatility by playing inside linebacker at times.

▪ Contract: Van Ginkel, who turns 29 in July, is an unrestricted free agent.

Cameron Goode

▪ Skinny: Goode appeared in every regular-season game, primarily on special teams, but tore his patellar tendon against the Buffalo Bills in Week 18 and missed the wild-card game.

▪ Contract: Goode, who turns 26 in April, is entering the final year of a two-year deal he signed in 2023. He has a $915,000 nonguaranteed base salary and cap hit.

Melvin Ingram

▪ Skinny: The Dolphins signed Ingram to the practice squad in December for his second stint with the team. He appeared in four games, including the playoffs, and recorded 1.5 sacks.

▪ Contract: Ingram, who turns 35 in April, is an unrestricted free agent.

Justin Houston

▪ Skinny: The Dolphins signed Houston days before their playoff game. Houston played 22 defensive snaps and recorded one tackle.

▪ Contract: Houston, 35, is an unrestricted free agent.

Bruce Irvin

▪ Skinny: The Dolphins signed Irvin days before their playoff game. Irvin played 12 defensive snaps.

▪ Contract: Irvin, who turns 37 in November, is an unrestricted free agent.

Offseason questions

1. What is the return timeline for Chubb and Phillips?

Chubb and Phillips both sustained their injuries in the second half of the 2023 season, placing their availability for the start of the 2024 season in doubt. Every player’s body and recovery is unique, though, and the Dolphins will be patient as both rehab. But for reference, safety Brandon Jones, who tore his ACL in late October 2022, was ready for the start of training camp but was limited and did not ditch his red, noncontact jersey until late August. He acknowledged that the lack of practice reps hurt his ability to learn former defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s scheme.

Phillips tore his Achilles almost two months before Chubb tore his ACL but recovery from Achilles injuries is known for being a bit tougher. Cornerback Nik Needham, who tore his Achilles in mid-October, started the season on the physically unable to perform list and was activated over a year later. Last week, Phillips posted a video on social media of him walking without a boot for the first time since surgery.

2. Do the Dolphins exercise Phillips’ fifth-year option?

Phillips has improved in every season since the Dolphins selected him with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He has grown into an all-around player who was finally putting it all together before his injury. Before tearing his Achilles, picking up Phillips’ option seemed like a sure-fire decision but does his injury change the thinking of the Dolphins’ front office? Phillips’ fifth-year option is projected to be worth $12 million in 2025, which is a bargain if he’s able to return to anywhere near the form he was in before his injury.

3. Can Miami keep Van Ginkel?

Given the injuries at edge defender, the re-signing of Van Ginkel to a one-year deal worth a little less than $3 million was arguably the Dolphins’ best offseason move. But Van Ginkel outperformed that contract and now it’s time for him to get a sizable payday. Van Ginkel’s agent indicated he is open to returning to Miami, but with the Dolphins having higher priorities in free agency, it could be hard for Van Ginkel to turn down a bigger offer from another team.

Potential additions

The Dolphins will need to find stopgap options as Chubb and Phillips work their way back and even when they’re on the field to initially limit their workload. A pair of veteran outside linebackers who played under new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, Jadeveon Clowney and Kyle Van Noy, would be strong options who can do a bit of everything.

In the draft, UCLA’s Laiatu Latu is arguably the best pass rusher in the class but his stock is rising after a strong performance at the Senior Bowl. Missouri’s Darius Robinson could also be an option in the first round. He has position versatility with the ability to rush from an inside alignment.