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The 2025 NFL season came to a close last night with the Seattle Seahawks beating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX. Every team is now focused on their preparations for the 2026 league year, building plans for free agency and the draft. For the Miami Dolphins, this offseason will be one of massive change. That change already started with the hiring of Jon-Eric Sullivan as the team’s new general manager and Jeff Hafley as head coach. Now, the focus turns to free agency and how the team should handle players with expiring contracts.
Free agency will start with the new league year on March 13, though the “legal tampering period,” officially the negotiating period, begins a couple of days earlier, at noon Eastern Time on March 9. Between now and then, the Dolphins will have to decide what they are going to do with 35 players who are slated to become free agents.
Here is a quick rundown of the Dolphins’ pending free agents. All players are unrestricted free agents, free to sign with another team as soon as free agency begins, unless noted. For restricted free agents (RFAs) and exclusive rights free agents (ERFAs), the Dolphins can place a tender on them, retaining their rights for 2026 at a salary based on their position and years of service. If an RFA is tendered, he can negotiate with other teams, but the Dolphins would either have a right of first refusal or be able to acquire draft picks. A tender for an ERFA keeps the player with the Dolphins in 2026.
Dolphins pending free agents 2026
Ethan Bonner, cornerback (ERFA)
Matthew Butler, defensive tackle (RFA)
Joe Cardona, long snapper
Rasul Douglas, cornerback
Dee Eskridge, wide receiver
Obinna Eze, tackle (ERFA)
Willie Gay, Jr., linebacker
Cameron Goode, linebacker (RFA)
Julian Hill, tight end (RFA)
Caleb Johnson, linebacker
Benito Jones, defensive tackle
Alexander Mattison, running back
Kendall Sheffield, cornerback
Cedrick Wilson Jr., wide receiver
