3 Aging Dolphins Players Miami Should Let Walk in Free Agency

The Dolphins need to rebuild, and these three veteran players don't fit their long-term plans.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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The Miami Dolphins are in need of a roster overhaul after a 7-10 season in 2025. As they look to the future under new head coach Jeff Hafley, the team should let three aging veterans - cornerback Rasul Douglas, tight end Darren Waller, and offensive guard Daniel Brunskill - walk in free agency this offseason.

Why it matters

The Dolphins are in a rebuilding phase and need to focus on developing younger talent rather than re-signing older players on the decline. Letting these three veterans leave will free up salary cap space and roster spots to build for the long-term under Hafley's new regime.

The details

Rasul Douglas is a 31-year-old cornerback coming off a solid season, but the Dolphins may not want to invest in an aging player at that position. Darren Waller is a 33-year-old tight end with an extensive injury history, making him a risky re-sign. And Daniel Brunskill is a 32-year-old offensive guard who has never made a Pro Bowl, so the Dolphins would be better off allocating resources to younger players.

  • The 2026 NFL season will likely be a rebuilding year for the Dolphins under new head coach Jeff Hafley.
  • Rasul Douglas, Darren Waller, and Daniel Brunskill are all set to become free agents this offseason.

The players

Rasul Douglas

A 31-year-old cornerback who ranked 19th among 114 cornerbacks with a 73.5 PFF grade in 2025, but the Dolphins may not want to invest in an aging player at that position.

Darren Waller

A 33-year-old tight end who has an extensive injury history, having already retired once, and is no longer a game-changing player at this stage of his career.

Daniel Brunskill

A 32-year-old offensive guard who has never made a Pro Bowl and is not expected to be a long-term solution for the Dolphins' offensive line.

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What they’re saying

“Miami might not want to invest in a player with little to no upside for the future, especially at a position like cornerback. Although the team won't say it publicly, 2026 will likely be a rebuilding year. If the team is on the same page about that, perhaps it would be more beneficial to go young and cheap at cornerback.”

— Dante Collinelli, Sports Illustrated Writer (Sports Illustrated)

“There are many reasons it makes sense to let Waller leave this offseason. For starters, Waller's injury history seems unavoidable at this point. As mentioned above, he played in just nine games last season, continuing the consistent injury issues that contributed to his retirement.”

— Dante Collinelli, Sports Illustrated Writer (Sports Illustrated)

The takeaway

The Dolphins need to focus on rebuilding their roster with younger talent under new head coach Jeff Hafley, rather than re-signing aging veterans like Rasul Douglas, Darren Waller, and Daniel Brunskill who are unlikely to be long-term solutions.