Dolphins Claim LB Tyrel Dodson

As the Seahawks disbanded their linebacking duo assembled in free agency, both discarded players are now in the AFC. Not long after Jerome Baker ended up with the Titans, the Dolphins have added Tyrel Dodson.

Mike McDaniel confirmed the team claimed the former Bills linebacker. Dodson is signed to a one-year, $2.25MM deal, giving the Dolphins just more than $1MM in base salary owed.

The Dolphins are quite familiar with Dodson, as he spent four seasons with the Bills. He now arrives months after the team released Baker. Miami signed ex-Seattle first-rounder Jordyn Brooks following its Baker release. Dodson, who helped replace Brooks with the Seahawks, is now en route to Florida.

Dodson started all nine games for the Seahawks, who cut him not long after acquiring Ernest Jones via trade from the Titans. Dodson worked as a part-time Bills performer during his first three seasons but became a regular last year, as the division champs lost Matt Milano for most of the season. Dodson received high marks from Pro Football Focus for his 2023 showing; this season, PFF has him ranked 36th among off-ball LBs.

A former UDFA in his age-26 season, Dodson led the Seahawks with 71 tackles — just three shy of his 17-game total with the Bills last season. The Dolphins will also pick up a player who learned Mike Macdonald‘s scheme this year. That proves relevant with the Dolphins also hiring a former Ravens assistant (Anthony Weaver) as DC. Baker also landed with a team running the Baltimore defense, with Dennard Wilson installed as Tennessee’s DC.

The Dolphins are flooded with veterans on their defensive second level. In addition to Brooks, the Fins have David Long, Anthony Walker and Duke Riley at the position. Dodson is heading into a crowded mix, and it will be interesting to see if he can make it back to a first-string role with his new team. Dodson has started 19 games over the past two seasons, doing so after logging just five over his first three.