Whenever a new regime takes over a team, changes are expected to be made, and that is exactly what has happened with the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins have cut ties with a large number of their top contributors of the Mike McDaniel and Chris Grier era.
The two biggest faces of the Dolphins during McDaniel’s time were All-Pro receiver Tyreek Hill and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Under general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, both players were released despite their large dead money numbers.
The Dolphins have used this offseason to try and improve their salary cap situation going forward, which has resulted in the team losing players and limiting their additions to primarily veteran minimum contracts. Now, Miami has lost a player who had previously been described as a “special teams ace.”
Former Miami Dolphins Player Signs With Giants
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that former Miami Dolphins defensive back and special teams contributor Elijah Campbell signed a one-year deal with the New York Giants. Campbell spent the past four seasons with the Dolphins as he appeared in 65 games.
Campbell was limited to only 10 games in the 2025 season due to injuries. He primarily played special teams for the Dolphins as he played 74% of the team’s special teams snaps when he was active.
Regarding his 2025 season, SB Nation Dolphins writer Kevin Nogle wrote, “Similar to how he has been used in previous years, Campbell was a rotational defensive player for Miami in 2025, working both as a safety and as a cornerback. He appeared in 10 games, recording five tackles. He only played 16 defensive snaps this year, his fewest since his first year in Miami when he was exclusively a special teams player. Campbell did play in 183 special teams snaps this year, the fifth-most on the team.”
Nogle added that the team should let him walk in free agency. He wrote, “Campbell does provide special teams work for the team and would be a veteran presence to have in the secondary, but the Dolphins are looking to get younger in 2026. This is a rebuild year, and Campbell is not likely to be someone who is hanging around for whenever the Dolphins open a championship window. If he is still available in the second or third rounds of free agency, he could be someone the team brings back closer to the start of training camp.”
Dolphins Youth Movement
As Nogle mentioned, the Dolphins are undergoing a youth movement as the team only has one player on the roster who is over 28 years old. That is defensive lineman Zach Seiler, who signed a multi-year extension prior to the 2025 season.
Regarding Miami’s youth movement, DolphinsTalk’s Chris Oliver wrote, “After several seasons of aggressive spending and veteran acquisitions, the Dolphins now appear focused on balancing the roster with younger, more affordable talent. Creating salary-cap flexibility gives the team more room to maneuver in free agency while also emphasizing the importance of the draft.
A youth movement doesn’t necessarily mean the Dolphins are entering a full rebuild. Instead, it signals a shift toward long-term sustainability. Relying more on rookie contracts allows teams to maintain financial flexibility while developing players within their system. For Miami, that approach could help build a deeper and more balanced roster.”
Former Dolphins Player Signs One-Year Contract With Giants