Five trade calls Dolphins GM Chris Grier should make amid search for another cornerback option before NFL roster cuts deadline
The Dolphins have reason of optimism but ideally need another piece in the secondary. Who should they be kicking the tires on?
The Miami Dolphins have one preseason game left before roster cuts. You’ve already seen some proactive action across the rest of the NFL that hints at how Miami’s general manager, Chris Grier, should spend most of his time before that deadline rolls around early next week.
Working the phones for a trade.
The league saw a pair of trades manifest on Sunday. Wide receiver John Metchie III was sent to Philadelphia, and there was a player-for-player swap between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the New Orleans Saints. Miami has its own set of needs, and it doesn’t seem to covet any available options in free agency.
The cornerback position is the most apparent. Miami is juggling all kinds of profiles in its cornerback room, but it is teetering without a stabilizing presence that could tie that whole unit together. Yes, Miami has a young rookie in Jason Marshall Jr., who has flashed in recent weeks. Sure, the Dolphins have a tenured nickel in Mike Hilton. And yes, Jack Jones has ball skills and plenty of physical ability. But Marshall Jr. is still effectively a lottery ticket. Hilton lacks the versatility of Kader Kohou, who Miami lost for the season in late July, and Jones is too often a boom-or-bust player in coverage.
Miami should be working the phones. If I were GM Chris Grier, these are the five calls I’d make first.
Five phone calls Dolphins general manager Chris Grier should make to explore cornerback trade options
Cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, Baltimore Ravens
Awuzie was the Ravens’ original veteran addition to the secondary this offseason. And then Jaire Alexander sprang free from Green Bay, giving Baltimore another potential star in the defensive backfield. The Ravens’ secondary is in good hands with Marlon Humphrey, former first-round draft choice Nate Wiggins, Alexander, as well as safeties Kyle Hamilton and Malaki Starks.
Awuzie could be viewed as valuable insurance, but the Ravens also boast a second-year corner in T.J. Tampa, an undrafted rookie in Keyon Martin who is making a strong push to make the team, and former mid-round draft choice Jalyn Armour-Davis, who has often been charged with being the spot starter in Baltimore during his rookie contract.
Awuzie is in Baltimore on a cheap one-year deal and would be the kind of player that Ravens GM Eric DeCosta could bite on cashing out on for a draft choice before he ever plays a down with the team.
Cornerback Joshua Williams, Kansas City Chiefs
Williams is in a contract year and has played meaningful football for Kansas City in each of his first three seasons with the team. But Kansas City drafted Cal cornerback Nohl Williams in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft and signed Kristian Fulton in free agency to go with Trent McDuffie and Jaylen Watson in the cornerback room, meaning Williams could easily be available for a reasonable price.
Cornerback Decobie Durant, Los Angeles Rams
This move could cost Miami more than the other options thus far. Durant is listed tied for first on the depth chart with Ahkello Witherspoon for a starting corner spot in Los Angeles. The Rams have some major expectations this season, particularly if they can finally get Matthew Stafford out on the field, which could make them reluctant to move on from a possible starter. Durant, like Williams, is in the final year of his rookie contract.
The Rams do have Derion Kendrick and former first-round draft choice Emmanuel Forbes as insurance, which could make Durant expendable for the right price.
Cornerback Adoree’ Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia is already a part of the wheeling and dealing this week. Howie Roseman already landed Metchie III from Houston to bolster the wide receiver room, and no one loves making swaps like Howie. The Eagles aren’t super deep at cornerback, but Jackson is on the depth chart behind Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell, and Philadelphia traded for Jakorian Bennett this summer. Jackson is by no means a lock to start.
Jackson signed in March on a one-year deal, making him a similar case to Awuzie in Baltimore.
Cornerback JuJu Brents, Indianapolis Colts
This would be the most risky proposition for the Dolphins. Brents has obvious talent, but it has not manifested on the field for the Colts. Further complicating a potential deal is that these two teams will play each other in Week 1.
But Brents feels like the one who could be more readily available, given his early career struggles in Indianapolis.
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