The Miami Dolphins will need to look elsewhere for reinforcements on the edge after one of their spring visits lands elsewhere
If the Miami Dolphins were serious about reinforcements to their edge room, they’ll need to find another candidate to fill a spot.
The Miami Dolphins appeared to be kicking the tires on a different skill set to add to their edge defender room ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Miami hosted former Buffalo Bills edge defender AJ Epenesa on a free agent visit back in April. The visit came after years of Epenesa helping to terrorize the Dolphins. He’s been a staple in the AFC East as a part of a Bills’ defense since 2020. The rivalry has, as you well know, been one-sided in recent years. But now that the June 1st deadline passed and teams have found more salary cap wiggle room, Epenesa has found his landing spot for 2026. It isn’t with the Miami Dolphins, either.
Free agent of interest AJ Epenesa signs with Philadelphia Eagles, will not join Miami Dolphins
Epenesa would have been a fascinating power end for the Miami Dolphins. But he has ultimately opted to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles instead. His signing comes after a close call with the Cleveland Browns in the spring, and several free agent visits. He’s been a sturdy rotational player in the NFL, logging over 2,400 defensive snaps with the Bills since 2020.
But alas, his fit with the Miami Dolphins wasn’t meant to be. It is understandable to consider that Epenesa, in a high-stakes prove it year, would opt to land with a team like the Eagles. They’re expected to be contenders in the NFC East as compared to a Dolphins team that is, unquestionably, in transition.
It leaves the pressure on for names like Chop Robinson, Joshua Uche, rookie Trey Moore, and others to fill the need on the edge for the Dolphins. The group is a far cry from the unit we saw last summer. That group was led by Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips, with a Year 2 version of Robinson in the fray. That duo was expected to carry the Dolphins’ defense in 2025. But ended up as a frustrating group that was, fittingly, torn down in the last eight months. And as Miami tries to find the right combination to take the field with this time around, they’ll need to do so without Epenesa.
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