The Miami Dolphins are staring at a roster problem that’s bigger than a few late-camp cuts. With first-year GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley trying to patch together a competitive team, the stopgap veteran approach hasn’t given Miami much to work with. That leaves the waiver wire and possible trade market as the next places to hunt for help.
And if Sullivan wants to do more than simply fill out the bottom of the roster, there are a few names worth serious attention.
One of the cleanest fits is Jacksonville Jaguars cornerback Christian Braswell. He may not cost much to acquire, and he could be on the move simply because Jacksonville has so much depth at corner.
As Carlos Sanchez of FanSided’s Black & Teal put it: "Christian Braswell is battling Jabbar Muhammad for the CB5 job. It looks like he's going to lose the competition.
Braswell could be a solid backup with the versatility to play inside or outside. He can also play special teams.
If the Jaguars weren't so stacked at cornerback, he would be lock to make the team."
Braswell’s college production at Rutgers in 2022 also stands out: three interceptions and a 50.3 passer rating allowed in his final season there. In the NFL, he’s given up a 69.7 passer rating on 27 targets, according to PFF, and he’s missed only one tackle attempt on defense.
For a Dolphins cornerback room that could use dependable coverage and special teams value, that’s a pretty attractive profile. Other than Chris Johnson, there isn’t much in Miami’s secondary that inspires much confidence, and Braswell could even end up pushing for a starting job.
At quarterback, J.J. McCarthy is the kind of swing that could at least inject some life into the room.
Dolphins offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik comes from the Kyle Shanahan coaching tree, and there’s enough overlap there with Sean McVay’s branch to make McCarthy a plausible fit. Minnesota head coach Kevin O'Connell comes from that same coaching lineage, but he hasn’t been able to get it out of McCarthy.
The source here is clear: the Vikings have already panicked and pulled the plug on the 2024 draft’s 10th overall pick too soon. "Weird that it could happen so soon, but here we are." The article also says Minnesota will start Kyler Murray at quarterback this year, with Carson Wentz as the backup, and that it’s too awkward to keep McCarthy there for everyone involved.
Miami’s own quarterback situation makes the idea even more interesting. Quinn Ewers has shown upside, but this camp has also reinforced that he’s still injury-prone.
When he has played, his momentum from three starts last season has faded, and now there are real questions about whether he’ll even make the initial 53-man roster. McCarthy, who turned 23 in January, could add upside, some quirkiness, and a little buzz to a Dolphins quarterback room behind Willis.
On the edge, James Houston is another name Miami should explore. The Cowboys’ designated pass rusher may be squeezed off the roster after producing 5.5 sacks in 2025 in a situational role. His career has already taken a winding path: an electric rookie season in Detroit with eight sacks, then a few quiet years before popping back up in Dallas.
Jerry Trotta of The Landry Hat likes what Houston brings as a pass rusher: "A rotational edge who can get after the quarterback. Houston finished with a 12.0 percent pass-rush win rate in true pass sets last season. He's got good bend and has a deep bag of counters if he doesn't win initially off the snap."
Miami’s pass rush outside of Chop Robinson doesn’t exactly scare anyone, and Houston would bring a different kind of juice. He was born in Fort Lauderdale, which would give the move a built-in homecoming angle, but the bigger point is simple: he’s 27 and could get a real chance to start. For a player who has spent much of his pro career fighting for traction, that kind of runway might be enough to matter.
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