The Miami Dolphins are moving on from guard James Daniels after just one season - a season that, unfortunately, never really got off the ground.
Daniels’ time in Miami was derailed almost immediately. A pectoral injury suffered after Week 1 ended his 2025 campaign before it had a chance to begin. He played just three snaps in a Dolphins uniform, a tough break for both player and team considering the three-year, $24 million deal he signed just a year ago.
This marks the second straight season Daniels has seen cut short by injury. In 2024, while with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he was playing some of the best football of his career before tearing his Achilles in a game against the Colts. That injury ended what had been shaping up to be a standout season.
Before the injury bug bit, Daniels had been a reliable presence on the interior line. After signing with the Steelers as a free agent in 2022, he started the majority of games over his first two seasons in Pittsburgh and brought a steady, physical presence to their offensive front. But back-to-back season-ending injuries have changed the narrative around him - from dependable starter to a question mark heading into free agency.
Now, Daniels hits the open market again, and the timing is interesting. The Steelers, his former team, could be in the mix for guard help.
Isaac Seumalo, who held down the left guard spot in 2025, is set to hit free agency. That leaves Pittsburgh with a decision: re-sign Seumalo, explore other options, or potentially bring back a familiar face in Daniels.
Given his injury history, Daniels likely won’t command a big deal. But if he’s healthy - and that’s the big "if" - there’s reason to believe he could still be a valuable addition.
The last time he logged meaningful snaps, he was playing at a high level. For a team looking for a low-risk, high-upside option on the interior line, Daniels could be a name to watch.