The deadline to place the franchise label on the players came and came on Tuesday, and Miami dolphins did not use the label on the safety of free -laws Jevon Holland. This means that it is very unlikely that Holland will come back next season.
It was the expected result for Holland, which was a main contributor to the Dolphins for four consecutive seasons. However, 2024 was undoubtedly the worst season of Holland, she led the Dolphins to believe that they would better let him go.
Dolphins also probably watched the class of free agent and draft and decided that there were enough viable replacements for Holland. In this spirit, we decided to cover five options in the free agency or the project that the Dolphins could bring to replace Holland.
Tre’von Moehrig, raiders of Las Vegas
Versatility and sustainability are two of the most important boxes. Although it has been mainly settled safely, Holland has rebounded around Miami’s defense over the years and above all avoided the injury.
Moehrig has been an element of the defense of raiders in the last four seasons. He played 98.7 of the team’s defensive shots last season and played the 17 games in three over his four years in the League.
As for versatility, Moehrig played 439 snaps in the box, 361 free safety and 191 in the slit. He was also incredibly productive last season despite the disappointing defense of raiders.
Moehrig posted 10 shortcomings, two interceptions, 104 plated in total, two forced recovery, a bag and 10.5 runs. It also seems to improve in key areas. Last season, Moehrig had the lowest missed tackle percentage (7.4%) and the yards authorized by reception (9.6) of his career.
As the statistics of Moehrig and Snap Count distribution suggest, it gives a little of a defense. His cassette is filled with good games against the race, where he breaks downhill and makes a tackle near the melee line. However, it also shows excellent coverage instincts, especially in the middle of the field.
The latest sale argument for Moehrig is his age, because he will not be 26 years before June. Dolphins could give it a multi -year agreement without worrying about a potential sporting fall.
Xavier Woods, Carolina Panthers
Xavier Woods lacks Moehrig’s youth, but he had a career resurgence with the Panthers last season. Woods played 100% of panthers’ defense pictures last season and will be 30 years before next season.
Defensive backs tend to fight in their thirties. However, Woods’ has never played less than 14 games during his eight -year career, including three seasons when he played every game.
In addition, the woods were mainly aligned in a free security role, where many shots of Holland were. Woods played 658 snaps at Deep Safety, 379 in the box and 147 at the corner of the location.
Woods finished the 2025 season with 119 plated in total, three interceptions, six passes defended and 3.5 run. It is important to note that Woods undoubtedly played on the worst defense of the NFL last season.
A large part of his cassette shows him covering the cornerbacks which are beaten deeply and had to sail in many bad runs in front of him. Despite this, Woods granted the third largest number of yards to the cover of his career and had his second best failed rate (10.8).
Dolphins will have to decide if they are comfortable to sign a Stopgap option to replace Holland. Although Woods was durable, bets on an older defensive back for several seasons are risky.
Andre Cisco, Jacksonville Jaguars
If the dolphins wanted to swing against a young, talented but incoherent, Andre Cisco is the way to follow. The Jaguars selected Cisco in the third round of the NFL 2021 draft, and his career was at least a roller coaster.
Cisco had trouble getting on the field as a recruit in 2021, but he exploded on the stage in 2022, recording three interceptions, five pass ruptures and allowing an opposing QB note of only 84.2. In 2023, he followed this with four interceptions and an authorized passer of 83.9.
However, Cisco fell a little last season. He recorded a single interception, and his smuggler rating allowed a huge 125.7, the highest note in his career.
His decrease in the capacity of coverage put more emphasis on his defense and defense prowess, which has never been the strength of his game. The failed tackle rate of Cisco has never dropped below 12.5%, and he reached his highest note last season at 13.9%.
So why should the Dolphins consider taking a hit on Cisco? The free agency is filled with imperfect players. If they were not somehow imperfect, their original team would probably have kept them.
In the case of Cisco, he is a young player with talent to be a player of caliber pro bowl. And as he just had his worst season, the Dolphins could make him do a good deal. He will be 25 years old before the start of next season and has two years of good band. There are very worse bets to do.
Cisco is pure free security, so it should be paired with a more versatile player. A configuration like that of the Dolphins in 2023 between Holland and Deshon Elliott would be ideal for Cisco.
Malaki Starks, Georgia Bulldogs
By switching to options in the next draft of the NFL 2025, Malaki Starks is a name related to dolphins in simulated drafts of 13 for some time.
Although Starks’ media threshing has been cooled in recent weeks, it is still looming as an excellent long -term replacement for Holland. Last season, Starks played 400 snaps in free safety, 215 in the box and 271 in the slit.
Starks’ best place is free safety, where he has shown the possibility of being an effective unique player for three seasons in the dry. His instinct is much higher than average for a college player and should be translated into the NFL.
Its ability to play in the slit could be a very attractive quality for dolphins. The Miami corner room is very uncertain, because Jalen Ramsey is the only quality starter currently under contract.
Starks has also proven to be a powerful playmaker with the Bulldogs. In three seasons, he recorded six interceptions and 14 pass ruptures. The warning is that he had only one interception and two pass breaks last season.
Starks probably had his worst college season in 2024, but his band still shows a player worthy of going to the first round. If he falls where the Dolphins choose in the second round (48th in total), he would be an obvious selection.
Andrew Mukuba, Texas
Mukuba completes our list as a player that the dolphins could write in turn 3 or 4 in April. The Texas product has an exceptional strip, but some traps in its evaluation could push it into the boards.
Starting with the positive points, Mukuba’s ability to play in deep areas and playing games on the ball is both great. He should have no problem filling Holland clichés in profound security. Mukuba recorded five interceptions and six pass ruptures last season, helping Texas to its series of university football playoffs.
Mukuba is also a physical presence. He has no problem playing near the melee line and trying to drop ball carriers who reach the second level. The problem is that Mukuba is not the size to support this style of play.
At the NFL combination last week, it was listed at 5-11 and 188 pounds. These figures classify respectively in the 39th and 14th centiles. This lack of size probably means Mukuba will be a risk of injury and a little responsibility against the race.
His cassette shows a player who plays bigger than his weight and his executive suggests, so that the Dolphins can take a hit on him and try to associate him with more traditional security.
Finding a player to replace Holland’s cover instincts will be difficult, and Mukuba has at least checked this box.
