Nik Needham will rejoin the Dolphins for a sixth season.
In the off-season of 2022, Needham was also signed again while recovering from an Achilles tendon tear sustained in October of 2022. Despite playing just 71 defensive snaps and 31 on special teams in his 10 games in 2023, he should be back to full fitness after another year off the field.
Needham joined the Dolphins during their rebuilding season in 2019 and has been an asset to the secondary ever since. He is a defensive back with versatility who can play at safety, on the boundary, or even as the slot cornerback.
Needham has played in 61 games with 27 starts during his five-year Miami stay. He has also recorded 25 pass deflections and six interceptions—one of which was recovered for a touchdown in December 2021 on “Monday Night Football” against the New Orleans Saints.
Miami will need bodies surrounding Jalen Ramsey, Kader Kohou, and Cam Smith, who were already under contract through 2024, at cornerback after releasing Xavien Howard this offseason.
The only Dolphins with a longer active tenure than Needham are tight end Durham Smythe and kicker Jason Sanders, both members of Miami’s 2018 draft class, after Howard and linebacker Jerome Baker were removed this offseason.
In addition to acquiring tight end Jonnu Smith, the Dolphins re-signed punter Jake Bailey and defensive back and special teamer Elijah Campbell this week as they start to assemble their 2024 roster, with free agency opening the following week.