Miami Dolphins: Late-Round Steal Set for Key Defensive Role

The new-look Miami Dolphins cornerback position will feature three new starters in 2025. Highlighting one of the positions that will have a new starter is in the slot. Despite the Dolphins signing Mike Hilton, a talented veteran with 56 career starts, he has since fallen out of the rotation due to the emergence of a late-round pick.

Miami Dolphins’ rookie has impressed recently

Jason Marshall Jr. initially began training camp as the third-string outside cornerback and was in danger of losing a roster spot. The fifth-round pick converted into the slot a few weeks ago and has not looked back. Marshall has impressed over the past ten days, performing well during practice and the preseason while receiving first-team reps over Mike Hilton.

Miami Dolphins late-round steal set for key defensive role

As previously discussed on Gridiron Heroics, the Dolphins have made a major roster move on Monday, just one day before the roster cutdown deadline, when all 32 teams must trim their rosters from 90 players to the 53-man roster. The front office released Mike Hilton, roughly one month after signing him. As a result, Jason Marshall Jr. is expected to serve as the starting slot cornerback and is set for a key defensive role in his rookie season.

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Jason Marshall Jr. has impressed the defensive coordinator

“You look at (Marshall Jr.) sometimes you think, ‘Oh man, this guy could be a linebacker, but he has the movement skills of a DB.’ I think Jason’s skill set gives you an opportunity to not only play him outside but inside as well,” Anthony Weaver said, via Kyle Crabbs of A to Z Sports. “Then his physicality, again, that we weren’t really sure about until we put him in a game and we saw him make that TFL on the nickel pressure. I was like, ‘OK, it’s in there.’ Now let’s see, we’ll see if he continues to grow there.”