Dolphins free agency 2026: Ifeatu Melifonwu, Darren Waller headline list

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - SEPTEMBER 29: Darren Waller#83 of the Miami Dolphins runs out of the tunnel prior to an NFL football game against the New York Jets at Hard Rock Stadium on September 29, 2025 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The 2025 NFL season came to a close last night with the Seattle Seahawks beating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX. Every team is now focused on their preparations for the 2026 league year, building plans for free agency and the draft. For the Miami Dolphins, this offseason will be one of massive change. That change already started with the hiring of Jon-Eric Sullivan as the team's new general manager and Jeff Hafley as head coach. Now, the focus turns to free agency and how the team should handle players with expiring contracts.

Free agency will start with the new league year on March 13, though the legal tampering period," officially the negotiating period, begins a couple of days earlier, at noon Eastern Time on March 9. Between now and then, the Dolphins will have to decide what they are going to do with 35 players who are slated to become free agents.

Here is a quick rundown of the Dolphins' pending free agents. All players are unrestricted free agents, free to sign with another team as soon as free agency begins, unless noted. For restricted free agents (RFAs) and exclusive rights free agents (ERFAs), the Dolphins can place a tender on them, retaining their rights for 2026 at a salary based on their position and years of service. If an RFA is tendered, he can negotiate with other teams, but the Dolphins would either have a right of first refusal or be able to acquire draft picks. A tender for an ERFA keeps the player with the Dolphins in 2026.

Dolphins pending free agents 2026

Jake Bailey, punter

Quinton Bell, linebacker

Ethan Bonner, cornerback (ERFA)

Larry Borom, tackle

K.J. Britt, linebacker

Daniel Brunskill, guard

Artie Burns, cornerback

Matthew Butler, defensive tackle (RFA)

Yodny Cajuste, tackle

Elijah Campbell, safety

Joe Cardona, long snapper

Ashtyn Davis, safety

Rasul Douglas, cornerback

Greg Dulcich, tight end

Liam Eichenberg, guard

Dee Eskridge, wide receiver

Obinna Eze, tackle (ERFA)

Willie Gay, Jr., linebacker

Cameron Goode, linebacker (RFA)

A.J. Green, cornerback

Julian Hill, tight end (RFA)

Germain Ifedi, tackle

Caleb Johnson, linebacker

Benito Jones, defensive tackle

Jack Jones, cornerback

Kader Kohou, cornerback

Kendall Lamm, tackle

Alexander Mattison, running back

Ifeatu Melifonwu, safety

Riley Patterson, kicker

Kendall Sheffield, cornerback

Cole Strange, guard

Darren Waller, tight end

Cedrick Wilson Jr., wide receiver

Zach Wilson, quarterback