The Dolphins’ secondary remains one of the biggest concerns on the team heading into the 2026 season. The unit will need to get its act together if Miami plans on having a defense that is capable of carrying a contender. As of now the Dolphins’ starting secondary is in the discussion for being amongst the worst in the sport but there are some bright spots, and the unit does have potential. Here I will go into detail analyzing Miami’s backend defense heading into the 2026 season.
Set to start at the first of the two primary cornerback spots is 2026 first rounder Chris Johnson. Johnson was drafted late in the first round and will already be thrusted into a starting role with the Dolphins as a rookie given Miami’s need at the position. Johnson was a second team All American last season despite playing for a small school in San Diego State. Johnson won defensive player of the year in the non-power 5 Mountain West Conference as well. Johnson will likely see his growing pains as a rookie but if he was indeed the right selection and can capture near his prime form late into the season, Miami could have a very good if not a great CB1.
At the first of the two safety spots is 2025 fifth round rookie Dante Trader Jr who is set to start for Miami after a solid rookie season. Trader Jr could emerge as a solid starter in the backend for Miami but will likely not be anything special for the Dolphins. Trader Jr will be a prime candidate to be replaced as a starter in the back end of the Dolphins’ thin secondary and is likely better suited as a high-end backup.
At the other safety spot former second round pick Lonnie Johnson Jr is set to start for Miami and has had his inconsistencies while still showing promise. Johnson Jr after a poor rookie season looked strong in year 2 but has been consistently below average to poor since. Given his high draft selection and his strong play at times he is currently listed as the starter for Miami. However, just like Trader Jr he will be a prime candidate to be replaced if other players on Miami’s back end emerge. With Johnson Jr likely being best suited as a reserve secondary player in the current NFL.
At the other of the two primary cornerback spots, former undrafted free agent Storm Duck is set to start for Miami, and big question marks persist at the position for the Dolphins. Duck had a decent rookie season and was in line to become a solid player in the NFL after 2024. Duck, however, failed to see the field much in 2025 and looked poor in limited time on the field. Like the previous two players, Duck is likely better suited as a backup and will be a prime candidate to be replaced as a starter in Miami’s backend in 2026.
At the starting nickelback spot former fourth rounder Marco Wilson is set to start for Miami, but the position remains a big question for the Dolphins. Wilson has graded in the below average to poor range in every season he has played thus far in the NFL. Wilson will also be a prime candidate to be replaced as a starter in Miami’s backend defense.
Given the concerns across the board in Miami’s starting secondary as of now, the depth that Miami possesses in their backend defense will loom large for Miami. The Dolphins have several talented reserve players who could be thrusted into starting roles given the needs the Dolphins have in their backend defense.
The first noteworthy currently listed reserve in Miami’s secondary is 2023 second-round pick JuJu Brents. Brents, as such a high draft pick, struggled in his first season plus in the NFL as one would expect him to. Still having a solid rookie season although struggling to stay on the field and show improvement in year 2 as he hardly logged snaps in his 2nd NFL season. In 2025 however, albeit in just 110 snaps, Brents looked elite and started to fulfill his draft potential. Brents is a prime candidate to assume a starting position in the Dolphins’ backend defense during the 2026 season.
The next noteworthy reserve in Miami’s secondary is 2021 undrafted free agent Zayne Anderson who follows new Miami head coach Jeff Hafley from Green Bay. In his first season playing extended snaps in 2024, Anderson played like one of the best safeties in the sport albeit in just 122 snaps. Anderson, in 24 snaps outside of that one season has looked poor, but one cannot deny that he ranked among the best safeties in the sport in his only season playing noticeable snaps. Anderson will be a prime candidate to find himself starting for the Dolphins in 2026.
The next noteworthy reserve in Miami’s back-end defense is AJ Green III. Green III in his first season playing extended snaps in 2021 graded first among all qualified players at his position in terms of both defense grade and cover grade according to Pro Football Focus, albeit in just 176 snaps. Green III has looked poor otherwise in 151 snaps, but one cannot deny how strong he looked at first. Green III will be a prime candidate to assume a starting role in Miami’s back-end defense in 2026.
The last noteworthy reserve in Miami’s back-end defense is 2026 fifth round pick Michael Taafe. Taafe may have been one of the steals of the draft at safety and was closer to a 1st or 2nd round talent. Taafe was a first team All-American and All-SEC selection in 2025 which is no easy feat playing in likely the toughest conference in college football. Taafe could emerge as a star and will threaten to become a starter in Miami’s back-end defense as soon as possible given the Dolphins’ needs in the unit.
As of now the Dolphins’ currently listed starting secondary on their depth chart is in the definitive discussion for being the worst in the NFL. However, the Dolphins do have a lot of young talent in the unit and if that young talent can play to their potential and stay healthy, Miami could have a solid if not more than that secondary in 2026. However, Miami should look to bolster their backend defense in the rest of the offseason cycle and before the trading deadline as the Dolphins still have far too many question marks on the back end as of now.
