The Miami Dolphins entered the offseason with a critical need to optimize their budget, and few expected General Manager Chris Grier to make a significant move by signing one of the top cornerbacks available. Kendall Fuller has just inked a two-year deal in South Florida after spending the last eight seasons with the Washington Commanders and the Kansas City Chiefs. This acquisition signals the Dolphins’ intent to strengthen their defensive backfield and improve their performance on the field.

The former third-round pick has a Super Bowl ring from his time as a slot cornerback with Kansas City, but he has primarily excelled as an outside cornerback in the past four seasons. Notably, Pro Football Focus (PFF) rated him as the third-best cornerback available in free agency, highlighting his versatility to play effectively in various roles, whether outside, in the slot, or even at safety. This level of adaptability is essential for the Dolphins as they look to enhance their defensive strategies.

“I mean all of us are flexible guys that play multiple positions,” Fuller remarked about Miami’s cornerback group. “So whatever the coaches want to do, wherever they’re looking, whatever they’re thinking is where any of us go.” This level of flexibility among the cornerbacks will be crucial for the Dolphins as they look to optimize their defensive game plan and adjust to different offensive threats throughout the season.

At 29 years old, Fuller joins the Dolphins alongside new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, who spent the last three seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. Weaver’s arrival is significant, as he worked under Mike MacDonald, who has since taken on the head coaching role with the Seattle Seahawks. Weaver brings a wealth of experience managing a defense that prides itself on adaptability and strategic flexibility, which will be invaluable to Miami’s defensive unit.

“[Coach Weaver] just wants guys that are going to fly around, especially right now,” Fuller shared. “Everybody – we’re all finding out a brand new system; there’s going to be some errors. But just guys going out there, playing fast and playing physical – the more we go on, the more we’ll start executing better and better. But we’ve been looking good, flying around. So it’s been fun to watch.” This emphasis on speed and physicality is critical as the Dolphins aim to establish a dominant defensive presence in the league.

Fuller played 1,896 snaps outside compared to just 45 snaps in the slot while starting 32 games over the last two seasons. He recorded two interceptions and made two tackles for loss in 2023. According to PFF, opposing quarterbacks completed 49 of 73 attempts targeting him in coverage for 488 yards. These statistics illustrate Fuller’s effectiveness and ability to impact the game significantly.

Fellow cornerback Jalen Ramsey played 533 of his 585 total snaps last season on the outside, which he does not expect to continue with Weaver leading the defense. With Ramsey roaming the secondary, Kader Kohou excelling at slot cornerback, and Nik Needham taking practice snaps at safety, Fuller could emerge as Miami’s top option on the outside. This dynamic could reshape the Dolphins’ secondary and enhance their overall defensive strategy.

“You got to learn what you can do with different techniques that you may have to adopt and how it fits in with the system and what you’re being asked to do,” Fuller explained. “So you learn that as you’re out there on the field – that’s what this is for.” This process of adaptation is vital for Fuller and his teammates as they work to implement the new defensive schemes effectively.

“That’s what you do in training camp and in practice – you see what