The Miami Dolphins aren't done bolstering their roster just yet. On Monday, the team signed safety Marcus Maye, adding another newcomer to their secondary. Maye reportedly had multiple suitors prior to his deal, but he eventually chose the Dolphins because he “wants to be part of a Super Bowl contender,” according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Miami being labeled as a contender may bring about divided opinions, but it can't be denied that the Dolphins showed flashes of elite play last season. Led by Tyreek Hill and Tua Tagovailoa, they finished with an 11-6 regular-season record, entering the postseason as the AFC's sixth seed. At one point, Miami held a 9-3 record, something they last achieved in 2001. However, the team eventually fell in the Wild Card Round to end their campaign.
Nevertheless, many core players will suit up for another run while a number of new faces will be entering the picture. Before diving into that, however, it would be best to first talk about the Dolphins' newest addition.
Marcus Maye, the Dolphins' newest defensive back
Marcus Maye was drafted by the New York Jets in 2017 following a four-year tenure with Florida football. Immediately, the safety was named to the starting lineup. As a rookie, Maye tallied 79 combined tackles (57 solo), two passes defended, two interceptions, and a forced fumble in 16 starts.
Injuries limited his sophomore year to just six games, but once healthy, Maye started in all the Jets' games during the 2019 and 2020 seasons. The safety was given the franchise tag for the Jets' 2021 campaign, his last with the team. All in all, Maye amassed 312 combined tackles (219 solo), 24 passes defended, six interceptions, and four forced fumbles during his 5-year New York stint.
The defensive back spent the next two seasons with the New Orleans Saints, but his tenure was dented with off-field issues. All in all, Maye played a total of 17 games with the Saints.
He's already 31 years old, but the safety is still a quality piece when deployed on the field. It can be noted that Maye started in all of his 77 career games.
The Miami Dolphins as of late
As mentioned earlier, the Dolphins have several new faces in the team. Besides Maye, the defensive back room will have incoming additions such as Jordan Poyer and Kendall Fuller. Dolphins safety Jevon Holland is expected to keep his starting position, so Maye and Poyer might have to duel it out for the other safety spot. Other notable signings on defense include linebackers Jordyn Brooks, Chop Robinson, and Shaquil Barrett.
As for Tagovailoa's weapons, the Dolphins managed to add Odell Beckham Jr. and Jonnu Smith. Beckham will likely start and become a quality third receiver behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Smith, on the other hand, is expected to lead the team's tight end room.
Miami has reached the playoffs in the past two years, but they seem to have trouble getting past the first round. Could the Dolphins somehow exceed expectations and make a deep playoff run this year? Or maybe even appear on the big stage, just as Marcus Maye believes? Who knows…with the recent offseason tweaks, maybe a more fruitful season awaits.
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