The Miami Dolphins have secured their latest addition to the linebacker room — and this latest pickup features a similar athlete to the man he’ll be replacing within the Dolphins’ locker room from 2020. Miami has agreed to terms with former Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Duke Riley, who will be taking the place of Kamu Grugier-Hill as a critical special teams contributor and depth presence in the Dolphins’ linebacker room in 2020.
Dolphins signing former Eagles/Falcons LB Duke Riley to a one-year deal, source says. @mike_e_kaye 1st.
Another front-7 depth addition — adding competition on defense and special teams.
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) March 19, 2021
Riley is a speedy linebacker who will follow Grugier-Hill in more ways than one: Grugier-Hill served a special teams/coverage linebacker role with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2019 before signing on with the Dolphins on a 1-year deal this past season. His replacement in Philadelphia? Duke Riley. Grugier-Hill’s replacement in Miami? Also Duke Riley.
So that’s a fun little layer to this signing for the Dolphins, who added Benardrick McKinney via trade earlier this offseason before adding on Riley to help the Dolphins completely overhaul the linebacker room.
Riley is, as an athlete, quite the dynamic linebacker. He passed through the 2017 NFL Draft process as a 232 linebacker and with a 4.58s 40-yard dash to his credit: he can definitely run. And with McKinney serving as a heavy-duty thumper between the tackles, the Dolphins were always going to need another rangy linebacker to pair with Jerome Baker in obvious passing situations. Riley should get a chance to compete for such a role; but given the short-term status of his contract it would be wise to avoid assuming the Dolphins will end up drafting a coverage linebacker in next month’s NFL Draft to help bolster the group and add more of a long-term solution to the mix.
There are several impressive coverage linebacker prospects available, including Ohio State’s Baron Browning and LSU’s Jabrill Cox. Either should expect to hear their name called in the 2nd- or 3rd-round, where Miami has three combined picks (No. 36 overall, 50 overall & 81 overall).
