The Dolphins added to the middle of the defense by signing linebacker K.J. Britt in free agency. Drafted in the fifth round by the Buccaneers in 2021, Britt played in 59 games over four seasons for Tampa Bay. He started 11 games last year, setting a career high with 72 tackles.
Sure tackler, big hitter
Pro Football Reference credits Britt with 126 career tackles compared to only nine missed attempts. For comparison's sake, Lavonte David, the All-Pro who played alongside Britt in Tampa, has a career missed tackle rate of 7.7 percent. The sample size is substantially larger, but Britt's penchant for big hits and sound technique on film corroborates the statistic. He's a run-and-chase linebacker that makes his living on film study and explosiveness through contact.
Learning from the best
Britt assumed a larger role towards the end 2023, then entered the 2024 offseason program atop the depth chart at middle linebacker.
"K.J. is real passionate about the game of football," David said. "He's always willing to get better. He's always picking my brain, picking the coaches' brains."
Britt held that spot all the way through the 2024 season and attributes a lot of his success to his proximity to the all-time great.
"He's the best there is," Britt said of David. "Just watching him on tape each week, knowing what the standard is, it helps just to be around him."
David, a 13-year pro, has over 1,600 career tackles to his name and a catalog of memorable highlights. Like most great linebackers, David is known for his ability to dissect the offense's intentions before the snap.
Spending four years with a player of that caliber has rubbed off on Britt. The game film shows a confident player who rarely takes false steps (steps in the direction away from the flow of the play) which allows him to play fast and beat opponents to the spot in the running game.
Special Teams option
Building towards his breakthrough season as a starter, Britt shined as a member of the Bucs' core special teams units. He played over 1,000 snaps during his four seasons in Tampa Bay with 23 total tackles in the kicking game.
For more information on Britt, and the entire Dolphins 2025 free agency class, download the Drive Time Podcast with Travis Wingfield, available wherever you get your podcasts.
