The Dolphins were among the busiest teams this offseason adding players. Perhaps the biggest overhaul occurred on the defensive line. One of the NFL's most accomplished players of the last two decades, Calais Campbell, headlines a new group that'll join the dependable Zach Sieler on the front line of the Miami defense.
The Cast (in order of NFL experience):
- 93 Calais Campbell
- 92 Zach Sieler
- 91 Da'Shawn Hand
- 94 Teair Tart
- 93 Neville Gallimore
- 95 Benito Jones
- 98 Jonathan Harris
- 97 Isaiah Mack
- 96 Brandon Pili
- 78 Leonard Payne
- 68 Mario Kendricks
Few players over the last half-decade have proven more reliable and productive than Zach Sieler. Over his first three seasons in Miami, Sieler was a highly efficient rotational player who maximized each opportunity. The last two years, with an expanded role that produced more than 850 snaps in each campaign, Sieler's efficiency has only improved to match the volume.
Three defensive tackles had more sacks than Sieler in 2023 – Justin Madubuike, Denico Autry and Chris Jones. Sieler set or matched career-highs with those 10 sacks, 11 tackles for loss, 22 quarterback hits, two fumble recoveries, his first interception and touchdown and 56 quarterback pressures. Those 56 pressures and his 36 stops both ranked top 10 among defensive tackles (Pro Football Focus).
Joining Sieler is a player who has proven just as dependable, only for a decade longer, in Calais Campbell. Over a 16-year career, Campbell has averaged better than 700 snaps a season including a 712-snap effort last year at 37 years old. In his lone season in Atlanta last year, Campbell produced 42 quarterback pressures and 36 stops, both top 15 among defensive tackles. Campbell's arrival is a reunion with Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver, who coached Campbell in Baltimore as the Defensive Line Coach in 2021 and 2022.
Teair Tart, Benito Jones, Jonathan Harris, Neville Gallimore and Isaiah Mack are five veteran additions new to Miami. Tart is a twitchy player who played most of his snaps in Tennessee as a 0- or 1-technique (lined up over the center) but has plenty of experience playing multiple positions across the line. Jones' return to South Florida offers a perfect complement to Tart as he is among the game's best space eaters in the middle, particularly against the run.
Gallimore, like Tart and Jones, played most of his snaps inside, but he was more of an end when he was a third-round pick out of Oklahoma in 2020. Harris worked his way, over four years in Denver, into a starting role in 2023. Both players offer position flexibility.
Like Campbell, Isaiah Mack also has experience playing with Anthony Weaver. He was with the Ravens from 2021-2022 playing in four total games.
"I think you need to have the right balance of guys that I like to call grinders," Weaver said of the defensive line. "Guys who go there and change the math in the middle, whether that's with mass or elite technique. And then you need those guys that are kind of in between, that are tweeners, guys that can both do that yet are athletic enough and have the skillset to both win and pass rush, whether that be with power or finesse."
Da'Shawn Hand's first year in Miami was productive, albeit on a limited workload. With Sieler and Christian Wilkins playing the majority of the snaps, Hand excelled in a rotational role by producing the second-most quarterback pressures of his career (9).
Brandon Pili is back for his second year after seeing time in four games and 29 total snaps last season. Rookie Leonard Payne was a major pocket disrupter last season at Colorado. He and Mario Kendricks, a Virginia Tech standout, look to contribute as the two undrafted rookies in the group.
To catch the camp battles along the defensive line, get out to the Baptist Health Training Complex for practice starting on Sunday, July 28. Tickets are free, but require reservation, which you can book here.
