The Phinsider
Left Guard? Right Guard? Doesn’t matter to James Daniels — he’s just excited to be playing for the Miami Dolphins! #FinsUp
Two weeks after 2025 NFL Free Agency kicked off, I think it’s safe to say that the Miami Dolphins' most-prized free agent was former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman James Daniels.
Daniels, 27, signed a three-year deal with the Dolphins this offseason worth an estimated $24 million. A contract that comes with a great deal of expectations, from fans and coaches alike. This is something Daniels not only welcomes but understands:
“Every free agent signing, especially when it’s a multi-year deal for a total of double digits, you understand that you’re being signed to a team for a reason...I understand the position I’m in, and I understand that the Dolphins believe a lot in me and that the fans are expecting a lot from me.”
Asked what attracted him to Miami Gardens in the first place, Daniels was clear that he had long admired what Mike McDaniel was doing in Miami and believes he can be an asset in the offense.
“There’s a lot of playmakers. I’ve always watched – I think two years ago the Dolphins were like top five in the league in rushing. They’ve always been a great rushing team for the past couple of years, so it’s always attracted me. I’m very excited to get the chance to play in the offense and it seems really fun.”
Drafted by the Chicago Bears in the 2nd round (39th overall) of the 2018 NFL Draft, Daniels started 48 out of 54 games during his first four seasons in the league, lining up primarily at guard with some time at center sprinkled in.
He’d join the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2022, where he’d go on to start the next two seasons at right guard before suffering a season-ending Achilles injury that ended his 2024 campaign. A catastrophic injury that Daniels can somehow find the good in.
“Luckily, I have been rehabbing since the first week of October... I’ve had multiple months of rehab ...Again it definitely is pretty tough, but I’m lucky I have a good support system around me and that’s happened... I’m going to be fully healthy when the season starts, so I can’t complain about that.”
Asked the ever-important question of whether he prefers to line up on the left or right side of the offensive line, Daniels was adamant it didn’t matter to him.
“I feel at home anywhere. Yes, I’ve played right guard the past three seasons, but in Chicago, I played left guard and I played center as well....left guard or right guard, it really doesn’t matter.”
Daniels continued: *“Ever since going back to my Iowa days – I was a center at Iowa, but whenever you do stuff at Iowa, it’s like they always make sure you do snaps at right guard, snaps at left guard, snaps at center. Luckily, even going back to all of my Iowa days, I’ve always...
