The Phinsider
The Miami Dolphins have two veterans who have decisions to make about their futures - decisions that could have big impacts on the team in 2025.
The 2025 NFL free agency period is slowing, with teams starting to focus on the Draft and college prospects. Some big decisions must still be made, and for the Miami Dolphins, those decisions include some big men. Defensive lineman Calais Campbell and offensive tackle Terron Armstead both have to decide if they want to keep playing in 2025 - and for Campbell if he wants to return to Miami for a second season.
On Monday at the NFL owners meeting in Palm Beach, Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel met with the media. While the early part of the question and answer session focused on wide receiver Tyreek Hill, McDaniel was asked about the future of both Campbell and Armstead, and the potential that they could be with the team in 2025.
“Both guys – there’s a reason they’re some of our favorite guys – great communication with both of them,” McDaniel said before turning to Campbell.
Campbell signed with Miami in June last year as a free agent, looking to be the missing piece on defense that pushed the Dolphins into a deep playoff run. While the team underperformed, Campbell in his 17th season in the league, started all 17 games, recording 52 tackles, five sacks, five passes defensed, and one forced fumble. He was a menace in the middle of the Miami defensive line, and the Dolphins would like to have him back for 2025, though the 2019 NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year winner will likely have plenty of interest as a free agent if he chooses not to retire.
“Calais specifically is in a unique situation where he is assessing multiple options as a player in the 45th year of his career,” a laughing McDaniel said. Turning more serious, he continued, “So I understand and there’s a lot at play in that with regard to all right, so your play is high, you decided to play another year; he’s assessing those options. He was a very important player to the team last year, and I see him having the opportunity to be a very important player on the team this year. I also see within that position group because of reasons of competitive disadvantage that I mentioned before, I can’t – I feel like we have some options at the position. He has some options. That position in particular has been a focal point of mine this offseason and I feel good about how it could play out and there’s a couple different scenarios it could play out.”
Armstead, who completed his third season in Miami and 12th in the league in 2024, is still under contact with the Dolphins, but could be considering retirement. He restructured his contract to drop to the league minimum, freeing up salary cap space for Miami while he decides what he wants to do....
