The Miami Dolphins thought they got a steal when they selected former South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith with the No. 51 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. Smith received some first-round buzz throughout the pre-draft process, but that hype did not come to fruition. A massive sophomore season is now on deck.
Smith initially impressed the Dolphins throughout his debut training camp and preseason periods. Though he suffered a shoulder injury in the first tune-up game, Smith recorded a second-best eight tackles across two exhibition appearances. Despite that success, the Blythewood native found playing time significantly harder to come by, or borderline impossible, when the regular season began.
The Dolphins boasted a deep group of cornerbacks. Veterans Xavien Howard and Jalen Ramsey dominated snaps at boundary corner when healthy. Eli Apple was their preferred replacement whenever they were unavailable. Nickel corner Kader Kohou actually played the most snaps (938) of any defender on the team.
Justin Bethel, Parry Nickerson, Nik Needham, and Kelvin Joseph also out-snapped Smith on defense. If you're keeping score, that's a 12-year aging pro, 2018 sixth-round veteran journeyman, 2019 UDFA, and a former Cowboys second-round pick with a checkered past that were trusted to play ahead of Smith. The former Gamecocks standout played just 20 defensive snaps as a rookie, making him the ninth overall cornerback on the team.
Smith didn't earn the trust of defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. Year two represents a fresh start for Smith, and there's plenty of reason to believe he'll take a step forward. Firstly, Fangio, who wasn't a fan, is no longer present. He mutually parted ways with the Dolphins earlier this offseason, and head coach Mike McDaniel replaced him with ex-Baltimore Ravens defensive line coach Anthony Weaver.
Dolphins CB Cam Smith, now feeling unlocked under Anthony Weaver, went the opposite route as Jevon Holland and says he has no hard feelings toward Vic Fangio.
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) May 28, 2024
He calls his limited opportunities as a rookie a learning experience and has moved past it. https://t.co/ZzIr5qr0zi
Significant changes have also occurred at cornerback. Howard, a four-time Pro Bowler who played eight seasons in Miami, was released from his contract as a cap casualty. Apple was on a one-year contract last season and currently remains available in free agency (as does Howard). Together, that's nearly 1,300 snaps that require replacing.
Ramsey is still present as the shutdown corner and Kohou will continue dominating playing time at nickel. The vacant starting gig opposite Ramsey will be filled by veteran cover man Kendall Fuller, who signed a two-year, $15 million contract. There is hope that Smith will be the No. 4 cornerback this season, which is a significant upgrade compared to his role in 2023.
Even the likes of Bethel, Nickerson, and Joseph are no longer with the team. General manager Chris Grier did not select a single cornerback in the 2024 NFL Draft. Storm Duck and Isaiah Johnson were notable UDFA additions, and Siran Neal was signed in free agency. It'd be extremely disappointing if any of them leaped over Smith on the depth chart.
With Ramsey, Kohou, and Fuller expected to carry heavy workloads, Smith should eventually find himself as a top-three cornerback in the lineup, either via rotation or injury. The onus is on Smith to take advantage of his opportunities when they come. It’s creeping toward now-or-never territory.