While the headlines focus on the new head coach and quarterback quandary, the Miami Dolphins' personnel department has been quietly at work laying groundwork for the 2026 roster. In the weeks following the season, the team signed a wave of players to reserve/future contracts, securing their rights for the upcoming offseason program and training camp.
These signings, executed between January 13 and 26, 2026, are typically for young players who finished the previous season on the practice squad or as free agents. They represent the first layer of roster building under GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and give these players a chance to impress the new coaching staff.
The list of signees includes:
- S Omar Brown (Signed Jan. 13)
- DE Seth Coleman (Signed Jan. 21)
- DT Keith Cooper Jr.
- OL Braeden Daniels
- TE Cole Turner
- WR A.J. Henning (Note: Henning was suspended by the league during 2025 but has been re-signed.)
- DT Alex Huntley
- LB Derrick McLendon
- LB K.C. Ossai
These moves are the administrative start of the "build" that Sullivan and Coach Jeff Hafley have promised. They also come alongside other roster adjustments, such as the release of veteran running back Jeff Wilson Jr. on January 12 and the reported trade of edge rusher Jaelan Phillips (for a 2026 third-round pick). As the Dolphins navigate a tight cap situation, identifying and developing low-cost talent from this futures group will be essential to creating a competitive and deep roster for the new regime's first season.