Recently, Miami Dolphins cornerback Byron Jones took to social media to issue a message that seemed to signal the end of his NFL career.
Though his NFL career may not be over just yet, his tenure with the Dolphins is coming to an end. According to a Tuesday report, the Dolphins have informed Jones that he will be released on March 15.
Sources: Dolphins have informed CB Byron Jones that he is being released on March 15 and will have the opportunity to enter free agency. Dolphins will designate him a post-June 1 cut, saving Miami $13.6 million against its salary cap.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 7, 2023
Jones joined the Dolphins prior to the 2020 NFL season. While his first two seasons with the team were a relative success, he never suited up for the team in the 2022 season.
He started the season on the reserve/PUP list, but he was never able to get to the level of health that would have allowed him to play. It was quite disappointing for Dolphins fans, especially as a rash of other injuries heavily impacted the team’s defensive backfield. However, it now seems clear that he would not have been able to help the team much even if he had taken the field.
The former first-round pick is just 30 years old, and if he were able to remain healthy, he would likely have several more strong seasons ahead of him. However, his claim that he “can’t run or jump because of my injuries sustained playing this game” makes it clear that those strong seasons are likely not going to happen.
For the Dolphins, Jones’ departure is just another strong indication that the team needs to focus on adding some talent to the defensive backfield this offseason.
Fans should not be surprised if the Dolphins end up adding multiple new corners — via free agency, trades or the draft — to the position group.
Though the Dolphins offense took a massive leap forward last year, the Dolphins defense took a step back. The team has already focused heavily on reinforcing the defensive staff to get those improvements started, but an NFL team is only as good as its players on the field.
So, with Jones’ time with the Dolphins soon coming to an end, it seems rather likely that some new faces will be added to the position group quite soon.
