Report: Miami Dolphins adding former Detroit Lions starter to beef up depth

The Miami Dolphins reportedly have decided on signing Da’Shawn Hand from a group of defensive linemen they worked out this weekend.

Hand is the oldest and most experienced of the group, with the 27-year-old having played 31 NFL games, including 11 starts for the Detroit Lions. He played one game for the Tennessee Titans last season.

The University of Alabama product was the choice over Roderick Perry, a 25-year-old who played two games for the Cleveland Browns in the 2022 campaign, and Marvin Wilson, a 24-year-old who was released by the Philadelphia Eagles in April.

The move coincides with Miami reportedly cutting defensive tackle Anthony Montalvo, a promising 25-year-old rookie out of the University of Central Florida.

The Dolphins are looking to add depth to the defensive line in hopes that the entire unit can improve on their rankings of last season, when they were tied for 14th in sacks, 18th in total yards allowed per game, 24th in points allowed per game and tied for 30th in takeaways.

The team is optimistic that defensive coordinator Vic Fangio can make a significant difference, with several players reportedly believe they can be a top-five unit this season.

Some of the returning defensive linemen have praised Fangio, with Emmanuel Ogbah calling the 64-year-old assistant coach a “genius on the defense.” The group is expected to be led by Christian Wilkins, who was called a “complete player” by one high-ranking NFL official in ESPN’s recent survey of the best defensive tackles in the league.

The Dolphins defense is adjusting to life without star cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who injured his knee at the start of training camp. The 28-year-old recently provided an optimistic update on his recovery and is aiming to be back sooner than expected.

Most of the focus on the Dolphins entering this season has been on their high-powered offense featuring receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

But the defense may prove to be even more vital to their success, facing opposing offenses in their division led by Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills and Aaron Rodgers of the New York Jets, to say nothing of the other talented quarterbacks in the AFC.