Report: Miami Dolphins could bring back familiar face on defense

The Miami Dolphins and safety DeShon Elliott are reportedly interested in staying together.

The Dolphins this week already lost one of their more impactful defensive players from the 2023 season in Christian Wilkins, who agreed to a four-year deal with the Las Vegas Raiders. Wilkins is one of several key pieces Miami has lost in recent days.

But a report back in February indicated that Elliot and the Dolphins wanted to agree to terms on a new deal prior to the start of the free-agency signing period, a possibility that could still be in play.

Elliott appeared in 15 games for the Dolphins during the 2023 regular season after spending the first four seasons of his NFL career playing for the Baltimore Ravens and Detroit Lions.

He racked up 82 combined tackles, 53 solo tackles, 29 assists on tackles and one tackle for loss in his first season with the Dolphins. The 26-year-old also had seven passes defended, came up with one interception and recovered one fumble during his fifth NFL season.

Elliott saved arguably his most notable performance of the campaign for Miami’s regular-season finale against the Buffalo Bills back on Jan. 7, when he accumulated 10 total tackles, six solo tackles, four assists on tackles, one interception and one pass defended.

But the Dolphins still lost to the Bills by seven points, and Buffalo ended up clinching the AFC East despite having an identical record to Miami’s at 11-6.

The safety also put up impressive defensive numbers in the team’s matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs in the playoffs on Jan. 13. He finished with nine combined tackles, six assists on tackles and three solo tackles, but the Dolphins suffered a more decisive loss than they did against Buffalo, as Miami scored just seven points the entire game and lost by 19.

Elliott and the Dolphins only have a few more hours to come to an agreement on a contract before the start of the free agency signing period, which is set for 4 p.m. EST on Wednesday. With any luck, Elliott will agree to a new deal with the Dolphins before that time comes around.