Meet the Dolphins’ 25 free agent signings. What to know, potential role, salary

The Dolphins have signed so many players, some fairly obscure, that you probably do need a scorecard. A Cliff’s Notes version on the team’s 25 signings since mid-March, including two on Thursday (punter Bradley Pinion and long snapper Taybor Pepper): Quarterback Malik Willis

• The expected role: Starting quarterback.
• The salary: Three years, $67.5 million, with $45 million guaranteed over the next two seasons and none guaranteed beyond.
• The view here: This is a low-risk, potentially high-reward acquisition. After watching him for two years in Green Bay, this Dolphins regime became convinced that he can be a very good starting quarterback with his strong arm, elite running skills, high character and improvement as a pocket passer. At $5.6 million, he will have one of the league’s lowest cap hits for a starting QB this season. Offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer
• The expected role: He will be given a chance to win a starting job at guard, per a source.
• The salary: One year, $1.4 million; all guaranteed.
• The view here: Even though Salyer was lumped into some Chargers’ lines that weren’t very good, his pass protection was above average last season (per PFF) and he might be the best guard on the Dolphins roster (which isn’t saying a lot). If he doesn’t win a starting guard job, he would be a top backup at guard and tackle. Receiver Jordan Tolbert
• The expected role: The Jaylen Waddle trade leaves him in good position to start, even if Miami drafts a receiver in the first two rounds.
• The salary: One year, $1.4 million; all guaranteed.
• The view here: His 6-2 size, combined with the output in 2024 (49 catches for 610 yards, seven touchdowns) made him a sensible signing at a modest price point. He’s likely going to play a lot after logging 76 and 51 percent of the Cowboys’ offensive snaps the past two seasons. Receiver Tutu Atwell
• The expected role: Could figure anywhere from second to fifth on the depth chart.
• The salary: One year, $1.4 million; all guaranteed.
• The view here: This signing becomes more important after Waddle’s departure. Because Willis has a strong arm and was 7 for 7 on passes of 20 air yards or more last season, it made sense to add another explosive deep threat. His 14.6 career reception average is elite, and you know the Dolphins liked the 5-9 Atwell because Sullivan made clear he doesn’t want a room full of short receivers. Tight end Ben Sims
• The expected role: Will compete for the Dolphins’ top in-line blocking tight end role.
• The salary: One year, $1.3 million, with $187,500 guaranteed.
• The view here: He’s a serviceable replacement for Patriots-bound Julian Hill. The Vikings and Lions liked him enough to give him eight starts over three seasons. PFF has rated him a far better pass blocker than run blocker, and Hill’s loss could somewhat hurt the running game. In 45 games, Sims has only 17 targets and caught 11 for 93. Tight end Greg Dulcich
• The expected role: Starting tight end, unless Miami drafts Oregon’s Kenyon Sadiq in the first round.
• The salary: $1.5 million on a one-year deal. All the money is guaranteed.
• The view here: The production last season (26 catches, 335 yards in 10 games) warranted a new contract. He’s a versatile, productive player who’s an acceptable No. 1 in the early stages of a rebuild and a solid No. 2 otherwise. Offensive lineman Charlie Heck
• The expected role: Primary backup to Austin Jackson at right tackle, and No. 1 or No. 2 backup to Patrick Paul at left tackle, depending on whether Jamaree Salyer wins a starting guard spot.
• The salary: One year, $1.4 million; only $187,500 is guaranteed.
• The view here: Heck struggled badly in pass protection last season, allowing 32 pressures despite starting only six of his 17 appearances. But he has been a serviceable backup over the years. Cornerback Darrell Baker
• The expected role: A potential starter unless he’s poor in training camp/preseason or unless Miami drafts two cornerbacks on the first two days of the draft.
• The salary: One year, $1.4 million, with $1.2 million of that guaranteed.
• The view here: The production has been way too inconsistent, with 10 TDs allowed and no interceptions in four seasons and a bloated 135 passer rating in his coverage area last season. But the above-average length and athletic traits are appealing to this regime, and it’s tough to find a mid-20s experienced starting cornerback in that price range. Cornerback Marco Wilson
• The expected role: Will compete for a roster spot.
• The salary: One year, $1.2 million; none guaranteed.
• The view here: This is a low-risk flyer on a local prep star who was a solid starter for Arizona in 2022 (three picks, 77.2 passer rating against) but has bounced around since. Cornerback Alex Austin
• The expected role: Will compete for jobs 4, 5 or 6 in the cornerback room.
• The salary: One year, $1.45 million, with none of that guaranteed.
• The view here: He showed enough in 26 games with the Patriots (including two starts last season) to suggest he could be a decent backup. He played more defensive snaps than special teams snaps (589 to 220) with New England. Safety Lonnie Johnson
• The expected role: As big a range as anyone on the team. Could start or be released.
• The salary: $1.4 million, but only $187,500 is guaranteed, which is telling.
• The view here: Now a journeyman on his seventh team in five years, Johnson has started only two of his past 31 games. But it’s not like Miami had better options at that price point. This is a rare case of someone who could end up a team’s No. 1 safety or not on the roster at all. Johnson has a career 104 passer rating in his coverage area. Safety Zayne Anderson
• The expected role: Backup safety and core special teams player.
• The salary: One year, $1.4 million, with $752,5000 guaranteed.
• The view here: Anderson didn’t play a single defensive snap in three years in Kansas City but has played 145 in two years in Green Bay, where he made his only two NFL starts (in 2024) and impressed new Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. Fun fact: Per PFF, he has been targeted only three times in coverage in his career; one was intercepted and the other was incomplete. He’ll be helpful on special teams, where he has 700 career snaps. Defensive end Joshua Uche
• The expected role: Starting defensive end or No. 3 defensive end.
• The salary: One-year, $1.4 million; all the money is guaranteed.
• The view here: If the former second rounder can recapture his 2022 magic for the Patriots (when he had 11.5 sacks as a reserve), this will be a steal.