The Miami Dolphins are continuing to make moves before free agency starts on March 16, as the team has placed a second-round tender on restricted free agent cornerback Nik Needham, according to the Miami Herald’s Daniel Oyefusi.
This tender means that any team that is interested in signing Needham would give the Dolphins a second-round pick if they were to do so. If no teams go after him, he will be on Miami’s books for $3.9 million in 2022.
At 25 years old, Needham has worked his way up the Dolphins depth chart from being a fringe undrafted free agent to a decent nickel cornerback on a defense that has attempted to bring in veterans to fill that role. The versatility that he displayed helping out at safety is a plus as well.
In 2021, Needham totaled a career-high 59 tackles, as well as five passes defended, two interceptions and a defensive touchdown. He also had a career-low passer rating allowed this past season, as he finished with a 73.4.
Needham may have leaked his reaction on Twitter prior to the report coming out.
— Nik Needham (@FOETYY) March 11, 2022
If the Dolphins can keep Xavien Howard, Byron Jones, and Nik Needham together for 2022, Miami once again has a talented cornerback room to build a defense around.