Storm Duck could be 'winner' of Dolphins' Jalen Ramsey trade
Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith was a part of the package alongside Ramsey that brought Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick back to South Beach.
While the move brings one of the league's premier safeties to Miami's defensive backfield, it also leaves a void at corner. With the seven-time Pro Bowler in Ramsey out of the picture, the Dolphins need new corners to step up and for someone to morph into a reliable starter.
Could that someone be Storm Duck? CBS broke down the "winners" and "losers" from the Ramsey trade and Duck was listed as a "winner."
With Ramsey out the door, the Dolphins will need someone to step up in the cornerback room. His departure (and starting job) could give 2024 undrafted free agent Storm Duck an opportunity to establish himself as a possible starter in the league. The Louisville product played 14 games for the Dolphins last season, including three starts. When targeted, he allowed a 61.1 completion percentage along with a 100.2 passer rating. Those numbers aren't exactly Ramsey-esque, but if Duck can be even a serviceable piece to Miami's secondary, it could go a long way for his career. - Tyler Sullivan, CBS
Duck will likely need to take a leap in order for the Dolphins to be a playoff-caliber team. According to Pro Football Focus, Duck earned an overall defensive grade of 55.5 and a coverage grade of 54.8. That leaves plenty of room for improvement as compared to Ramsey's 71.9 coverage grade.
Other options at corner include fifth-round selection Jason Marshall Jr., Cam Smith, Ethan Bonner, BJ Adams, Isaiah Johnson, Ethan Robinson, Artie Burns and Kendall Sheffield.
"Going into the five weeks off, I'm not going to hedge my bet on any particular individual. Not to say that there wouldn't be a leader in the clubhouse, I'm more looking to see what—this offseason has been tremendous.
"I think that there's been some great, in particular, boundary corner work, because not only of the corners, but safeties, dime or weak side linebackers and the quarterback. Quarterbacks have really done some great two-man combination stuff that puts those guys in a bind and really puts their technique on blast. And what we ask every defensive play, it's taken 11 people to be tied together. So I have seen really great growth, both because of the group but because of kind of the nucleus of the defense around them as well. The quarterbacks have given them some very, very good looks and stressed those situations. Iron sharpening iron is what we're looking for," McDaniel said of his corners during mandatory minicamp last month.
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