The signing of Eli Apple came after a flurry of injuries to players in the position room.
The Chargers signed cornerback Eli Apple to the practice squad.
The addition of Apple comes after Asante Samuel Jr. was placed on injured reserve last week, and Kristian Fulton and Deane Leonard exited the Week 6 win over the Broncos with their respective injuries.
Apple played with the Dolphins during the 2023 season. He began his career with the Giants, who selected him with the No. 10 pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft. He was there until 2018, with the Saints from 2018 to 2019, with the Panthers for 2020 and the Bengals from 2021 and 2022.
In 98 games (82 starts), Apple has 381 tackles, three forced fumbles, seven fumble recoveries, 60 pass deflections and six interceptions.
With Stephon Gilmore now off the street, the Panthers could look to target one of these five free-agent cornerbacks:
Despite the months-long build, the reunion between the Carolina Panthers and cornerback Stephon Gilmore was simply not to be.
As announced on Monday, the Minnesota Vikings have signed the Rock Hill, S.C. native to a one-year deal worth up to $10 million. That decision may have burned the Panthers, who reportedly offered Gilmore a pact of their own.
While Carolina probably wasn’t looking to match financials on the agreement, Gilmore’s move up north hurts a bit more considering the setback to Dane Jackson—a projected starter for the defense this season. Jackson, according to head coach Dave Canales, is expected to miss approximately six weeks after sustaining a “significant” hamstring injury.
But are there any similar options out there for the corner-needy Panthers?
Here are five possible free-agent targets with Gilmore now off the board:
Eli Apple
Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Yeah, yeah . . . most of you are probably rolling your eyes at this first entry. But if the Panthers are looking for a veteran corner with experience manning the outside, then this Apple doesn’t far fall from the tree.
The former 10th overall pick has started in 34 of his 41 games since 2021, when he was featured by the then-AFC champion Cincinnati Bengals. Per Pro Football Focus, he allowed a 104.3 passer rating as a Miami Dolphin this past season—producing a better mark than the likes of Taron Johnson, Carlton Davis III and James Bradberry.
Rashad Fenton
Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Fenton may be another tough sell to those of you reading this. Not only did he miss the entire 2023 season after being placed on injured reserve by the Arizona Cardinals, but his 2022 (the last NFL campaign he did play) was undoubtedly his worst offering as a pro.
But like Apple, Fenton is a vet who has picked up reps on the outside. Plus, his three full years with the Kansas City Chiefs yielded some nice results—as he earned PFF coverage grades of 78.4, 75.0 and 81.1 from 2019 to 2021.
Adoree’ Jackson
Stephen Maturen/Getty Images
This fella may be more of what you’re looking for, Panthers fans.
A slightly bigger name than Apple and Fenton, Jackson offers a solid track record over his seven-year NFL career. Save for this last season for the New York Giants, the former first-rounder has never earned a PFF coverage grade of under 66.8.
J.C. Jackson
David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
From one Jackson to another, J.C. has also built up a decent résumé. Are the 28-year-old’s best days, however, already behind him?
Jackson was a standout for Bill Belichick’s defense in New England up until 2021, when he reeled in a Second-team All-Pro nod and his first Pro Bowl selection. But it’s been a bumpy ride since, as he struggled in his short stint with the Los Angeles Chargers as well as in his brief return to the Patriots.
Ahkello Witherspoon
Kareem Elgazzar-USA TODAY Sports
Witherspoon could be the best-case scenario of these options.
For one, the 6-foot-2, 195-pounder fits the mold of the long and rangy cornerback Canales and general manager Dan Morgan became accustomed to during their days in Seattle. He also has experience in a similar scheme, with Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero having served as a secondary coach and passing game coordinator for a year under Raheem Morris—Witherspoon’s coordinator from 2023.
What the Dolphins should do with CB Eli Apple this offseason.
The Miami Dolphins have 29 players who are set to hit free agency in March, including a cornerback who was signed during training camp and played a big role in 2023 – Eli Apple.
Apple, 28, was originally selected with the 10th overall pick in the 2016 NFL draft by the New York Giants after a collegiate career at Ohio State that included a national championship and Second-team All-Big Ten appearance in 2015.
He spent 2016-18 with the Giants, 2018-19 with the New Orlseasons Saints, 2020 with the Carolina Panthers and 2021-22 with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Miami signed Apple last July after cornerback Jalen Ramsey suffered a meniscus injury that sidelined him until midway through the regular season. At that point, the Dolphins needed another healthy veteran, and Apple was who they decided to give opportunities to instead of their rookie second-round pick Cam Smith.
Apple ended up playing 49.9% of the team’s defensive snaps, which was a big drop-off from his previous years where he often played 86-88%. In the 10 games that he played for the Dolphins, he recorded 46 tackles, nine passes defensed, an interception and a half-sack while allowing a 65.2% completion percentage and a 91.4 passer rating when targeted.
Pro Football Focus graded him as the 102nd-best cornerback in the NFL.
The Dolphins have three other cornerbacks (Justin Bethel, Elijah Campbell and Nik Needham) also hitting free agency this offseason, and Xavien Howard may be a cap casualty, so they definitely need help at the position.
However, Apple’s performance in 2023 should have shown the coaching staff and front office that they can more from someone else, whether that’s another free agent, a draft pick or someone like Smith or Ethan Bonner, who will be entering their second year and didn’t get many opportunities last year.
Spotrac has projected the market values of 5 Dolphins expected to hit free agency.
The Miami Dolphins are set to have 29 players hit free the market this March, meaning they could be losing a big chunk of the roster that had them in contention for the division and the second seed in the conference up until the last week of the regular season.
While negotiations are always unpredictable, Spotrac has projected market value’s for a few of the Dolphins free agents.
Here’s what deals might look like for some members of the aqua and orange hitting free agency in just a few weeks.
A look at Miami’s cornerbacks, and the year they had in 2023.
The Miami Dolphins finished their 2023 campaign with an 11-6 record and made the postseason for the second time in as many years under head coach Mike McDaniel. Unfortunately, it came to an end with a loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the wild-card round.
While other teams are in the midst of their playoff run, it’s time to do some reflecting on the team in South Florida.
Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be reviewing and evaluating different positions for the Dolphins in 2023. Today, we’ll look at the cornerbacks.
The Miami Dolphins entered Saturday night’s contest against the Kansas City Chiefs down a cornerback, as Xavien Howard has been dealing with a foot injury for a bit now.
Unfortunately, before the first quarter of the playoff matchup ended, Miami lost another, as Eli Apple suffered an injury and was helped off the field by the training staff.
With Howard out and rookie Cam Smith a healthy scratch, the Dolphins are forced to play undrafted rookie Ethan Bonner opposite Jalen Ramsey.
#Bills at #Dolphins: Key matchups to watch in Week 18:
The Buffalo Bills will visit the Miami Dolphins in their upcoming Week 18 matchup at Hard Rock Stadium.
The two teams have been rigorously preparing for the contest throughout the past week. Buffalo (10-6) and Miami (11-5) will think they know their upcoming opponent, inside and out, after all the practicing and studying they have put in.
Because of that, despite all the off-field talking, speculation and discussion, it will still be the games, within the game, that will make all the difference when it comes to the final outcome of this upcoming weekend.
With that, here are three key matchups to watch during Sunday’s Bills-Dolphins contest:
Some nuggets heading into this pivotal Week 18 matchup.
Following a brutal loss to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, the Miami Dolphins are still in a position to claim the AFC East, which comes with the No. 2 seed, a home playoff game and potentially more.
The hated Buffalo Bills have had their own rollercoaster of a season and find themselves in win-and-in playoff situations while a loss could even leave them on the outskirts of the postseason.
While this game may not be for the faint of heart, perhaps the stakes could’ve been avoided if Miami was able to lock one or two more wins up over the course of the season. However, the Dolphins sit at 11-5 and aim to lock up their first divisional title since 2008. They were crowned division winners then on the very last game of the season, beating the New York Jets on the road.
The last time the Miami and Buffalo franchises played for the AFC East title on the last game of the season was December 19, 1981.
Here are some more news, notes and nuggets for Sunday’s game:
Who deserves credit, and who deserves criticism for their performances?
The Miami Dolphins were handed their fifth loss of the season on Sunday, as they were defeated by the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.
Mike McDaniel’s team struggled to play their best ball on offense and defense, as they allowed Lamar Jackson and company to dominate them up and down the field. And, on offense, they were unable to get anything going in the passing game, as they turned the ball over three times.
As we do after every game, let’s take a look at some of those who deserve credit and some who deserve criticism. for their performances against the Ravens.
With a Week 5 matchup between the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins on tap, we go behind enemy lines for a chat with Dolphins Wire.
The New York Giants (1-3) and Miami Dolphins (3-1) will square off on Sunday afternoon in a Week 5 matchup at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
The Giants opened the week as 10.5-point road underdogs but that spread has only gotten worse. They are +12.5 as of this writing.
With this matchup on tap, Giants Wire took the opportunity to hold a Q&A with Dolphins Wire managing editor Mike Masala.
