Tyrel Dodson

Career StatsB-

Year	Team	GP	Tkl	Sacks	INT
Career		92	379	11.5	4
2025		16	129	5.0	1
2024		17	107	2.0	3
2023		17

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Miami struck gold with Tyrel Dodson, landing a B+ CVI deal that represents exceptional value in today's inflated linebacker market. At just $3.1M AAV, the Dolphins are getting solid starter production at a fraction of what similar-caliber linebackers command — this is the kind of shrewd move that separates well-run organizations from the pack. Dodson's two-year commitment gives Miami flexibility while the modest $2.6M guarantee minimizes downside risk, creating a low-risk, high-reward scenario that should have other front offices taking notes. The contract structure is particularly savvy, avoiding the bloated middle-tier deals that often handcuff teams while securing a proven contributor who can anchor their linebacker corps. This signing exemplifies smart roster building — finding productive players before the market catches up to their value, and Miami just added a key defensive piece without breaking the bank.

Performance Analysis

Tyrel Dodson is a sixth-year linebacker who carved out his NFL footing as an undrafted free agent and has steadily built himself into a legitimate every-down contributor, earning a B- performance grade this season for the Miami Dolphins. After a rocky C- campaign in 2023, Dodson has demonstrated clear upward momentum, improving to a B- in 2024 before posting a B+ grade through his most recent stretch of play — a trajectory that speaks to a player who has figured out his role and is thriving within it. At 27, he sits comfortably in the prime window for inside linebackers, and his development arc mirrors players like Oren Burks and Myles Jack — undrafted or late-round talents who took several seasons to find their footing before emerging as reliable starters. The most striking element of Dodson's current season is his tackling volume, where he's logging 8.06 tackles per game against an NFL average of 3.80 and an elite benchmark of 7.69 — a figure that places him among the most prolific tacklers at the position leaguewide. His pass-rushing presence has also been a quiet revelation, generating 0.31 sacks per game compared to the league average of 0.23, flashing a disruptive quality rarely expected from a coverage linebacker. Where Dodson still has room to grow is in pass defense, recording just 0.19 pass breakups per game against a 0.20 league average and an elite threshold of 0.50 — a gap that exposes him in coverage assignments against quicker tight ends and slot receivers, which remains the primary concern heading into the offseason evaluation. With his grades trending sharply upward and his tackling metrics sitting at a genuinely elite level, Dodson has the foundation to push toward a B+ or A- grade if he can meaningfully improve his coverage numbers in 2025. The Dolphins will need to decide whether his defensive value as a box thumper outweighs the liability he can present in man coverage, or whether a schematic adjustment can hide that weakness while maximizing his strengths. If the development curve continues, a multi-year contract extension conversation in Miami is not far off.

Current Sentiment

Tyrel Dodson enters the 2026 season as a depth linebacker whose public perception is defined by a genuinely mixed narrative rather than a clear upward or downward trajectory. His highlight-reel interception generated significant positive buzz and demonstrated the playmaking ability that keeps him on NFL rosters, while his willingness to step up and make a critical defensive call during a headset malfunction earned him quiet respect among football insiders. However, prominent media voices have openly called for the Dolphins to upgrade the linebacker position and move on from Dodson, signaling that his roster security is far from guaranteed heading into the new year. A concussion protocol appearance late in the season added a layer of health uncertainty that further complicates his standing with the organization and prospective suitors. On balance, Dodson is perceived as a serviceable but replaceable piece — a player whose ceiling appears to be a rotational contributor rather than a cornerstone of Miami's defensive identity.