MIAMI — James Daniels tore his pectoral muscle three snaps into the 2025 season. Just like that, Miami’s offensive line plans went up in smoke. Kion Smith got the initial nod, but by Week 3, the coaching staff pulled the plug. Enter Cole Strange. The former New England first-round pick, scraped off the Cleveland Browns’ practice squad in September, suddenly found himself protecting the interior for a franchise desperate for stability.
From Castoff to Trench Warrior
Strange didn’t just fill a gap; he absorbed the grueling grind of an NFL season. He started 14 games at guard for the Dolphins. He wasn’t an All-Pro, but he was available. Pro Football Focus handed him a 54.9 overall grade, slotting him 58th out of 81 qualified guards. He allowed occasional pressures, but he brought a nasty streak to a unit that desperately needed a pulse.
Now, the clock is ticking. The 2026 league year opens in just over a week. Miami has roughly 40 players hitting the open market. With Daniels officially cut in mid-February to save $6.5 million against the cap, and veterans like Liam Eichenberg and Daniel Brunskill packing their bags, the Dolphins’ guard room is effectively empty. Right now, the only internal options are Smith, Braeden Daniels, and Josh Priebe—all sitting on reserve/futures contracts.
“When your starting right guard goes down three plays into the year, panic usually sets in. Cole came in cold, learned the playbook on the fly, and battled every single Sunday. You respect a grinder.”
— Anonymous AFC East Pro Scout
The Financial Breakdown
New general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley have a massive puzzle to solve. Strange played the 2025 campaign on a dirt-cheap one-year, $1.1 million deal. Spotrac currently projects his 2026 market value at a modest $1.5 million annually. For a lineman with 14 recent starts under his belt, that is loose change.
Miami cannot bank on Strange as a locked-in Day 1 starter. The film shows too many inconsistencies in pass protection. However, NFL offensive lines survive on depth. The front office will likely scour the open market for heavy hitters.
Potential free-agent targets include:
- Zion Johnson
- David Edwards
- Dylan Parham
- Daniel Faalele
- Ed Ingram
If they miss out on the top tier, retaining Strange becomes a no-brainer. Bring him back on a low-risk, one-year contract. Let him compete in camp. Worst-case scenario, you secure a battle-tested backup who already knows the building.
Free Agency Implications / What’s Next
Miami’s entire offensive identity hinges on these next few weeks. If Sullivan and Hafley strike out on premium targets, the pressure shifts entirely to the 2026 NFL Draft. Re-signing Strange offers a cheap insurance policy. It prevents the front office from reaching for a desperate fix in the middle rounds. The Dolphins need bodies in the trenches, and letting a capable, affordable veteran walk away during a massive roster turnover is simply bad business.