Eric Rowe: one of the Miami Dolphins most valuable defenders
![MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JULY 31: Cornerback Eric Rowe #21 of the Miami Dolphins looks on during Training Camp at Baptist Health Training Complex on July 31, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JULY 31: Cornerback Eric Rowe #21 of the Miami Dolphins looks on during Training Camp at Baptist Health Training Complex on July 31, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fphinphanatic-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2018-2F08-2F1331784258-850x560-396796b40763abeca14cd4343398cff292cd48bb34631f8b1dac765d229761c5.jpg)
Rowe was then selected in the second round (#47 overall) of the 2015 NFL draft by the Philadelphia Eagles. He appeared in 10 games and started the final 5 games of the season at outside corner. He wasn’t dominant as a rookie, but also wasn’t a total liability. When Chip Kelly was fired towards the end of the 2015 season, Rowe became a victim of new head coach Doug Pederson and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz purging of the Philadelphia Eagle’s roster. He was traded to New England in exchange for a 2018 4th round selection.
In New England, Rowe stuck mostly at outside and slot corner and initially played quite well. Though for the 2017 and 2018 season Rowe battled a reoccurring groin injury that kept him off the field and a shadow of himself when he was on it. He spent the second half of 2018 on IR and when his contract ran up at the end of the season, he became a free agent.
This is where Rowe’s story in Miami begins. He signed a modest one year deal to come play for the Miami Dolphins and started out the year at outside corner. It wasn’t until week six of 2019 that Brian Flores chose to switch Rowe back to his primarily position in college (safety) and as they say, the rest is history. He showed an immediate skill for blanketing tight ends and earned himself a contract extension to stay in a Dolphins uniform until 2022.