The Miami Dolphins should part ways with Eric Rowe

Emergence of Jevon Holland and Brandon Jones

The thing that makes Eric Rowe the most expendable is the emergence of the young safeties on the Dolphins defense. Rookie Jevon Holland and second year man Brandon Jones all but solidified themselves as the safety tandem of the future with their breakout seasons in 2021, so much so that Rowe’s snap count diminished as the year wore on.

During his first two seasons in Miami, Rowe played 93 percent of all defensive snaps, and was one of the most consistent performers in the secondary. He fell out of favor as the Dolphins shifted defensive schemes, and failed to eclipse a 50 percent snap count in any of the final three games of the season. Rowe was in on just 16 snaps in the team’s season-changing loss against the Tennessee Titans. In the final game against the Patriots, just 14. If he fell out of favor in a Flores-run defense, then he likely won’t fit in the plans of the new head coach.

Holland and Jones still have plenty to prove and shoes to fill when it comes to matching Rowe’s skill set. The latter was brought in in 2019 to be able to match up with tight ends and bigger wide receivers, and the young duo will have to show that they are able to do the same.