Miami Dolphins: 4 most important non-starters for 2022

Miami Dolphins important non-starter: Nik Needham

Nik Needham is one of the more underrated pieces of the Dolphins’ defense and has been for some time. After signing as an undrafted free agent in 2019, the cornerback out of UTEP quickly made a name for himself.

Needham was a member of a defense that was shuffling in and out new parts weekly as they attempted to both evaluate talent and win football games (supposedly), and he stood out as one of the best among them. He was a part of 66 percent of the defensive snaps in 2019, the third-most of any player on the roster, slightly more than a fellow rookie and first-round pick Christian Wilkins.

He has been a steady part of Miami’s secondary rotation ever since and should continue to be so. Needham is currently listed as the 3rd cornerback on the depth chart, and could even start a few games depending on which defensive set the Dolphins come out in. But he will become ultra-important if either Xavien Howard or Byron Jones happens to miss time, something that could become more of a possibility as the duo advances in age.