Will the Miami Dolphins bring back linebacker Duke Riley in 2025?
We continue to work our way through the 32 players scheduled to become free agents for the Miami Dolphins in 2025. This closer look at each player looks at their biographical information, the contract that is expiring, how they played in 2024, and what we could expect from them in 2025. Finally, we break down whether the Dolphins should re-sign the player, use the franchise or transition tag on him, or let him leave in free agency.
The start of the NFL’s free agency period is on March 12 at 4 p.m. Eastern. Between now and then the Dolphins have to decide what they want to do with each player. Now is your chance to give us what you think the team should do. At the end of the article, there will be a poll so you can weigh in. You can also head to the comments to discuss what you think Miami will do.
We also have links to the previous breakdowns, in case you missed one. Today is the seventh of these articles, allowing us to transition the list of previous “Walk, Tag, or Re-Sign” articles into just the last five articles. You can also click through to see older editions.
We spent the last two articles looking at players on the offensive side of the ball. Today, we turn back to the defense to take a look at a player who just always seems to be a depth option on Miami’s roster – linebacker Duke Riley.
Last five free agent reviews:
Biography
Duke Riley
Position: Linebacker
Age (when season begins): 31
Draft: 2017 third-round pick (75th overall) by the Atlanta Falcons
Experience: 8 years
Previous Teams:
- Atlanta Falcons (2017-2019)
- Philadelphia Eagles (2019-2020)
- Miami Dolphins (2021-2024)
Pro Bowls/All-Pro: None
Expiring Contract
2 years, $5 million
2024 Review
17 games played (2 starts)
11 tackles
Riley is the quintessential depth linebacker. He can be asked to rotate into games when needed, is solid as a starting option if there is an injury, and is a good special teams player. He only played 42 defense snaps this season, but added 371 special teams plays. The previous three years with the Dolphins, he played 227, 386, and 392 defensive snaps, a major drop in playing time on defense this year. The Dolphins moved around linebackers in 2024, including waiving David Long, Jr., during the season and moving Anthony Walker into the starting lineup and adding Tyrel Dodson off a wavier claimed. All that movement did not turn into playing time for Riley.
2025 Outlook
Riley’s 2025 season is likely in a role similar to his previous seasons – a depth linebacker who plays special teams and rotates into the lineup when needed. The lack of playing time in 2024 could signal Riley having lost a step and starting to move closer to retirement, or it could be a sign that he does not fit the system run by defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver in his first year with Miami. There should be interest in Riley as a depth option, though if he has slowed, he could find himself among the roster cuts at the end of the preseason.
Walk, Tag, Re-Sign?
Projected tag value (Linebackers): $27.1 million (franchise); $22.6million (transition) (via OvertheCap.com)
Walk. The Dolphins need depth linebackers and special teams players, but the lack of playing time from Riley during a year when the Dolphins were searching for linebacker play just makes it seem like his time in Miami is coming to an end. Whether it is scheme fit or age, Riley may be best off looking for a role with another team in 2025.
