We start our 2025 edition of the annual look at the Miami Dolphins’ soon-to-be free agents with cornerback Siran Neal.
We have reached the point where it is time to take a closer look at the Miami Dolphins’ 2025 soon-to-be free agents. Every year, we break down who is set to see their contract expire when the new league year begins and give you a chance to vote on whether the team should use the franchise or transition tag on the player, re-sign him to a new contract, or let him leave in free agency.
This year, free agency officially begins on March 12 at 4 p.m. Eastern, with the negotiating period – also known as the “legal tampering” period – starting two days earlier on March 10 at 12 p.m. Eastern. Seven weeks from today, teams can start working out contracts with players and start building the roster for the 2025 season. That also means the Dolphins have seven weeks to try to keep any of their own players who they do not want to allow to hit the open market.
The Dolphins have 32 players who are scheduled to hit free agency – though three are restricted free agents and three more are exclusive rights free agents. We begin working our way through the list today.
First up in our annual “Walk, Tag, Re-Sign” series is cornerback Siran Neal. We will break down his current contract, his 2024 season, and what we think could happen next year. Then you will have a chance to vote for what you think the Dolphins should do. And feel free to head to the comments to discuss Neal’s future with the team.
Biography
Siran Neal
Position: Cornerback
Age (when season begins): 31
Draft: 2018 fifth-round pick (154 overall) by Buffalo Bills
Experience: 7 years
Previous Teams:
- Buffalo Bills (2018-2023)
- Miami Dolphins (2024)
Pro Bowls/All-Pro: None
Expiring Contract
1-year, $1.95 million
2024 Review
17 games played
11 tackles
2 passes defensed
The Dolphins signed Neal at the start of free agency in 2024 after the Bills released him a week earlier. His defensive stats are not much, but that is not where he is of the most value to the team. Neal is a special teams player, a role he plays really well. He only played 58 defensive snaps for Miami in 2024, just six percent of the available plays, but he was in on 372 special teams snaps, or 84 percent of those plays. He had seven special teams tackles to go with the 11 defensive tackles this season. He played well when thrust into the defensive lineup due to injuries, providing a solid depth option if needed.
2025 Outlook
Neal’s role is pretty well defined in the NFL, working as a special teams ace and providing depth at cornerback, especially as a nickel option. That is what his role likely will be again in 2025, whether it is with the Dolphins or another team.
Walk, Tag, Re-Sign?
Projected tag value (Cornerback): $20.4 million (franchise); $17.2 million (transition) (via OvertheCap.com)
Re-sign. Neal is a solid depth player if needed, something that Miami proves each year is needed, and he is a very good special teams player. He is not going to be demanding a high-value contract, so he will not eat a large portion of the Dolphins’ already strapped salary cap situation.
