The Miami Dolphins enter a season with real questions about progression and leadership, as Mike McDaniel faces serious pressure after back-to-back campaigns that failed to meet expectations and left them outside the playoff picture. Internal chatter has intensified around McDaniel’s job security, setting a high-stakes backdrop for 2025.

Miami’s Monday move to host Matthew Judon for a visit underscores a concrete effort to bolster the pass rush. The veteran edge rusher reportedly wants to explore a fit with the Dolphins, and both sides appear motivated to hammer out a deal, signaling a tangible upgrade to a defense that needs more disruption at the quarterback.

Judon’s potential addition comes with the caveat of roster health and fit. McDaniel dismissed the notion that the visit is tied to imminent injuries, stressing it’s about evaluating a potential match. If the deal lands, Judon could immediately impact the pass rush, helping McDaniel’s defense hold up against elite offenses.

Two positives emerge: no long-term LB injuries reported, and Judon’s interest appears genuine. A successful signing could elevate Miami’s ceiling this season and shape fantasy and betting outlooks, making Judon a compelling name to monitor as camp unfolds.

Matthew Judon joined the Miami Dolphins on a one-year deal worth up to 6 million, visiting the facility Monday as Miami eyes a beefed-up edge rush. The move comes without tying Judon to any injury concerns around Jaelan Phillips, Chop Robinson or Bradley Chubb, signaling a merger of veteran presence with the team’s growing depth.

Judon, 33, posted 5.5 sacks last season after returning from a torn biceps that sidelined him in 2023, and sits at 72 career sacks across nine seasons. Miami languished at 27th in sacks last year (35) with Robinson and Sieler chipping in; Chubb missed all of 2024 and Phillips four games. The addition pairs a proven, thrifty pass-rush option with a room that already flashed in preseason, including Grayson Murphy and Derrick McLendon.

The signing underscores a concerted effort to stabilize a defense that has been outpaced by growing offensive lines. For fantasy managers, Judon’s presence could unlock more favorable matchups for Miami’s other edge players, depending on how the rotation shakes out and how quickly Judon adapts to the Dolphins’ scheme.

Matthew Judon signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins, adding veteran edge presence to a room led by Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips and Chop Robinson. The move expands the team’s pass-rush depth and provides a versatile rush option for situational snaps as camp competition continues.

Judon, 33, is coming off a 5.5-sack season with Atlanta after returning from a torn biceps. He has 72 career sacks and four Pro Bowls on his resume, offering a proven toolkit for pressuring tackles and quarterbacks. The signing signals Miami’s commitment to shoring up sacks after finishing 27th last year, while the health and utilization of the top trio will shape Judon’s role.

Depth behind the core trio includes Grayson Murphy and Derrick McLendon, who flashed in the preseason. The Dolphins’ approach hinges on rotations that keep pass-rush fresh, with Judon providing a veteran presence and a potential high-impact addition if he stays healthy and productive in this tailored one-year pact.

Matt Judon is Miami-bound on a one-year deal worth up to 6 million, a move that instantly upgrades the Dolphins’ edge presence. The veteran passer rusher arrives after spending 2024 with Atlanta following a Patriots trade, bringing a career of 4 Pro Bowls and a recent track record of productive seasons. In 2024, Judon logged 41 tackles, 5.5 sacks, five passes defensed, and an interception across 17 games, the Falcons showcasing his continued ability to pressure the quarterback. His signing comes as Miami’s pass rush has battled health concerns, with Jaelan Phillips damaged by injuries in 2023 and 2024 and Chubb missing 2024 with an ACL tear, while Chop Robinson and Arnold Ebiketie were part of the depth chart.

Miami’s interest, clarified by coach Mike McDaniel, isn’t out of concern for the current top rushers but a fit for both sides. Judon’s presence should lift a room that has struggled to stay healthy, potentially lifting the unit and creating favorable matchups for the Dolphins’ younger talents. From a fantasy angle, Judon’s impact is as much about stabilizing pressure as it is about personal production, with the one-year deal signaling a bounce-back opportunity that could yield meaningful sack totals, especially as he benefits from a seasoned ecosystem around him.

Matthew Judon is poised to rejoin the NFL in 2025 with the Miami Dolphins, a move that could reshape the AFC East’s dynamic as the season approaches. The deal, expected to be finalized after meetings on Monday, would place a veteran edge presence into a Miami unit that ranked near the bottom of the league in sacks last season. Judon carries a nine-year résumé that features 72 career sacks and 410 tackles across stints with Baltimore, New England, and Atlanta, making him a plug-and-play upgrade for the Dolphins’ pass rush.

Judon was a Ravens draftee who earned two Pro Bowls before a 2021 move to New England, where he added two more Pro Bowls over three seasons. Last year he suited up for Atlanta, but the Dolphins’ need for a disruptive rusher remained clear as they push to improve a unit that finished with just 35 sacks in 2024, the sixth-lowest total in the NFL. If the signing goes through, Miami opens the 2025 campaign on Sept. 7 against the Indianapolis Colts with a markedly improved edge presence and a clearer path to pressuring quarterbacks in a stacked division.

Beyond the immediate on-field impact, fantasy managers will be watching how Judon’s arrival shifts the Dolphins’ defensive production and which teammates stand to benefit from increased pressure and better opportunities in coverage. The addition signals a proactive approach to stabilizing a defense under pressure and could lift the Dolphins’ Week-to-week defensive fantasy profiles as the season unfolds.