Dolphins signing versatile veteran defender with starting experience
Even as the Miami Dolphins are starting to shift their focus to the NFL draft in a month, they’re still finding veteran pick-ups several weeks into free agency. The Dolphins are signing versatile veteran defender Ronnie Harrison, according to a league source Wednesday afternoon. Harrison has played eight NFL seasons, appearing in 94 games and starting 52.
He started off as a safety, playing defensive back for most of his professional career but has recently been in the box more as a linebacker. He is listed at 6 feet 3, 214 pounds. Harrison, who turns 29 on April 18, is a Tallahassee native who was a third-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2018 out of Alabama.
Between time with the Jaguars, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts and last year with the Atlanta Falcons, Harrison has 274 career tackles, 8 ½ sacks, seven interceptions, two of them returned for touchdowns and two fumble recoveries. He has given up a passer rating of 81. 6 when targeted over his career.
Harrison is coming off a season in Atlanta where he appeared in 10 games, started four, made 29 tackles and had two sacks. He mostly played inside linebacker for the Falcons. Throughout his career, he has been a strong special teams contributor.
At linebacker, Harrison can be a valuable depth piece behind a group led by Jordyn Brooks, last year’s NFL leader in tackles. Tyrel Dodson is also expected to start, and Harrison can compete with Willie Gay Jr. to vie for snaps defensively.