Our annual review of the Miami Dolphins’ soon-to-be free agents starts today as we get ready for the 2026 NFL league year. Miami has 35 players slotted to hit free agency this year – not including released players like wide receiver Tyreek Hill or guard James Daniels. Free agency begins on 13, with the Dolphins needing to make decisions on all of these players between now and then.
The start of our breakdown will be with cornerback Kader Kohou, who just finished his fourth season in the league. As we will do for each player in this series, we will take a look back at his 2025 season, envision his role with the team in 2026, and then provide our thoughts on if he should be re-signed, franchise tagged, or allowed to leave in free agency.
Due to changes in our editor, I am unable to add a poll as I have in previous years for this series. Instead, I will embed a post from X to allow you to vote and invite you to head into the comments to discuss.
Biography
Kader Khou
Position: Cornerback
Age (when season begins): 27
College: Texas A&M – Commerce
Draft: Undrafted in 2022, signed by the Miami Dolphins
Experience: 4 years
Previous Teams:
- Miami Dolphins (2022-2025)
Pro Bowl, All-Pro, Awards: None
Expiring Contract
1 year, $3.3 million
2025 Review
Kohou signed a one-year contract with Miami in April and looked in position to resume his role as a starter. In his first three years, he appeared in 47 games, starting 38 of them, including 13 starts as a rookie, and recorded 180 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, one sack, 28 passes defensed, and three interceptions. With Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller no longer with the team, Kohou was the one 2024 starting cornerback who was expected to be back with the Dolphins for 2025. During a July training camp practice, Kohou tore his ACL and missed the entire season.
2026 Outlook
Cornerbacks do not usually return as the same player they were in their first year back from an ACL tear, as they often question whether the knee is fully healed. The good news for Kohou is that the tear happened so early in training camp, he should be ready for a full build-up for the season. The market for Kohou may be lukewarm this offseason as teams wait to see if he has recovered. The Dolphins have to rebuild their cornerbacks group after last year’s injury-fest that decimated the depth chart. Kohou would likely immediately return to a starting role, likely slotting in as the nickel cornerback.
Walk, Tag, or Re-Sign?
Re-sign. Kohou should be relatively cheap to re-sign as he looks to prove he is fully recovered before cashing in on a bigger contract in 2027. Miami needs cornerbacks and they have one that they know and have spent time developing – albeit with a different coaching staff. Bringing back a younger player who has proven he can play at the NFL level would be the best move in this case.
What do you think Miami should do? Vote here and head to the comments to discuss: