The Miami Dolphins lost two key interior defenders early in free agency, as Christian Wilkins and Raekwon Davis signed with the Las Vegas Raiders and Indianapolis Colts respectively.To help fill the holes left by the departing veterans, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier and company signed a number of defensive linemen this offseason, including Benito Jones.
Today, we’re going to take a few minutes to share some key information that Dolphins fans should know about one of the newest pieces of their defense
for the upcoming year.
Previous stops
(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Jones, 26, played collegiately at Ole Miss before signing with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He spent two years with the team but was waived prior to the start of the 2022 season. He spent the last two years with the Detroit Lions.
He’s appeared in 40 games in his career, mostly with Detroit, recording 44 tackles (four for a loss), 10 quarterback hits, 2.5 sacks and two passes defensed.
PFF grades
(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Overall:
- 2020: 50.4
- 2022: 53.3
- 2023: 37.4
Run defense:
- 2020: 52.3
- 2022: 46.3
- 2023: 31.5
Tackling:
- 2020: 69.0
- 2022: 28.8
- 2023: 38.5
Pass-rush:
- 2020: 52.5
- 2022: 65.1
- 2023: 54.6
Praise from Dan Campbell
(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
At the annual league meetings this past week, Lions head coach Dan Campbell spoke about the loss of Jones and what Miami’s getting in him this time around.
“It’s funny, man, we get him from Miami and now he goes back to Miami,” Campbell said (transcribed by the Miami Herald). “You’re getting a better player, so I’m glad we could help and develop.
“Benito is an unbelievable guy, and I would say he came in and he really did improve from the time that we got him. He started for us. He grew so much from last year to even this year. And really, he earned it. I think there were a lot of people who didn’t think he would be the starter and he did start for us. He was the better player. He was steady. He was part of the reason why we had as good a run defense as we had. I’m excited for him. I wish him the best of luck and you got a good one.”
The Miami Dolphins lost two key interior defenders early in free agency, as Christian Wilkins and Raekwon Davis signed with the Las Vegas Raiders and Indianapolis Colts respectively.To help fill the holes left by the departing veterans, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier and company signed a number of defensive linemen this offseason, including Benito Jones.
Today, we’re going to take a few minutes to share some key information that Dolphins fans should know about one of the newest pieces of their defense
for the upcoming year.
Previous stops
(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Jones, 26, played collegiately at Ole Miss before signing with the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2020. He spent two years with the team but was waived prior to the start of the 2022 season. He spent the last two years with the Detroit Lions.
He’s appeared in 40 games in his career, mostly with Detroit, recording 44 tackles (four for a loss), 10 quarterback hits, 2.5 sacks and two passes defensed.
PFF grades
(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
Overall:
- 2020: 50.4
- 2022: 53.3
- 2023: 37.4
Run defense:
- 2020: 52.3
- 2022: 46.3
- 2023: 31.5
Tackling:
- 2020: 69.0
- 2022: 28.8
- 2023: 38.5
Pass-rush:
- 2020: 52.5
- 2022: 65.1
- 2023: 54.6
Praise from Dan Campbell
(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
At the annual league meetings this past week, Lions head coach Dan Campbell spoke about the loss of Jones and what Miami’s getting in him this time around.
“It’s funny, man, we get him from Miami and now he goes back to Miami,” Campbell said (transcribed by the Miami Herald). “You’re getting a better player, so I’m glad we could help and develop.
“Benito is an unbelievable guy, and I would say he came in and he really did improve from the time that we got him. He started for us. He grew so much from last year to even this year. And really, he earned it. I think there were a lot of people who didn’t think he would be the starter and he did start for us. He was the better player. He was steady. He was part of the reason why we had as good a run defense as we had. I’m excited for him. I wish him the best of luck and you got a good one.”