In a surprising turn of events, the Miami Dolphins have decided to release cornerback Nik Needham, marking the end of a noteworthy chapter for one of the team’s most inspiring undrafted stories. Needham, who defied expectations by securing a spot on the Dolphins’ roster in 2019, has been let go as the team trims down to its final 53 players.
After successfully making the team as an undrafted free agent, Needham made an immediate impact in his rookie season, starting 11 games and recording two interceptions and a forced fumble. Despite injuries that sidelined him intermittently, he made strong comebacks, playing in all 16 games in 2020 and 17 games in 2021. However, injuries again limited his playtime to just six games in the recent seasons, though he did participate in 10 games in 2023 under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, albeit in a limited role.
Though 2023 was considered a recovery year for him, Needham found it challenging to secure significant playing time, leading to his release. Despite the setback, Needham is now a free agent and due to his versatility and proven skill set, he is well-positioned to attract interest from other NFL teams.
On the day he was released, Needham expressed his gratitude toward the Dolphins fans, tweeting, “Thankful For It All GL40CK.” His tweet reflects his resilience and readiness to embrace new opportunities in the league.
In his time with the Dolphins, Needham accumulated impressive stats including 199 combined tackles, of which 143 were solo, along with six interceptions, a forced fumble, and three sacks. His performance demonstrates his capability and potential value to other NFL teams.
As a vested veteran, Needham is not subject to the waiver process and is free to sign with any team. The decision to release him came after the preseason, where Needham was cross-trained as a safety along with Elijah Campbell, indicating that the competition for roster spots was intense.
Moving forward, it remains to be seen where Needham will land, but given his track record and the skill he brings to the table, it shouldn’t be long before he finds a new NFL home.