Miami Dolphins re-sign linebackers Elandon Roberts and Duke Riley

The Miami Dolphins made moves Tuesday to address the team’s depleted linebacking corp by re-signing Elandon Roberts and Duke Riley.

Roberts, a starter and captain for the Dolphins the past two years, received a one-year deal worth $3.25 million, according to his agent Drew Rosenhaus. It’s a $1,250,000 raise from what Roberts made last season.

Riley, who emerged as a starter late last season, getting included in key packages in the second-half of the season, signed a one-year deal worth $3 million, according Rosenhaus.

Roberts worked his way back from a torn ACL he suffered in November of 2020, and contributed a career-high 83 tackles in 17 games. The hard-hitting inside linebacker also contributed a sack, two forced fumbles and a pick-six interception in Miami’s overtime loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.

Riley, who contributed 26 tackles in the 16 games he played in 2021, has started 27 of the 73 games he’s played in the NFL.

Riley, a New Orleans native who is engaged and having a child with social media influencer Julieanna “Yes Julz” Goddard, has turned South Florida into his home, so remaining with the Dolphins was a priority.

Jerome Baker, who worked as both an inside and outside linebacker last season, and has been the team’s leading tackler for the past three seasons, Andrew Van Ginkel, a starter for the past two years, Calvin Munson, Darius Hodge, Roberts and Riley are the only linebackers under contract as of Tuesday.

Vince Biegel, a starter in 2019, Sam Eguavoen, a starter in 2019, and Brennan Scarlett, who started four games last season, are all unrestricted free agents. It’s possible that a couple of these linebackers will be re-signed, like Roberts and Riley were later this week, or at some point before the offseason program opens in April.

But it is also possible that Miami could look for upgrade at that position by signing former Seahawks Pro Bowler Bobby Wagner, who the team has expressed interest in, or addressing the linebacker position in the 2022 NFL draft by selecting someone with one of the team’s earlier draft picks.

Linebacker and offensive tackle remain Miami’s biggest positions of need this offseason based on the moves Miami made in the first two days of the legal tampering period. So far Miami has re-signing defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah, Roberts and Riley, and agreeing to contracts with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, tailback Chase Edmonds, receiver Cedric Wilson Jr., offensive guard Connor Williams and cornerback Keion Crossen.

The Dolphins also need to address the team’s tight end position despite the fact Mike Gesicki signed his franchise tag. Durham Smythe, who has started 41 games as the team’s in-line tight end, remains a free agent. And in Miami’s new run-heavy offensive scheme that position is important.

If Smythe isn’t re-signed, or another tight end isn’t added in free agency the Dolphins would be reliant on Adam Shaheen, Hunter Long, a 2021 third-round pick, and Cethan Carter to fill that role.

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