MIAMI GARDENS — Entering the 2025 season, the Miami Dolphins’ top two cornerbacks will be 30 years old.
Behind Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller, a youth movement will be needed at some point.
And while Miami has not yet seen returns on the investment of a second-round pick on Cam Smith over two seasons, one bit of help could come in the development of Storm Duck, an undrafted rookie in 2024 who stood out for more than just his unique name. He made the team and ended up playing plenty on defense.
In a secondary that saw Fuller and Smith miss significant time last season — and No. 3 cornerback Kader Kohou missed two games — Duck often emerged as a player who earned the trust of coaches to be inserted in high-leverage situations to play on the boundary in nickel packages when others were out.
“Consistency,” Duck said was the key, in an interview with the South Florida Sun Sentinel late last season. “Just trying to be the same person, same me each day on the field. Day to day, improving on something each day. So I take that into each game, improving on one thing each game.”
Duck played in 14 games in 2024, all on special teams and 11 in which he also received defensive snaps. He was afforded three starts, made 35 tackles and four pass deflections.
The Louisville product, who also played college football at North Carolina, steadily positioned himself ahead of veteran special teamer Siran Neal and 2023 undrafted free agent Ethan Bonner for cornerback reps. When both Duck and Smith were healthy, Smith momentarily crept up and over him on the depth chart, but Smith struggled in coverage and with penalties and had two separate injured reserve stints last season for hamstring and shoulder ailments.
“I think it’s just a testament to the kid and his consistency,” Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver said late in the season. “He has continued to develop all throughout camp and throughout the season and he’s just a guy that I think his teammates — and both teammates and coaches alike — trust. … In terms of the outside corner position, I think Storm has played his way into that role.”
The biggest thing Duck feels he can take with him from his rookie season to grow going into Year 2?
An understanding of everything else going on outside that boundary role.
“Really just learning more outside of corner,” he said. “Just knowing everything about (the rest of the defense), as far as safeties, their reads — obviously, I know where they’re going to be at — just their mindset on film and things of that nature. How they see things. Become the guy that sees things a lot quicker, a lot easier.”
Ramsey, 30, is signed with Miami through 2028 after he locked in his extension ahead of the past season. Fuller, who turns 30 Feb. 13, is on board for next year. Kohou is a restricted free agent after he, too, like Duck, made it in Miami as an undrafted rookie three seasons ago in 2022.
The Ramsey-Fuller veteran combination in the same cornerbacks room has been instrumental for Duck, though, as a pair of 2016 draft selections.
“It means a lot, honestly, just having those guys that have eight, nine, 10 years of experience,” he said. “They know what they’re doing, and they’ve been here that long for a reason. So, anytime I’ve got questions for them, they’ve been really receptive of it and helping me out. I couldn’t be more grateful for it.”
Miami could go the path of returning most of its cornerbacks unit, especially if Kohou is brought back.
With 10 draft picks in late April, it’s possible the team looks for another young addition for added competition for nickel and dime playing time.