On Saturday, the Miami Dolphins bolstered their defense by signing free-agent cornerbacks Jack Jones and Mike Hilton, following Artie Burns’ ACL injury. The Dolphins officially announced Jones’ signing, while Hilton’s agents, Drew Rosenhaus and Robert Bailey, confirmed to ESPN’s Adam Schefter that their clients agreed to one-year deals with Miami.
Jones, who started 16 games for the Las Vegas Raiders last season, was released by the team on April 7th after failed trade attempts. Hilton became a free agent after finishing a four-year, $24 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, with $6 million of that expiring after the 2024 season.
The Dolphins needed cornerback reinforcements after Burns suffered an ACL tear on the first day of training camp, according to sources close to Schefter. Burns has been placed on season-ending injured reserve, though the exact nature of his injuries wasn’t fully disclosed. Additionally, undrafted rookie cornerback BJ Adams was injured during a team practice on Saturday and had to be helped off the field.
Miami is in the process of replacing both of their preseason starting cornerbacks after they released Kendall Fuller and traded Jalen Ramsey this offseason. Jones will compete with Cam Smith, Ethan Bonner, Storm Duck, Kendall Sheffield, and others for two available roster spots. Head coach Mike McDaniel expressed confidence in the current cornerback group but emphasized their ongoing efforts to improve. The team also signed veteran Cornell Armstrong this week, releasing Ryan Cooper Jr. in a roster move tied to Jones’ arrival.
Jones played 24 games for the Raiders in 2023. That year marked career highs for him in tackles (69), passes defended (16), and interceptions (3), but he also conceded 698 yards on 88 targets, nine touchdowns, and a passer rating of 108.9 when targeted. At 27, Jones was a fourth-round pick by the New England Patriots in the 2022 draft and has seven interceptions, 27 passes defended, and 136 tackles across 42 games (21 starts) in his three NFL seasons. Notably, he was benched by New England in 2023 after breaking curfew and released shortly after before the Raiders picked him up.
Hilton, 31, spent his entire career in the AFC North—four years with the Pittsburgh Steelers and four with the Bengals. Last season, Hilton started 10 of 16 games, recording one interception and five pass deflections. The Ole Miss product was a key defensive player for Cincinnati during difficult stretches in 2024, contributing to a five-game winning streak that helped the Bengals finish 9-8, though they missed the playoffs again. His snap count fell last season, particularly on third downs, playing in 66.3% of defensive snaps—the lowest since he joined Cincinnati in 2021. Overall, Hilton has 13 interceptions, 56 passes defended, and 520 tackles in his career.
Report contributions by Marcel Louis-Jacques, Ryan McFadden, and Ben Baby of ESPN.
Fan Take: This move is crucial for the Dolphins as they rebuild their cornerback lineup after losing key players to injuries and trades. For NFL fans, it’s an exciting opportunity to see how Jones and Hilton can rejuvenate Miami’s secondary and impact the team’s defensive strength throughout the season.
