INDIANAPOLIS — When Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier called cornerback Cam Smith at 8:30 a.m. a few weeks back, possibly wondering whether the player who came off an underwhelming rookie season was even awake, he was pleased to find out Smith was in the middle of a workout session.
Smith, who has talent and measurables, has also been questioned for his work ethic dating back to when he was Miami’s first draft selection in 2023, a second-round pick.
Whether Grier was genuinely surprised or not that Smith was up early, it was an anecdote he found noteworthy enough to mention about Smith when speaking to a select group of South Florida media members attending the NFL scouting combine this week in Indianapolis.
The Dolphins have coaches and scouts interviewing 2024 draft prospects and analyzing how they test at the combine. They could even be eyeing cornerbacks in the draft, especially with four-time Pro Bowl veteran Xavien Howard set to be released, with a post-June 1 designation, after the league year turns over March 13.
But let’s not forget the Dolphins, after already trading for elite cornerback Jalen Ramsey earlier last offseason, made the somewhat controversial decision to also select a cornerback with their first draft choice last April.
Then, even as opportunities arose, Smith remained buried on the depth chart as a rookie under the rule of ex-defensive coordinator Vic Fangio. He played just 20 defensive snaps, least among all rookies selected in either of the first two rounds.
But out with Fangio and in with new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, who is expected to relate to today’s players better and take more initiative in developing young talent than maybe the 65-year-old Fangio desired to last year in Miami. It seemed telling when Smith posted an emoji of an unlocked lock on X after Fangio’s departure to seemingly indicate he was free.
There is still a belief in the Dolphins organization they can get Smith on the right track.
“I think we’re very excited about Cam,” Grier said this week. “At the end of the day, learning Vic’s system early, if you look at his history of guys with young players, it takes a little bit. He worked hard and, by the end of the season, we were really excited about it. Talking to Jalen Ramsey the other day, he was saying how he loves Cam’s game and thinks he’s going to be a good player. So no, we’re very strong in our belief in him.”
Many wondered from the start where Smith fit as Miami hoped Ramsey and Howard would form a top cornerback combo in 2023. Along with that, Kader Kohou was believed to take another stride from a strong rookie campaign and be the nickel corner.
Then, Smith had a formidable training camp as Ramsey suffered a knee injury that kept him out about halfway into the regular season. Howard also missed time. Kohou took a step back with his play. Nik Needham was still rehabbing his 2022 Achilles injury.
Through all of it, Smith wasn’t finding the field. Cornerbacks to play more than Smith’s 20 snaps included veteran Eli Apple (547), who was signed in camp after Ramsey’s injury, special teamer Justin Bethel (124), Parry Nickerson (84), Needham (71).
Even Kelvin Joseph, whom the Dolphins got in return for shipping Noah Igbinoghene away to the Cowboys, had 21 snaps on defense — one more than Smith — before he was waived Nov. 14. And, if you include Miami’s playoff game against the Kansas City Chiefs when Smith was a healthy inactive, undrafted rookie cornerback Ethan Bonner got to 22 with his 11 defensive snaps in the postseason.
Fangio’s stance was clear last season when he was asked about what Smith needed to improve on during the season. He listed just about everything: “Just improve in all areas — assignment, technique, execution, know-how.”
Grier is much more optimistic early this offseason.
“I think last year, there were a couple things,” Grier said. “He got banged-up a couple times but contributed on special teams, did some good things.
“He’s attacking the offseason, so we’re all very excited to see him with an opportunity to play.”
Smith sounded like he would take an eager approach into his first full professional offseason.
“I feel like mental and physical,” Smith told the Sun Sentinel toward the end of his rookie season. “I want to get bigger just so I can compete at a high level and make sure I can sustain the whole 17 weeks and then plus the playoffs. Just kind of making sure that those things stay on track and stay on top of that.”
That said, his own improvements and a change in coach leading the defense with Howard presumably out of the picture still don’t guarantee Smith playing time in Year 2.
“He’s going to have to compete and earn it,” Grier said. “Kader is not going to give it up to him, so it will be good. Then obviously, we’ll be bringing in some other people here too.”
And the Dolphins general manager is still leaving the door open for a Howard return on the cheap, if the veteran chooses he’d rather not change scenery.
