Ex-Bills Cornerback Turned Down Offer to Sign With Division Rival

Former Buffalo Bills cornerback Rasul Douglas remains without an NFL home after turning down the chance to sign with a division rival.

Douglas started 15 games for the Bills last season and had been a fixture in the secondary since joining the team at the 2023 NFL trade deadline, but hit free agency this offseason after the team chose not to re-sign him. Douglas reportedly had an offer from the Miami Dolphins this week, but turned it down to remain a free agent.

Rasul Douglas Tells Dolphins No for Now

Insider Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reported that the Dolphins had interest in Douglas and even extended a contract offer, but the veteran cornerback turned it down. Jackson added that the two sides could still have time to reach a deal, but there won’t be a signing anytime in the immediate future.

“The Dolphins have maintained contact with Bills free agent cornerback Rasul Douglas, who rejected a Miami offer in May,” Jackson reported. “He remains a possibility.”

Others see Douglas as a good fit for the Dolphins, especially amid the uncertainty over Jalen Ramsey’s future in South Beach. Mason Cameron of Pro Football Focus predicted that the Dolphins would sign Douglas, giving the team a trusted cornerback who could potentially replace Ramsey.

“Rumors of a Jalen Ramsey trade this summer create a dire need for starting-caliber cornerbacks in Miami. While the sample is small, the Dolphins posted just a 53.6 PFF coverage grade without Ramsey on the field in 2024,” Cameron wrote.

Douglas added that Douglas would be a good fit for the defensive scheme in Miami.

“Rasul Douglas may be a name to target in Miami’s Cover 2-heavy scheme (19.7%, third in NFL), a coverage he excelled in last season, having earned a 74.4 PFF coverage grade,” Cameron wrote.

Bills Left Door Open for Rasul Douglas to Return

The Bills could still have a place for Douglas in their secondary. Reporter Alex Brasky noted in April that Bills general manager Brandon Beane said specifically that the team would be open to a new contract, though there have been no talks on a deal yet.

“Brandon Beane says the #Bills have not closed the door on bringing back CB Rasul Douglas or WR Amari Cooper,” reporter Alex Brasky shared in a post on X.

The Bills have made some big additions to their secondary, using a first-round pick on Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston and re-signing a pair of veterans who spent significant time in Buffalo, cornerbacks Dane Jackson and Tre’Davious White.

Though White has lost a step after suffering two major injuries over the course of three seasons, he is still highly valued by the team’s coaching staff and could serve as a mentor in the coming season. White said he knows the pressure of being a new cornerback in the NFL, especially the expectations that come with being a first-round pick like Hairston.

“I just remember being in that similar position,” White said. “Being a young corner in this league, it’s a lot of pressure.”