NFL News: Mike McDaniel, Dolphins bring back familiar face for Tua Tagovailoa ahead of 2025 season

The Miami Dolphins have made it abundantly clear that they believe Mike McDaniel and Tua Tagovailoa are the right leaders for the team. Still, it’s safe to say that both will be under the microscope in the 2025 NFL season.

After a disappointing year where they ended up watching the playoffs from home, McDaniel and Tagovailoa must turn things around. Fortunately, they’ll be counting on familiar faces to try and reach new heights.

The NFL’s transaction report for Friday shows that cornerback Kader Kohou signed his exclusive rights tender with the Dolphins, which secures his return to Miami for at least the 2025 season.

Kader Kohou earns another year with McDaniel, Tua in Miami

Kohou, 26, was tendered by the Dolphins in March. Now he’s officially coming back to spend another season with McDaniel and Tagovailoa on a one-year deal worth up to $3.263 million.

From left, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle #17, cornerback Kader Kohou #4, wide receiver Robbie Chosen #3, and quarterback Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins walk onto the field before a preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons at Hard Rock Stadium on August 11, 2023 in Miami Gardens, Florida.

An undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M–Commerce in 2022, Kohou has so far spent all his three NFL seasons in South Florida. He’s become a valuable member of the Fins’ secondary, with 40 starts in 49 appearances, including regular season and playoff games.

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Kohou heads into his fourth year in the league with 180 tackles, three interceptions, a sack, 28 passes defended, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries under his belt.

Last season, he recorded 45 tackles, two interceptions, eight pass deflections, forced two fumbles, and recovered one fumble. His two picks were tied with star Jalen Ramsey for second-most on McDaniel’s team.

McDaniel thinks highly of the cornerback

“He’s a prime example of a guy that had the intangibles to do what very few guys do and that’s contribute as an undrafted rookie,” McDaniel said of Kohou in December, via the Miami Herald. “And with that, he kind of settled in on some expectations and with changes in the system and some injury stuff, he hasn’t always been satisfied with where he was at and he kept fighting.

“… When he’s playing well, he’s a coverage player that stops the ball in space like a linebacker. He has instincts and the toughness and just really the football awareness to do things in the run and pass game and nickel defense that is of primary importance.”

While this move will not directly impact Tagovailoa’s unit, a strong defense always helps the offense do their job. Kohou has proven useful in Miami, which is why his re-signing is great news for McDaniel. Regardless, the Fins could still add at cornerback this offseason, especially during the 2025 NFL Draft.