Miami Dolphins Training Camp Preview: DT Benito Jones

The Miami Dolphins will welcome several new faces to training camp in July, including a familiar one in defensive tackle Benito Jones. After playing his last two seasons in Detroit, Jones finds himself back in Miami Gardens.

An undrafted free agent rookie for the Dolphins in 2020, Jones was a practice squad player until October when he was called up to the full-time roster. He went from practice squad to active roster back and forth a number of occurrences as a rookie. He eventually was waived by Miami in August of 2022, then claimed by the Lions.

Jones is the latest player featured in our series examining players on the Dolphins’ roster heading into training camp. We look back at their 2023 season, how they joined the team, their contract status, and their outlook for 2024.

Height: 6-1
Weight: 335 lbs.
Exp.: 4 Years
School: Mississippi
How Acquired: Signed as an unrestricted free agent (from Detroit), 2024

Jones played in all 17 games for the Lions, starting 15. He played a bit more than half of the defensive snaps on the season with 567 (52%) as well as 124 on special teams (27%).

Mainly acting as a space-eater in the middle of the defensive line, Jones tailed 26 tackles, three for loss, with a sack and six quarterback hits. He also registered seven pressures and two hurries last season.

Jones was part of a Detroit team that was a few minutes away from a Super Bowl berth before losing against the San Fransisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. Jones saw roughly 20% or less of the snaps in Detroit’s three playoff games and recorded one tackle throughout the postseason.

Jones signed a 1 year, $1.79 million guaranteed contract that includes a $250,000 signing bonus. Jones will earn a base salary of $1.54 million and a signing bonus of $250,000, carrying a cap hit and dead cap value of $1.79 million (per Spotrac.com).

Jones will have a number of competitors on the defensive line this training camp, such as newcomers Teair Tart, Isaiah Mack, Jonathan Harris and Neville Gallimore. Da’Shawn Hand and Brandon Pili will return for the Dolphins to compete as well in July.

At 6-1 and 335 pounds, Jones has a solid build and center of gravity to play heavy snap counts as a nose tackle in new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s system.

Zach Sieler and free agent veteran addition Calais Campbell will be the top two players along the front line, while Jones will battle nearly half a dozen interior linemen for a spot on the 2024 Dolphins roster.

PREVIOUSLY IN THIS SERIES

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: RB De’Von Achane

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: RB Salvon Ahmed

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: T Terron Armstead

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: LB Shaquil Barrett

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: WR Odell Beckham Jr.

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: WR Braxton Berrios

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: CB Ethan Bonner

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: OL Aaron Brewer

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: RB Chris Brooks

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: LB Jordyn Brooks

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: DB Elijah Campbell

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: OLB Bradley Chubb

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: TE Tanner Conner

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: OL Lester Cotton

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: WR River Cracraft

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: OL Jack Driscoll

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: OL Liam Eichenberg

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: WR Erik Ezukanma

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: TE Jody Fortson

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: CB Kendall Fuller

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: DT Neville Gallimore

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: DT Da’Shawn Hand

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: DT Jonathan Harris

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: TE Julian Hill

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: S Jevon Holland

— Dolphins Training Camp Preview: FB Alec Ingold