Where the Dolphins can turn for cornerback help this offseason

There are two areas on the Dolphins defense that clearly could be upgraded: inside linebacker and cornerback.

With cornerback, it’s clear that a veteran is needed to supplement a group including Xavien Howard, Nik Needham and Kader Kohou.

Needham is a free agent coming off a torn Achilles’; the team has told him it wants to re-sign him. He believes he will be 100 percent by the end of July, but Achilles’ timetables can be tricky.

Keion Crossen (who recently had surgery), Noah Igbinoghene and Trill Williams (off a torn ACL) also remain under contract.

But they need another quality veteran, presuming they part ways with Byron Jones, whose contract is non-guaranteed but produces significant cap relief only if he’s cut after June 1.

“So many good pieces in that Dolphins front seven,” ESPN’s Louis Riddick said on Twitter. “Have to get secondary reinforcements for.. the new DC.”

Among the 60 or so cornerbacks who can become unrestricted free agents in March, here are the most prominent and the ones who logged the most snaps this season, and their final passer ratings against this season, courtesy of Pro Football Focus:

Baltimore’s Marcus Peters (113.5, five touchdowns allowed), the Saints’ Bradley Roby (79.4), Philadelphia’s James Bradberry (54.2, three interceptions), New England’s Jonathan Jones (77.1, 6 TDs, four interceptions), Dallas’ Anthony Brown (96.8, five touchdowns), the Chargers’ Bryce Callahan (102.8, five touchdowns, three interceptions)...

The Giants’ Fabian Moreau (106, five touchdowns), Pittsburgh’s Cameron Sutton (69.6, four touchdowns, three interceptions), the Rams’ Troy Hill (102.4, one interception, three touchdowns), Minnesota’s Patrick Peterson (77.3, five interceptions), Tampa Bay’s Jamel Dean (81.3, five touchdowns allowed and two interceptions)...

Cincinnati’s Eli Apple (103.7, four touchdowns), the Lions’ Mike Hughes (131.3, four touchdowns), Arizona’s Byron Murphy (105.5, four touchdowns), Las Vegas’ Rock Ya-Sin (82.5, one touchdown), Tampa’s Shawn Murphy-Bunting (94.6, five touchdowns), Dallas’ Trayvon Mullen (137.3) and Minnesota’s Chandra Sullivan (107.8), Arizona’s Antonio Hamilton (100), Tennessee’s Terrance Mitchell (104.1), Detroit’s Amani Oruwariye (130.6) and Jacksonville’s Tre Herndon (119.5).

It’s difficult to imagine the Patriots letting Jones slip away after losing J.C. Jackson to the Chargers.

Roby, Bradberry, Sutton and Dean would all help the Dolphins’ cornerback room, among others on that list.

But Dean would be costly; PFF ranks him the sixth best free agent overall in this class and says he’s in line for something similar to the three-year, $44.5 million contract that teammate Carlton Davis got from the Buccaneers.

Bradberry wouldn’t be cheap, but probably not quite as costly as Dean.

PFF rates him 16th among all free agents, noting Bradberry “is likely best as a No. 2 after years of proving himself as a reliable No. 1, but there should be a huge market for his services nonetheless, as he’s proven to be adaptable, reliable and available throughout his NFL career. This season marked his fourth consecutive campaign with 1,000-plus snaps.”

PFF has Pittsburgh’s Sutton 17th among all free agents, noting his “versatility as a defensive back who can still line up in the slot when called upon provides added value for interested teams, as well.”

Peterson, the former Pro Bowler who attended Blanche Ely in Pompano Beach, was the one Vikings cornerback who was very good this season, but he’s 32, and I would be surprised if Miami pursues a 30-plus cornerback. PFF rates him 18th among all free agents.

With Howard getting older and Needham coming off a Achilles, the Dolphins must spend the money on a solid veteran cornerback to complement Howard, Kohou and Needham (presuming he re-signs).

But if they spend a lot on a cornerback and inside linebacker, that would leave little to be spent on offense, which might be a necessary trade-off, though backup quarterback must be addressed.

Among Dolphins cornerbacks, here were the Dolphins passer ratings against this season: 116.1 against Needham (but only 16 throws against him before his injury), 114.6 against Howard, 98.1 against Crossen, 83.7 against Kohou and 77.1 against Igbinoghene (only 23 throws against him, with 11 completions, 2 TDs and an interception).

▪ Other positions: As far as starters, the Dolphins appear largely set on the defensive line (Emmanuel Ogbah, Christian Wilkins, Zach Sieler and Raekwon Davis are under contract); safety (Jevon Holland and Brandon Jones are under contract) and outside linebacker (Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips are signed).

But the Dolphins need to sign a third safety or re-sign Eric Rowe. They also need two veteran backup outside linebackers, because Melvin Ingram and Andrew Van Ginkel are free agents; Van Ginkel probably will find a bigger role elsewhere. And they’ll need to sign a cheap backup defensive tackle or re-sign John Jenkins.

NEWS NOTES

During the weekend, Vic Fangio agreed - though not in writing - to become Miami’s defensive coordinator. There was still no Dolphins announcement by mid-afternoon Tuesday and there won’t be until he signs. Fangio has been non-committal about his plans in interviews with NFL writers in Denver and San Francisco.

Though some have suggested that Fangio technically could change his mind and opt to work for the 49ers, San Francisco instead has requested permission to speak to Carolina’s Steve Wilks for their defensive coordinator position, per NFL Network. The 49ers’ defensive coordinator, DeMeco Ryans, has agreed to become head coach of the Houston Texans, per ESPN.

Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill has a team in Overtime’s 7 on 7 football league. His team will play games in Baltimore and Arizona. There are no South Florida players on his roster.