Dolphins place right-of-first-refusal tender on Kader Kohou: What this means

The Miami Dolphins, on Saturday, announced they placed the right-of-first-refusal tender on cornerback Kader Kohou.

Kohou is set for restricted free agency this offseason, and tendering him essentially keeps it that way.

The former undrafted cornerback out of Texas A&M-Commerce who has played three NFL seasons in Miami can sign an offer sheet with another team, but the Dolphins can then match said offer to retain Kohou on the 2025 roster.

The value of the right-of-first-refusal tender in 2025 is $3,263,000. Kohou has now locked in at least that much pay next season with the Dolphins, as that’s what he will earn if no other team comes forward with an offer sheet.

Had Kohou not had the right-of-first-refusal tender placed on him, the cornerback would’ve become an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. That would’ve allowed him to sign with any other team without an opportunity for the Dolphins to match the offer sheet.

There were other restricted free agent tender options available to Miami, but those are more expensive.

A first-round tender this offseason is worth $7,458,000 and a second-rounder tender is valued at $5,346,000. If the Dolphins placed one of those on Kohou and another team offered him more money, Miami would then stand to receive either a first- or second-round draft pick if it chose not to match that offer.

Kohou has played above his original undrafted status in his first three seasons, but he hasn’t quite risen to the level of warranting the more high-priced tenders.

In his three seasons for the Dolphins, Kohou has mostly been a reliable nickel cornerback, covering the opposing slot receiver, but he also presents enough versatility to move outside and play the boundary.

He has played in 47 games with 38 starts in his three-year NFL career, hauling in three interceptions — two last season.

Kohou also has recorded 180 tackles, 13 for loss, a sack, two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and 28 pass deflections in his three seasons.

It’s important for the Dolphins to bring Kohou back, assuming his price tag doesn’t get out of hand. They are in the midst of a bit of an overhaul in the secondary around star cornerback Jalen Ramsey, with last year’s starting safeties, Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer, free agents and fellow cornerback Kendall Fuller released earlier this offseason.

Miami is also developing cornerbacks of the likes of 2023 second-round pick Cam Smith and Storm Duck, a 2024 undrafted free agent heading into his second season.

The Dolphins have already placed exclusive rights free agent tenders on offensive lineman Kion Smith and outside linebacker Cameron Goode, bringing them back for 2025. They are not tendering outside linebacker Quinton Bell, leaving him to be a free agent.