New versatile Dolphins lineman Aaron Brewer still has position ‘to be determined’

New Miami Dolphins offensive lineman Aaron Brewer started at center for the Titans in 2023.

He moved there from playing guard in Tennessee the year before. He also played plenty of guard and all over the line in his college days at Texas State.

Brewer, who agreed to join the 2024 Dolphins when free agent negotiations began across the NFL on Monday and officially signed Friday, doesn’t have it set in stone that he will play center in Miami.

“I believe that’s still to be determined,” the versatile Brewer said in a Friday evening web conference with reporters. “Right now, I’m just here trying to figure out the best way I can help the team.”

The Dolphins have holes to fill at both starting guard spots and center. Last year’s starter in the middle, Connor Williams, is a free agent and rehabbing his ACL tear in a knee. Highly valued right guard Robert Hunt left to the Carolina Panthers in free agency. Left guard Isaiah Wynn, coming off a season-ending quadriceps injury, also is a free agent. The Dolphins do return reserve interior linemen Robert Jones and Liam Eichenberg, who have started and can compete for those jobs.

They can also add more blockers later in free agency and through the draft. Who gets brought in could determine where Brewer can slide in.

All that said, the answer to where he may ideally fit in Miami might be found in why he originally moved to the center in Tennessee.

“That transition to center, I feel like that was always my instant position,” said Brewer, who weighs in at 295 pounds. “For me, being more of an undersized offensive lineman — I’m not one of them 320, 310, 300-pound offensive linemen — so you don’t really see too many of the undersized offensive linemen being at guard. So I just felt like me being undersized, it’s basically predetermined for me to be a center.”

Brewer, an agile blocker who can get to the outside in Miami’s wide-zone run-blocking scheme, just felt the Dolphins were an overall good fit for him in free agency.

“I believe it’s pretty solid. It’s a fast team. That’s one of my strong suits,” he said. “I’m a fast offensive lineman, able to get to first level, second level and open space, could move pretty well. So I feel like it’ll be a nice fit for me.”

Brewer described the strengths in his game: “My speed, my aggressiveness, my will, my work ethic, leverage.”

And delved deeper into that will of his: “I’m not going to stop. I’m going to keep going. I got that chip on my shoulder, so I feel like that’s my edge above people I’m playing against.”

Brewer said coach Mike McDaniel played a big role in him wanting to join the Dolphins.

“He got that juice about him,” Brewer said. “He’s very knowledgeable. He’s passionate about what he’s doing, and I just love that. You can feel it without even knowing him. You feel that passion about him.”

Fortson: I know how to win

Newly signed tight end Jody Fortson, who has spent all five years of his career with the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs, said one thing he brings to the Dolphins is knowing how to win.

Fortson (6 feet 4, 226 pounds), who has spent much of his career on the practice squad and has only played 15 games, totaling 14 receptions for 155 yards and four touchdowns, could be an effective red-zone threat, which is where he feasted for the Chiefs.

With Miami he joins a tight end contingent that includes Durham Smythe, newly signed Jonnu Smith, Julian Hill and Tanner Conner.
Fortson said his biggest gift at this point is his mentality.

“I just think it brings a winner’s attitude, a winner’s mindset,” Fortson said. “Everybody knows I’ve been with the Chiefs my entire career. We’ve won there. I might not have had the role that I like but I know what it takes to win. I’ve been around winners, I’ve been around what it takes, the consistency, the discipline, the sacrifices…I feel like that’s what I inherited with my time being with Kansas City, the discipline and the seriousness behind it, what it takes.

“You’re just not going to wake up one day and be a winner. You’ve got to do it. You’ve got to constantly chip at it every single day.”

Neville Gallimore: Opportunity is knocking at DT

Dolphins defensive tackle Neville Gallimore, the 27-year-old four-year veteran who came from the Dallas Cowboys, is yet sure where he’ll fit into defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver’s multiple system.

But Gallimore, who played all 17 games and 288 snaps (27%) for the Cowboys last season with no starts, knows he should excel.

He likes how the Dolphins’ defensive linemen such as Christian Wilkins, Raekwon Davis and Andrew Van Ginkel developed and benefited.

“You saw the impact this team has had when it comes to developing D-linemen,” Gallimore (6 feet 2. 302 pounds) said Friday during an introductory video call with local media.

“You’ve seen guys be able to really take care of their families. And you just see those guys every D-lineman that has played here under this staff plays with a chip on his shoulder. They brought a lot to the table so I was just looking forward to the opportunity to grow my game.”

Gallimore, a third-round pick out of Oklahoma in 2020, has 52 career games with 14 starts. He’s totaled 90 tackles, 4.0 sacks, and three passes defended in his career.

Gallimore figures to play interior defensive line alongside returnees Zach Seiler, Da’Shawn Hand, Brandon Pili and with newly signed Daviyon Nixon and Isaiah Mack.