Brent Grimes had already spent six seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, including a Pro Bowl nod in 2010, before he signed with the Miami Dolphins as a free agent in 2013. Few expected him to become the team’s clear top corner, but that is exactly what happened once he settled into the defense.

He made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons in Miami and earned second-team All-Pro honors in 2014. During that stretch, he recorded 13 interceptions, 202 return yards, and two pick-sixes. Those years marked the strongest stretch of his career, and he gave the Dolphins a reliable outside presence who could handle top receivers.

A skilled cover corner who could stick with receivers and jump routes in the air, he remained productive until the end of his time in South Florida. Grimes anchored the secondary over that three-year period and ranked among the team’s better players at any position, even if the peak did not last long. His ability to create turnovers showed up consistently during those Pro Bowl seasons.

The Dolphins released him after the 2015 season when he declined to restructure his contract. With Miami, the three-year stretch produced solid numbers and recognition that had not been as steady earlier in his career.