The 2026 Miami Dolphins season is about rebuilding the team, moving on from the failed past few seasons and looking forward to the future. The team is looking to build around key player while maximizing younger players and veterans who have something to prove.
One low-risk, high-reward potential move they recently made was the signing of free agent safety Major Burns, who finished the 2026 UFL season as the league leader in interceptions. Can Miami tap into that potential and score a steal?
Author’s
note: Obviously, this year’s 90-in-90 series has had a long interruption. I recently moved and it has been an ordeal. I will get through as many as I can as we continue through the summer.
Biography
Name: Major Burns
Number: 43
Position: Safety
Height / Weight: 6’2” / 207 pounds
Age (at start of season): 24
Experience: 1st year
College: LSU (transfer from Georgia)
Draft: 2025 undrafted (signed with Chicago Bears)
Acquired: 2026 free agent
Contract and 2026 salary cap
Contract: 1-year, $885,000
2026 salary cap: $885,000
Contract details via OverTheCap.com.
2025 review
Games played: 0
Burns signed with the Chicago Bears out of LSU as an undrafted free agent. He landed on injured reserve in August, then was waived from IR with an injury settlement. He did not re-sign with an NFL team during the season.
He joined the Houston Gamblers in March for the spring 2026 UFL season. He played in nine games, recording 45 tackles, five tackles for loss, and a league-high four interceptions.
Offseason moves
Safety signings: Zane Anderson, Omar Brown, Major Burns, Lonnie Johnson, Jr., Louis Moore (UDFA)
Traded: Minkah Fitzpatrick (to New York Jets)
Drafted: Kyle Louis (4th round – listed as linebacker), Michael Taaffee (5th round)
2026 expectations
Burns joins a safety group that should be the definition of position battle in training camp this year. He really could end up anywhere from starter to cut by the end of the summer. Dante Trader, Jr., probably has the lead as the top strong safety, with free agents Zayne Anderson and Omar Brown challenging for the role. At free safety, free agent Lonnie Johnson, Jr., undrafted free agent Louis Moore, and fifth-round pick Michael Taaffe will battle for the top spot. Burns probably joins the free safety battle, using his ball-hawk skills to patrol centerfield, but he has the versatility to play either role and could be a good strong safety playing up in the box.
The potential is there for Burns, but he will have to prove he can ramp up from the speed of the UFL to the speed of the NFL this summer.
