There is no love lost between the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins, as the longtime rivals have played several meaningful games against one and other over the years.
With Miami's front office knowing New England's personnel as well as any opposing team in the league, it shouldn't be surprising to see the franchise snatch up a recently released Patriots starter. That is exactly what the Dolphins did on Friday by coming to terms with free agent long snapper Joe Cardona, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
An in-AFC-East move: the Dolphins have signed former Patriots long snapper Joe Cardona, who spent his first 10 NFL seasons in New England. pic.twitter.com/azr15WvWKY
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 9, 2025
Dolphins Signed Ex-Patriot Joe Cardona
Cardona had spent his entire career in New England after the franchise selected him out of the Naval Academy with a fifth-round pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. A member of the Patriots' All-Dynasty Team, Cardona helped New England to a pair of Super Bowl victories. He was also selected as a team captain for the 2024 campaign. Before his release, Cardona was the longest-tenured member of the roster and was the only active player still with the franchise from their 2018 Super Bowl victory.
As Patriots fans know, Mike Vrabel and the brain trust in the front office elected to take Julian Ashby out of Vanderbilt University in the seventh round of this past month's NFL Draft. If you are going to invest draft capital in a long snapper, then they are likely going to be penciled in as the team's starter. New England ultimately released Cardona just three days after the final round of the draft.
Now that Cardona has found a new home in the NFL, he will likely slide right in as Miami's starting long snapper, replacing Blake Ferguson, who was released on Thursday.
Seeing a Patriots lifer sign with a division rival, let alone the Dolphins, will be a tough pill to swallow for New England fans. With that being said, if any former Patriots player deserves continued support from the fans it is Cardona. From his service to this country to his contributions to the Patriots' success, he is as good as they come.