LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT DOLPHINS’ POSSIBLE ROSTER
This is a super-early look at what the 2024 Miami Dolphins roster might resemble. Keep in mind nobody has put on a helmet yet, and not one snap of training camp practice has occurred.
The Dolphins haven’t lined up against any of the three opponents — Atlanta, Washington and Tampa Bay — they will face in joint practices and the exhibition season.
And we don’t know who will get injured during camp — and there will be someone of note. (Last year it was cornerback Jalen Ramsey, whose knee injury put the team in a state of panic.)
Nonetheless, that doesn’t stop us from doing this waytoo-early projection of what Miami’s 53-man roster might look like when the team is required to trim it to 53 players and assemble a practice squad at the end of August.
Keep in mind there are more than 53 players in this projection because we anticipate two to four Dolphins will begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list, which will allow the team to carry them into the season without counting against the roster limit.
QUARTERBACKS (2)
On the roster: Tua Tagovailoa, Mike White.
Off the roster: Skylar Thompson, Gavin Hardison (rookie).
Analysis:
Tagovailoa is engaged in a complicated negotiation for a long-term contract, and it’s possible he could limit — or sit out entirely — portions of training camp until a five- or six-year deal gets done that compensates him as if he’s a top-10 quarterback. Going that route could stress the arms of
White and Thompson but provide the Dolphins a thorough examination of both backups. The changes to the practice squad elevation rule mean Miami no longer has to carry three quarterbacks on the 53-man roster, so Thompson will have to shine to keep his 53-man status.
RUNNING BACKS (4)
On: Raheem Mostert, Devon Achane, Jaylen Wright (R), Jeff Wilson Jr.
Off: Chris Brooks, Salvon Ahmed (injured).
Analysis: If the Dolphins are smart they will begin camp with Ahmed, who is recovering from a Lisfranc (foot) injury he sustained in November, on the PUP, which would allow him to get stashed till October.
Wright’s standing as a fourth-round draft pick will likely keep him safe, which means the final spot on the 53-man roster will come down to Wilson or Brooks if every back remains healthy through the exhibition season. That’s unlikely because of the physicality of that that position.
RECEIVERS (6)
On: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Odell Beckham Jr., Braxton Berrios, River Cracraft, Malik Washington (R).
Off: Tahj Washington (R), Erik Ezukanma, Braylon Sanders, Anthony Schwartz, Matthew Sexton, Je’Quan Burton (R).
Analysis: Hill, Waddle and Beckham are the locks, and Berrios should be safe as the slot receiver and return specialist unless Malik Washington or Tahj Washington, the two rookie receivers drafted in the late rounds, unseats him. Tahj Washington on Tuesday was placed on the active/physically unable to perform list because of an undisclosed injury suffered during an offseason team practice, according to a source.
Cracraft’s versatility and reliability have kept him safe for two seasons, and might give him the edge over Ezukanma and the rest of the receivers, unless they excel in camp and the exhibition season. Expect one of the draftees to make it onto the 53man roster, and for Miami to potentially stash the other on the practice squad if he clears waivers.
TIGHT ENDS/ FULLBACKS (4)
On: Jonnu Smith, Durham Smythe, Julian Hill and fullback Alec Ingold.
Off: Jody Fortson, Tanner Conner, Hayden Rucci (R).
Analysis: One of the biggest camp battles will be at tight end, where not only are Smith and
Smythe competing for the lead role, but Hill has to face serious challengers in Fortson, Conner and Rucci, who impressed during the offseason program.
Hill, who made it onto Miami’s 53-man roster last season as an undrafted rookie from Campbell University, gets the edge because he’s the strongest player in that room and has special teams value. But Fortson shouldn’t be slept on because of his playmaking potential as a pass catcher.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9)
On: T Terron Armstead, T Austin Jackson, C Aaron Brewer, G Isaiah Wynn, G/C Liam Eichenberg, G Robert Jones, T Kendall Lamm, T Patrick Paul (R), T/G Jack Driscoll.
Off: G Lester Cotton, T Kion Smith, T Ryan Hayes, G/C Chasen
Hines, T Bayron Matos, C Andrew Meyer, G Matthew Jones (R).
Analysis: The Dolphins were forced to use 12 starting combinations of offensive linemen last season because of injuries to all of the opening day starters at different moments. The line finished the season with backups in all of the starting interior spots. That’s why Miami will likely keep nine or 10 offensive linemen on the 53-man roster.
Jones, Cotton, Smith and Hines are likely competing for that final spot, but don’t be surprised if Miami looks to upgrade this unit by combing through the waiver wire, or by making a trade for a veteran dislodged by a youngster on another team’s roster. Matos, who played at South Florida, will have an international player exemption — he is a native of the Dominican Republic who is in the NFL's International Player Pathway Program — so he will be sticking around, likely on the practice squad, if he’s decent.
EDGE PLAYERS (6)
On: Jaelan Phillips (injured), Bradley Chubb (injured), Shaquil Barrett, Chop Robinson (R), Mohamed Kamara (R), Cameron Goode (injured).
Off: Quinton Bell, Leonard Payne Jr. (R), Grayson Murphy (R).
Analysis: The Dolphins would benefit from beginning training camp with Phillips (Achilles), Chubb (ACL) and Goode (patella tendon) on the PUP list, because it would let the team bring them back slowly while providing some roster space until they are healthy enough to be on the 53-man roster. If a player doesn’t begin training camp on the PUP list, he can’t be added to it later, but he can be removed from the list at any point before the 53-man roster is assembled.
Barrett, Robinson and Kamara will need to hold down the edge position for the first month or two unless one of the three injured edge players makes a miraculous recovery.
DEFENSIVE TACKLES (7)
On: Zach Sieler, Calais Campbell, Teair Tart, Da’Shawn Hand, Jonathan Harris, Benito Jones, Neville Gallimore.
Off: Isaiah Mack, Daviyon Nixon, Brandon Pili.
Analysis: Tart and Jones will likely handle nose tackle unless Pili beats out one of those veterans. Sieler and Campbell are projected as the starting defensive tackles while Hand, Harris and Gallimore compete to serve as the five-technique defensive ends in this 3-4 scheme.
The one thing the Dolphins can’t afford is to suffer a serious injury at this position, because seven of the 10 defensive linemen are relatively unproven, and Campbell is 37, which means he probably can’t handle a ridiculous amount of snaps in the season.
INSIDE LINEBACKERS (4)
On: Jordyn Brooks, David Long Jr., Anthony Walker Jr., Duke Riley.
Off: Channing Tindall, Cam Brown, Zeke Vandenburgh.
Analysis: Brooks, Long and Walker all have starting experience, and should be able to anchor the interior of the defense. Riley should safely make it onto the 53-man roster because of his special teams experience, but during the exhibition season he will need to prove he’s a playmaker on defense.
Tindall, a third-round pick in 2022, has struggled to find his footing on defense because of his inability to diagnose plays. If Tindall doesn’t excel on special teams during the exhibition season his days in South Florida could be numbered.
CORNERBACKS (6)
On: Jalen Ramsey,
Kendall Fuller, Kader Kohou, Nik Needham, Cam Smith, Siran Neal.
Off: Ethan Bonner, Storm Duck (R), Isaiah Johnson (R), Jason Maitre (R).
Analysis: Expect Fuller, an eight-year veteran starter, to be the boundary back opposite Ramsey, who will likely shadow the opposition’s best receiver this season. Kohou and Needham will probably compete to be the starting nickel cornerback, and the hope is that Smith, a 2023 secondround pick, matures enough to be counted on by Miami’s new defensive coaches. Neal is expected to be a major contributor on special teams.
This unit is one of Miami’s thinnest so the hope is that someone — maybe Bonner — steps up and proves he belongs on the 53-man roster. This unit also can’t afford an injury because of little experience it has.
SAFETIES (4)
On: Jevon Holland, Jordan Poyer, Marcus Maye, Elijah Campbell.
Off: Mark Perry (R), Jordan Colbert (R).
Analysis: Poyer’s wisdom and maturity could help Holland take the next step as an NFL veteran, becoming the versatile, playmaking safety he has the talent to be.
Maye has the versatility to play both safety spots and serve as the dime defender. Campbell is a special teams standout who has shown some potential as a spot starter. Perry and Colbert are realistically battling for a practice squad spot unless they excel as rookies, which Needham and Kohou did.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
On: K Jason Sanders, LS Blake Ferguson, P Jake Bailey.
Analysis: The Dolphins didn’t provide any competition in this camp for the team’s specialists, but those players realize they are competing with whoever gets released in today’s NFL. By re-signing Braxton Berrios the Dolphins retained last year’s kickoff and punt returner, but it’s possible that new rules regarding kickoffs could create some challengers for the kick return role.