The Miami Dolphins have finished their offseason workouts. The next time the team will take the field together will be from Training Camp on July 28th. Miami recruited a bunch of talent of the offensive side of the ball. They brought in Tyreek Hill and Terron Armstead to unlock the potential of Tua. Mike McDaniel was smart and kept the defense in tact; they bring back all 11 starters, and kept the defensive coaching staff together including Defensive Coordinator Josh Boyer. We got a few nuggets of information from OTA’s that gives us information on how the 53-man Miami Dolphins roster could turn out.
The battle in the trenches is difficult to handicap since the players were in just helmets for the offseason portion of the schedule. So, reports on OL vs. DL/LB’s needs to be taken with a grain of salt. Offensive Line is the one position group where there are multiple position battles and question marks. But the position group also has a lot of intriguing combinations. The skill positions and the specialists are a bit easier to forecast. 25 offensive players, 25 defensive players, and 3 specialists will give us the opening week 53-man Miami Dolphins roster that will take on New England.
Quarterback (2)
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- Tua Tagovailoa
- Teddy Bridgewater
The top-2 are pretty cut and dry. Miami did use a 7th round pick on Skylar Thompson out of Kansas State. In a perfect world they would be able to roster him and protect him from the waiver wire. The Dolphins are not in a perfect world though. Because of the question marks up and down the offensive line, Miami needs to keep as many roster spots open for the line as possible
Running Back (4)
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- Chase Edmonds
- Sony Michel
- Raheem Mostert
- Alec Engold (FB)
Running Backs were a position the Dolphins targeted heavily this offseason. One of the first signings of free agency was Chase Edmonds- and for good reason. Mike McDaniel has seen Edmonds and clearly wanted him in his backfield. Raheem Mostert has ties to McDaniel back to their San Francisco days. Sony Michel is a solid NFL back that can get you the dirty yards. Alec Engold comes over from Las Vegas to be the team’s full back- a position the team hasn’t carried since Tony Sparano. Miles Gaskin is the guy that gets cut. in 2020 he was a good 3rd down back, but in 2021 is pass blocking and pass catching advanced stats regressed big time. For that reason he should be gone. All 3 tailbacks have had injury history, but IF they can remain healthy they are all serviceable backs.
Wide Receiver (6)
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- Tyreek Hill
- Jaylen Waddle
- Cedrick Wilson
- Lynn Bowden Jr..
- Erik Ezukanma
- Trent Sherfield Jr
Hill and Waddle give the Dolphins one of the most electric wide receiver duos in the league. Cedrick Wilson is another speedy wide receiver, but has more size than the first 2 guys. Ezukanma, the rookie out of Texas Tech, was the team’s 2nd draft pick (5th round), so he should make the roster. Lynn Bowden Jr is a guy who won’t get a ton of touches, but he has the ability to take advantage of one-on-one matchups because he can be used in so many ways. The 6th receiver was touch to chose. Preston Williams is a better receiver, but a Trent Sherfield can contribute on Special Teams. That fact give Sherfield the nod over Williams.
Tight End (4)
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- Mike Gesicki
- Adam Shaheen
- Hunter Long
- Ceethan Carter
Mike Gesicki is listed as a Tight End, but in reality he is a big bodied slot receiver. Maybe his blocking improves and he can turn into a more complete player, but he needs to prove that. Adam Shaheen is a blocking Tight End who should have a fairly large role in the Dolphins run game. Hunter Long is entering his second year, but he has the ability to be on the field for all 3 downs as a blocker and pass catcher. Cethan Carter can contribute on Special Teams, and ultimately that gives him the nod over Durham Smythe. Gesicki and Long should be the two guys seeing the most playing time this season.
Offensive Line (9)
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- Terron Armstead
- Austin Jackson
- Connor Williams
- Robert Hunt
- Liam Eicheberg
- Michael Deiter
- Solomon Kinley
- Robert Jones
- Larnel Coleman
This is the unit that has the most question marks by far. Terron Armstead is an elite Left Tackle, and as long as he remains healthy that is his position. Connor Williams was brought in from Dallas as a free agent. Despite playing Guard his entire career, reports out of minicamp were that he was lining up at Center. If he stays there the starting line will be (Left Tackle to Right Tackle) Armstead-Jackson-Williams-Hunt-Eicheberg. If Miami ends up moving him back to Left Guard they should line up Armstead-Williams-Deiter-Hunt-Jackson/Eichenberg.
The moral of the story is Armstead at Left Tackle and Robert Hunt at Right Guard look like they’re the only locks right now. Miami has invested in this position group in both the draft and free agency. There is talent in this room, and maybe the new offensive minded coaching staff can unlock the potential.
Special Teams (3)
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- Jason Sanders
- Thomas Morestead
- Blake Ferguson
Pretty cut-and-dry here. Thomas Morestead was brought in from New Orleans this offseason. Jason Sanders has a spectacular 2020 season. He tailed off a little in 2021, but he is still one of the better kickers in the NFL. Blake Ferguson is a Long Snapper… he’s fine.
Defensive Line (7)
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- Christian Wilkins
- Raekwan Davis
- Emmanuel Ogbah
- Zach Seiler
- Adam butler
- John Jenkins
- Bonito Jones
Not a lot of competition for roster spots among this unit. Wilkins, Davis, and Ogbah are the starters with Seiler being a very good backup for Davis. Adam Butler doesnt have great stats, but he has show an ability to impact the game outside of the stat sheet. I like John Jenkins and Bonito Jones as a backup interior linemen as well.
Linebacker (9)
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- Jerome Baker
- Jaelen Phillips
- Andrew Van Geinkel
- Elandon Roberts
- Brennan Scarlett
- Channing Tindall
- Duke Riley
- Melvin Ingram
- Cameron Goode
Miami has done a very good job building top-end talent and depth within the Linebacker group. Jaelen Phillips had a spectacular minicamp, and could be one of the breakout stars in the entire league this season. Phillips off the edge opposite Emmanuel Ogbah should terrify lines across the league. Jerome Baker is an above average middle LB who can stay on the field for all 3 downs. Van Geinkel is a freak athlete at the position while Melvin Ingram can be deployed in a multitude of spots. Elandon Roberts and Channing Tindall will compete for the other middle Linebacker with Baker. Duke Riley is a good Special teams player while Cameron Goode was drafted in the 7th round as a developmental player.
Defensive Back (9)
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- Xavien Howard
- Byron Jones
- Jevon Holland
- Brandon Jones
- Nik Needham
- Eric Rowe
- Noah Igbinoghene
- Trill Williams
- Sheldrick Redwine
This is the best until on the Dolphins, and maybe the best starting secondary in the league. Howard and Jones make up one of the best CB duos in the league. Javon Holland is a star in the making and makes plays all over the field. Brandon Jones is the ideal run-stopping Strong Safety, and Eric Rowe is one of the better cover Safeties in the league against Tight Ends. Nik Needham is a great story, and has shown an ability to play in the slot.
Noah Igbinoghene is a lightning rod for Fins fans. The former 1st round pick has struggled to say the least, and hasn’t been able to carve out a role for himself. But, he was drafted (too early I might add) as a project. he moved for receiver to CB late in his career at Auburn. He is a good athlete and Special Teams could be his calling card. Trill Williams is a lot like Noah in that he’s a big bodied corner who has the athleticism to line up one-one-one. he ws an undrafted rookie signed last year, so fans are not as harsh on him- for good reason. I added Redwine over other DB’s for the final spot because of his ability to play in coverage. in a perfect world Holland stays healthy and Redwine contributes on Special Teams
There’s the projected 53-man roster for the Miami Dolphins this season. Obviously there will be players that get hurt and moved to IR, opening up roster spots for some of the fringe players. What will be unique for the Miami Dolphins this season is the combinations of offensive line, but keeping 9 provides Mike McDaniel with the flexibility to mix and match to get the best 5 on the field. There will be surprises in camp as well which will shake up this projection. Some of the guys to keep an eye on include ZaQuandre White at Running Back, LB Sam Eguavoen
