The Miami Dolphins, and all NFL teams, have until 4 p.m. Eastern tomorrow to drop from their 90-man preseason roster to the 53-man roster limit the league enforces during the season. There are some tough choices that the coaching staff and front office will have to make before tomorrow afternoon. For every player who is kept, there is one less spot for someone else to claim.
Miami’s preseason featured a 24-24 tie with the Chicago Bears in Preseason Week 1, followed by a 24-17 win over the Detroit Lions in Preseason Week 2. Over this past weekend, Miami beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 14-6 to close out the preseason in Week 3. The Dolphins’ starters saw some playing time in the first and third weeks, but the depth players still saw the majority of the snaps on both offense and defense.
Throughout the offseason and into training camp, we have been updating our projected 53-man roster for the Dolphins. Now it is time to make one final projection of the initial 53-man roster. There will still be changes to the roster as players are claimed off waivers, injury adjustments are made, and the team considers trades or free agent signings. The roster is never “final,” but based on who is on the roster right now, we can project how the roster will look tomorrow afternoon.
Rookies in italics.
Offense (23)
Quarterbacks (3)
Tua Tagovailoa
Zach Wilson
Quinn Ewers
Changes: None.
No change, though Wilson is not exactly creating a lot of confidence in his role as the backup to Tagovailoa. Ewers looks like a rookie who needs to continue to develop, but he might challenge for the number two spot before the season is over.
Running backs (4)
De’Von Achane
Ollie Gordon II
Jaylen Wright
Alec Ingold (Fullback)
Changes: Moved Gordon into the second position.
Gordon seems set to be the number two runner, pushing for carries from Achane. Health will factor into this group, and the team could still look to add someone or make sure the practice squad has options available. Placing Wright on injured reserve could be an option, especially if the team makes a move for another running back.
Wide receivers (5)
Tyreek Hill
Jaylen Waddle
Malik Washington
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
Dee Eskridge
Change: Removed Tahj Washington
I need roster space elsewhere, so Tahj Washington ends up on the wrong side of the roster bubble. He is absolutely a practice squad option, but the numbers just bit me here.
Tight ends (3)
Darren Waller
Pharaoh Brown
Julian Hill
Changes: Removed Tanner Conner
Another case of needing roster space elsewhere, Conner moves to the wrong side of the cut line with a practice squad position in mind.
Offensive linemen (8)
Patrick Paul
Jonah Savaiinaea
Aaron Brewer
James Daniels
Austin Jackson
Larry Borom
Kion Smith
Daniel Brunskill
Changes: None.
There feels like there should be something more happening with this position, but for now, it stays here. Liam Eichenberg moves over to the reserve/physically unable to perform list with the idea of activating him later in the season.
Defense (27)
Defensive lineman (6)
Zach Sieler
Benito Jones
Kenneth Grant
Jordan Phillips
Matt Dickerson
Zeek Biggers
Changes: Added Biggers
One of the roster spots I saved on offense is used here to keep Biggers on the roster. He has played well and deserves the spot, and I do not want to risk him being exposed on the waiver wire.
Linebackers (10)
Jaelan Phillips
Jordyn Brooks
Tyrel Dodson
Bradley Chubb
Chop Robinson
Willie Gay, Jr.
Matthew Judon
K.J. Britt
Quinton Bell
Cameron Goode
Changes: Add Cameron Goode
I still want to add Grayson Murphy to the roster somehow, but for now he is a practice squad consideration. I added Goode back onto the roster because I think he has a special teams upside the team wants to keep.
Cornerbacks (6)
Storm Duck
Kendall Sheffield
Jason Marshall
Mike Hilton
Jack Jones
Cornell Armstrong
(Ethan Bonner – IR)
Changes: Marshall moves ahead of Hilton; Moved Bonner to IR; Added Armstrong
Marshall appears to be ahead of Hilton on the depth chart, and he has played well enough top secure the nickel cornerback spot. Bonnner’s injury feels like an IR stint is warranted. Arsmrting is added to provide depth to the position.
Note: I am publishing this after the initial roster cuts have started, but I had Hilton on my draft and did not want to update it just because I know the answer.
Safeties (5)
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Ashtyn Davis
Elijah Campbell
Ifeatu Melifonwu
Dante Trader, Jr
Changes: None
Davis’ injury appears to improving so this could be a deep safety group.
Special Teams (3)
Punter (1)
Jake Bailey
Changes: None
Kicker (1)
Jason Sanders
Changes: None
This is a position to watch as the Dolphins dig in a little deeper on the injury that cause Sanders to miss Saturday’s preseason finale.
Long Snapper (1)
Joe Cardona
Changes: None
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