An early projection of Dolphins’ roster of 53
Roster arithmetic is always necessary when it comes time to trim a training camp roster down to 53 players for the regular season.
How many receivers can the Miami Dolphins afford to keep without compromising the defense, or another unit?
Which veteran defensive linemen, linebackers or safeties won’t survive the cut? And can they be re-signed at a later date if needed?
Is there enough depth on the offensive line, or will Miami need to supplement that unit with a few waiver wire claims?
Can (insert young player’s name here) safely make it on to Miami’s practice squad if he’s waived by the Dolphins, and exposed to the rest of the league on the waiver wire?
Those are some of the tough questions general manager Chris Grier, coach Brian Flores and their staff must ask themselves before the Aug. 31 deadline.
Here is how I see the 53-man roster shaking out heading into the final week of the preseason (and note this list contains 54 players since receiver Will Fuller’s suspension from last season carries over to Week 1 this year):
QBs (2) — On: Tua Tagovailoa and Jacoby Brissett; Off: Reid Sinnett
Tagovailoa is blossoming before our eyes, and will benefit tremendously from his playing time this season. Brissett has used training camp and the preseason to show he’s one of the NFL’s top backup quarterbacks. Sinnett will likely spend a second season on the Dolphins’ practice squad.
RB (4) — On: Myles Gaskin, Salvon Ahmed, Malcolm Brown and Patrick Laird; Off: Gerrid Doaks, Jordan Scarlett and Carl Tucker
Gaskin, Ahmed and Brown will serve as the Dolphins’ backfield trio, with each filling a specific role.
Gaskin drives the run-pass-option offense. Brown is responsible for facilitating a power rushing attack, and Ahmed is a pass-catching playmaker. The final back spot goes to Laird because of his special teams contributions, but it could easily go to Doaks, who Miami will likely try to develop on the practice squad.
WR (8) — On: Jaylen Waddle, Will Fuller, DeVante Parker, Preston Williams, Albert Wilson, Mack Hollins, Lynn Bowden Jr. and Jakeem Grant; Off: Kirk Merritt, Isaiah Ford, Malcolm Perry, Kia Locksley and Khalil McClain
This is an exercise in roster management, aimed at taking advantage of the NFL’s new injured reserve rules, which allows any player placed on IR to return after three weeks this season. And everyone can come off injured reserve this year. Miami can begin the season with Parker and Bowden Jr. on injured reserve, but they’ll need to make the initial 53-man roster first, and then be placed on IR the next day. Fuller is suspended for the season opener so he won’t count against the 53-man roster. The Dolphins will likely look to continue developing Merritt, Ford and Perry on the practice squad. It’s doubtful any of them gets claimed by another team.
TE (5) — On: Mike Gesicki, Adam Shaheen, Durham Smythe, Hunter Long and Cethan Carter; Off: Chris Myarick
The Dolphins will really keep four tight ends on the 53-man roster, but need to put an injured Carter on the 53 initially and then stash him on IR because of his knee injury. Myarick has spent the past two seasons on Miami’s practice squad, and could potentially find a home there again this year.
Offensive line (9) — On: Austin Jackson, Solomon Kindley, Michael Deiter, Robert Hunt, Jesse Davis, Liam Eichenberg, Greg Little, Adam Pankey and Matt Skura; Off: Cameron Tom, Robert Jones, Jermaine Eluemunor, Larnel Coleman and Durval Queiroz Neto
The Dolphins have a solid seven offensive linemen who are safe, and Pankey and Skura could possibly become casualties of waiver wire claims by Miami. The Dolphins need to upgrade the depth in this unit by adding the best of what other teams waive. Tom and Coleman could be developed on the practice squad.
Defensive line (5) — On: Emmanuel Ogbah, Raekwon Davis, Christian Wilkins, Zach Sieler and Adam Butler; Off: Jason Strowbridge, Jonathan Ledbetter, John Jenkins, Tyshun Render and Benito Jones
The Dolphins need to keep this group thin initially to make room for players headed to injured reserve, which means exposing Ledbetter, Strowbridge and Render to the rest of the league. If none of those three get claimed, Miami should sign them to the practice squad because of their potential upside.
LB (8) — On: Jerome Baker, Benardrick McKinney, Elandon Roberts, Jaelan Phillips, Andrew Van Ginkel, Brennan Scarlett, Sam Eguavoen and Vince Biegel; Off: Duke Riley, Shaquem Griffin, Calvin Munson, Kylan Johnson and Josh Harvey Clemons
This position group created some of the tougher decisions because Riley and Griffin belong on the 53-man roster, but space is limited, and those who made it outperformed them during camp. Biegel, who is nursing a right foot injury, could potentially be placed on injured reserve the day after making the initial 53, creating one available spot that should go to Riley in Week 2, when contracts don’t have to be guaranteed for vested veterans.
CB (5) — On: Xavien Howard, Byron Jones, Nik Needham, Justin Coleman and Noah Igbinoghene; Off: Trill Williams, Cre’Von LeBlanc, Javaris Davis and Tino Ellis
The Dolphins have five talented and young cornerbacks who could all start games in 2021. The key is finding a pair of youngsters they want to develop on the practice squad, and my list starts with Williams, a former Syracuse standout who has flashed talent during training camp.
Safety (5) — Eric Rowe, Jevon Holland, Jason McCourty, Brandon Jones and Jamal Perry; Off: Clayton Fejedelem and Nate Holley
Every safety the Dolphins keep on the 53-man roster has played cornerback in the NFL except Jones. That should provide Miami plenty of position flexibility in the secondary. If the Dolphins need an extra roster spot Perry is the last man on. If Miami has an extra spot then Fejedelem, who has had a quiet camp, survives.
Special teams (3) — Michael Palardy, Jason Sanders and Blake Ferguson
All three of Miami’s specialist will safely make it on the 53-man roster.