Taking a deep dive into the Dolphins’ offensive depth chart
The Miami Dolphins started 2023 red hot but fizzled as the season began to close, losing an AFC East division showdown at home to the Buffalo Bills 21-14, and then flaming out in the postseason with a 26-7 wild-card loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
While injuries factored into Miami’s late-season collapse, there are concerns about whether the Dolphins offense is built for playoff football, which is generally more physical.
After losing a caravan of starters because of free agency, and purging the roster to get under the salary cap, the Dolphins patched the roster as much as they could in free agency, which includes this week’s signing of former Pro Bowl receiver Odell Beckham Jr., and the 2024 NFL Draft, where Miami landed five players universally viewed as top 150 talents.
Let’s evaluate the team Miami’s taking into the OTA field work in the coming weeks with a deep dive into the offensive roster.
QUARTERBACKS (4) A
On the roster: Tua Tagovailoa, Mike White, Skylar Thompson, Gavin Hardison (R)
Analysis: Tagovailoa led the NFL A in passing yards (4,624) and had a 101.1 passer rating (ranked fifth) last season, which earned him the AFC starting spot in the Pro Bowl. Tagovailoa is slated to play on his fifth-year option, which guarantees him $23.2 million, but the Dolphins are expected to offer him a multiyear deal. However, both sides haven’t gotten it done yet, and there’s a reason, and that’s his price point per season. When the deal happens, it will likely change the team’s finances in a season or two, forcing Miami to become more fiscally responsible. White and Thompson are decent backups, but neither has proven he could lead a team to the playoffs if forced to start more than a handful of games.
RUNNING BACKS (6)
On the roster: Raheem Mostert, De’Von Achane, Jaylen Wright (R),