When was the last time the Miami Dolphins waived a player on cut down day and lived to regret it?
Was it receiver Anthony Armstrong in 2009, defensive lineman A.J. Francis in 2013, offensive tackle Larnel Coleman in 2022, or tailback Chris Brooks in 2024?
Most Dolphins fans are probably struggling to remember most of those fringe NFL players.
That’s what I keep reminding myself when putting together my projections of the Miami Dolphins’ 53-man roster, which needs to be turned into the league by Tuesday at 4 p.m.
Select without fear of regret.
Here’s a look at how I would assemble the 53-man roster taking that approach, and it includes a couple of practice squad options, and injury reserve projections.
QUARTERBACKS (3)
▪ On the 53: Tua Tagovailoa, Zach Wilson, Quinn Ewers (R)
▪ Off: Nobody
▪ Analysis: Tagovailoa has led the NFL in passer rating (2022), yards passed for (2023) and completion percentage (2024), proving that he has what it takes to be one of the NFL’s premiere passers. But his backup is critical because Tagovailoa hasn’t proven he can be durable. Wilson’s experience gives him the edge on the No. 2 role, but Ewers, a 2025 seventh-round pick, has been one of camp’s pleasant surprises and has earned a spot on the 53-man roster.
RUNNING BACKS (3)
▪ On the roster: Devon Achane, Jaylen Wright (headed to IR), Ollie Gordon II (R)
▪ Off: Mike Boone, Aaron Shampklin
▪ Analysis: Achane produced 1,499 yards and scored 12 touchdowns on his 207 carries and 78 receptions in 2024. He has the potential to be a game-changing weapon if healthy, but at the moment he’s nursing a calf injury. Wright, a 2024 fourth-round pick who gained 249 rushing yards on 68 carries last season, sustained an undisclosed right leg injury that might force him to begin the season on injured reserve. That would leave Gordon, a powerful north-south runner whose 2023 rushing totals (1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns) led the entire FBS, as the lone healthy backup on the 53-man roster. Miami needs reinforcements in this unit, so expect veterans to be signed or claimed for either the 53-man roster, or the practice squad.
RECEIVERS (6)
▪ On the roster: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Malik Washington, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Dee Eskridge, Tahj Washington
▪ Off: Theo Wease Jr. (R), Erik Ezukanma, Andrew Armstrong (R), Tarik Black, AJ Henning
▪ Analysis: Hill and Waddle both had disappointing seasons for their talent level and paychecks, collectively contributing 1,703 yards and eight touchdowns. That’s a far drop from their 2023 totals of 2,813 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns on 191 catches. Hill’s wrist and oblique injury has enabled Tagovailoa to develop solid chemistry with Dee Eskridge, Malik Washington and Tahj Washington. Miami needs Westbrook-Ikhine to become a red-zone weapon, but he has had a quiet training camp. Wease, who has been the most promising of the undrafted rookies, and Ezukanma can be developed on the practice squad.
TIGHT ENDS/FULLBACKS (5)
▪ On the roster: Darren Waller, Julian Hill, Pharoah Brown, Tanner Conner; fullback Alec Ingold.
▪ Off: Hayden Rucci, Chris Myarick
▪ Analysis: The Dolphins have shelved Waller all training camp because it has been 19 months since the former retiree last played football. But offensive coordinator Frank Smith, who worked with the eighth-year veteran during their time together with the Raiders, has big plans for the athletic tight end, who has scored 20 touchdowns in the 86 games he has played. Hill’s being pushed by Brown for his in-line role, and Miami’s coaches can’t ignore what Conner’s done as Waller’s replacement in his absence. Rucci and Myarick options for the practice squad.
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9)
▪ On the roster: LT Patrick Paul, OG James Daniels, C Aaron Brewer, OG Jonah Savaiinaea (R), RT Austin Jackson. Backups: OG Liam Eichenberg (remains on PUP), OT Larry Borom, C Andrew Meyer (headed to IR), and OG Daniel Brunskill.
▪ Off: OT Jalen McKenzie, OT Kion Smith, OG Braeden Daniels, OT Jackson Carman, OT Ryan Hayes, OG Josh Priebe, OG Addison West, OG Mason Brooks
▪ Analysis: The Dolphins possess a more physical starting offensive line courtesy of the power the left side possesses, but this unit has the worst depth on the roster, and that’s problematic. It doesn’t help that Eichenberg and Meyer, two of the team’s top backups, are each nursing injuries that could lead to them starting the season on injured reserve (missing the first four games). Eichenberg doesn’t count towards the 53-man roster because he began training camp on the physically unable to perform list. This is a unit where General Manager Chris Grier needs to find some upgrades via free agency, or the waiver wire, and an experienced left tackle should be the top target. If Meyer gets placed on injured reserve he’ll create a available roster spot.
EDGE RUSHERS (6)
▪ On the roster: Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, Chop Robinson, Matthew Judon, Quinton Bell, Cameron Goode
▪ Off: Derrick McClendon, Grayson Murphy and Mohamed Kamara.
▪ Analysis: The Dolphins’ top two pass rushers are both coming back from serious knee injuries. Phillips had an ACL surgically repaired in November and Chubb sustained a catastrophic knee injury in December of 2023 and sat out all of last season. They have both played well in training camp, allowing Miami’s edge rushers to be the strength of the team, especially after last week’s addition of Judon, a 10-year veteran who has produced 72 career sacks. This unit is where the toughest decisions reside because McLendon and Murphy have shined in camp as rushers, while Bell and Goode, who haven’t, are valued special teams contributors.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (5)
▪ On the roster: Zach Sieler, Benito Jones, Kenneth Grant (R), Jordan Phillips (R), Zeek Biggers (R)
▪ Off: Matt Dickerson, Matthew Butler, Ben Stille and Alex Huntley
▪ Analysis: The Dolphins held opponents to 3.8 yards per carry and set a franchise record with 56 sacks in 2023. The yards-per-carry average ballooned to 4.4 yards per attempt, and Miami produced 35 sacks last season. The drastic change forced Miami to address the unit this offseason by selecting three defensive tackles in the draft. Grant, Phillips and Biggers are all progressing at a respectable rate, and each should be capable of handling 400 snaps a piece for this defense. Dickerson, a six-year veteran who spent most of last season in Miami, had a strong camp, but will likely be one of the last players released with the goal of re-signing him to the practice squad.
INSIDE LINEBACKER (4)
▪ On the roster: Jordyn Brooks, Tyrel Dodson, Willie Gay Jr., K.J. Britt
▪ Off: Channing Tindall, Dequan Jackson and Eugene Asante
▪ Analysis: Brooks had one of the most productive seasons as an inside linebacker since Karlos Dansby was a Dolphin and should take another step forward in Anthony Weaver’s defense this season. Dodson has the potential to play better than he did last season, when he contributed 36 tackles and three interceptions in the eight games he played for the Dolphins after being claimed off waivers at midseason. Gay, who has started 55 games in his NFL career, contributing 261 tackles, seven sacks and four interceptions, has shined in camp, and Britt is a strong special teams contributor. The Dolphins have invested three seasons into Tindall’s development without seeing much of a return. This season he will likely be demoted to the practice squad.
CORNERBACK (5)
▪ On the roster: Storm Duck, Kendall Sheffield, Ethan Bonner (headed to IR), Jack Jones and Jason Marshall Jr. (R)
▪ Off: Mike Hilton, Cam Smith, Cornell Armstrong, Isaiah Johnson, BJ Adams and Ethan Robinson, Cameron Dantzler
▪ Analysis: Losing Kader Kohou and Artie Burns to season-ending knee injuries led to the signing of Hilton, Jones and Armstrong, Jones seems to be competing for the starting spot opposite Duck, with Sheffield as his biggest competition. Bonner was in the mix, but the hamstring injury he sustained last week could motivate the team to place him on injured reserve to start the season. Marshall, the Dolphins’ 2025 fifth-round pick, was struggling until Miami moved him to the nickel spot, and now it’s possible that he has dislodged Hilton, who could be signed to the practice squad to start the season. Don’t be surprised if Miami claims someone off the waiver wire to fortify this unit because it lacks experience and quality depth.
SAFETY (5)
▪ On the roster: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ashtyn Davis (headed to IR), Ifeatu Melifonwu, Elijah Campbell, Dante Trader Jr. (headed to IR)
▪ Off: Patrick McMorris, Jordan Colbert, John Saunders Jr.
▪ Analysis: Fitzpatrick and Melifonwu are viewed as this unit’s starters because of the foot injury Davis sustained in camp’s first week that could get him placed on injured reserve to begin the season. It’s also possible that Trader, a 2025 fifth-round pick, might start the season there too because of the soft-tissue injury that has sidelined him for the past two weeks. Those moves would leave Miami two extra roster spots, which could potentially be used to add more talent to the secondary. Campbell’s one of Miami’s top special teams contributors, so he will safely make it onto Miami’s 53-man roster again. McMorris, Colbert and Saunders have each had their moments in training camp, and the preseason. They should all be considered for the practice squad.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
▪ On the roster: K Jason Sanders, P Jake Bailey, LS Joe Cardona
▪ Off: Nobody
▪ Analysis: Bailey beat out Ryan Stonehouse for the punter role last week. The undisclosed injury that kept Sanders from kicking might motivate the Dolphins to sign a kicker to the practice squad, just in case.