The Miami Dolphins’ roster will continue to be a work in progress.
Miami’s shopping for new kicker because of Jason Sanders’ hip injury, needs to add offensive linemen because of how the backups struggled all training camp, will sign a couple of tailbacks to fill out the injury-depleted unit that’s down to one healthy tailback in Ollie Gordon II and will sign 16 players to the practice squad later this week.
The roster will continuously be tinkered with, but this appears to be the starting point for 2025, and here is how the Miami Herald grades each unit.
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 premier passers. But his backup is critical because Tagovailoa hasn’t proven he can be durable. Wilson’s experience and salary ($6 million) give him the edge on the No. 2 role, but Ewers, a 2025 seventh-round pick, has been one of camp’s pleasant surprises, earning a spot on the 53-man roster. Considering what Miami went through at this position last season, the Dolphins should consider signing a quarterback (think rookie Kyle McCord) to the practice squad.
Grade: B
RUNNING BACKS (3)
▪ On the roster: De’Von Achane, Jaylen Wright (likely 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 leaves 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, so expect veterans to be signed or claimed for either the 53-man roster or the practice squad.
Grade: D
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), 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 injuries enabled Tagovailoa to develop solid chemistry with Eskridge, Malik Washington and Tahj Washington. Miami needs Westbrook-Ikhine to become a red-zone weapon, but he has had a quiet training camp. Expect Miami to add two young receivers with size to the practice squad.
Grade: B
TIGHT ENDS/FULLBACKS (4)
▪ On the roster: Darren Waller, Julian Hill, Tanner Conner; fullback Alec Ingold.
▪ Off: Pharoah Brown, Hayden Rucci, Chris Myarick
▪ Analysis: The Dolphins shelved Waller all training camp because it has been 19 months since he last played football., but his absence from practice Tuesday hints he’s nursing an injury. 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 was being pushed by Brown for his in-line role, but the Dolphins released Brown on Monday, giving him an opportunity to sign elsewhere. It’s possible Brown could return as a practice squad signee. Rucci and Myarick are practice squad possibilities.
Grade: C
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (10)
▪ 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 (placed on IR), OG Daniel Brunskill, OT Kion Smith.
▪ Off: OT Jalen McKenzie, 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 lead to them starting the season on injured reserve or the PUP (missing the first four games). 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. Eichenberg doesn’t count against the 53-man roster because he remains on the PUP.
Grade: D-minus
EDGE RUSHERS (5)
▪ On the roster: Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, Chop Robinson, Matthew Judon, Cameron Goode
▪ Off: Quinton Bell, 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 might be ready for training camp in August. Chubb suffered a catastrophic knee injury in December 2023 and sat out all of last season. They’ve 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 resided, and the hope is that McLendon and Murphy aren’t claimed and can be re-signed to the practice squad.
Grade: A-minus
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (6)
▪ On the roster: Zach Sieler, Benito Jones, Kenneth Grant (R), Jordan Phillips (R), Zeek Biggers (R), Matthew Butler
▪ Off: Matt Dickerson, 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 apiece for this defense. Dickerson, a six-year veteran who spent most of last season in Miami, had a strong camp, but Butler made the 53-man roster over him. Dickerson could possibly be added to the practice squad if he’s not claimed.
Grade: B-minus
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 (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 and finally pulled the plug.
Grade: A
CORNERBACK (7)
▪ On the roster: Rasul Douglas (not official), Storm Duck, Ethan Bonner, Jack Jones, Jason Marshall Jr. (R), Isaiah Johnson, Cam Smith
▪ Off: Mike Hilton, Kendall Sheffield, Cornell Armstrong, B.J. Adams, Ethan Robinson, Cameron Dantzler
▪ Analysis: The expected signing of Douglas, who has started 80 games in eight seasons, adds a much-needed veteran to a unit that lost Kader Kohou and Artie Burns during preseason. Bonner was in the mix for a starting spot, but the hamstring injury he sustained last week might motivate the team to place him on injured reserve. Marshall, the Dolphins’ 2025 fifth-round pick, was struggling until Miami moved him to the nickel spot, and he seemingly dislodged Hilton. Smith made the 53-man roster over Kendall Sheffield, who is nursing an injury. Johnson seemingly made the 53-man roster because of his ability as a gunner. Douglas’ signing could lead to someone in this unit’s release.
Grade: D SAFETY (5)
▪ On the roster: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ashtyn Davis (possibly headed to IR), Ifeatu Melifonwu, Elijah Campbell, Dante Trader Jr. (R possibly headed to IR), Jordan Colbert
▪ Off: Patrick McMorris, John Saunders Jr.
▪ Analysis: Fitzpatrick and Melifonwu are viewed as this unit’s starters because of the foot injury Davis sustained in the first week of camp that could force him to miss the first month of the season It’s also possible that Trader, a 2025 fifth-round pick, might start the season sidelined by a soft tissue issue that’s plagued him for the past three weeks. Campbell’s one of Miami’s top special teams contributors, so he safely made it onto Miami’s 53-man roster for the fifth straight season. Colbert seemingly made it over McMorris and Saunders because of his special teams contributions.
Grade: C-plus
SPECIAL TEAMS (3)
▪ On the roster: K Jason Sanders (placed on IR), P Jake Bailey, LS Joe Cardona
▪ Off: Nobody
▪ Analysis: Bailey beat out Ryan Stonehouse for the punter role last week. The Dolphins are shopping for a new kicker because of the hip injury Sanders sustained last week that got him placed on injured reserve.
Grade: D