Projected Miami Dolphins' Final 53-Man Roster, Pre-Training Camp Edition
The depth chart never works out exactly as you expect it to once training camp is all over. But in order for expectations to be broken, there must first be a set of expectations.
The Miami Dolphins have added some talent to their roster this offseason and have let some other talent walk away. Some of the holes have been filled—others have been left vacant. The result is several positions where the starting lineup is already determined and other positions where nearly every spot on the depth chart is up for grabs.
In some cases, it's exceedingly easy to pick out who will make the final cut. In other cases, the expectation is based off projections and guesses as to how certain players will fit in the scheme at their positions.
With all that in mind, here's an early look at how the Dolphins' final 53-man roster could look at the end of training camp.
Quarterback
1 of 12
Starter: Ryan Tannehill
Backup: Matt Moore
Not a lot left to the imagination here, folks.
The Dolphins signed Ryan Tannehill to a four-year extension worth $77 million in new money and $21.5 million guaranteed at signing. With that kind of money, the Dolphins have left very little doubt that Tannehill is the quarterback of the present and the future.
Tannehill has improved on his numbers each year in the NFL, jumping in completion percentage, yards, touchdown-to-interception ratio and passer rating. He's been surrounded with better weapons than he's ever had in Miami, but those weapons are all new to the Dolphins' system. While it's reasonable to predict continued growth and development for the franchise quarterback, it's not wild to suggest that the Dolphins offense might come out of the gate a little slow until the new players figure things out.
Once again, barring a major upset in camp, Tannehill's backup will be Matt Moore. The Dolphins continue to make Moore one of the highest-paid backups in the NFL at $2.6 million for the 2015 season. With his extensive experience in the offense, it would be a big surprise if he failed to make the cut.
The Dolphins have carried three quarterbacks in the past, but neither Josh Freeman nor McLeod Bethel-Thompson is good enough to warrant taking that spot away from another position that may need depth.
Running Back
2 of 12
Starter: Lamar Miller
Backups: Jay Ajayi, Damien Williams, LaMichael James
There could be a battle brewing between Lamar Miller and Jay Ajayi over the top spot on the depth chart at running back. For now, though, the job has to be considered Miller's to lose.
Miller is entering the final year of his rookie contract, so this is a big year for him to prove his value to the Dolphins or any other team that may inquire about his services next offseason. If he has a year resembling the performance he put together in 2014 (216 carries, 1,099 yards, 5.1 yards per attempt, eight touchdowns), he could be getting a nice payday in eight months.
Miller's ability to prove himself could be limited if Ajayi cuts into his carries. Ajayi is an every-down back with the ability to run hard between the tackles, catch passes out of the backfield and block in the passing game. There are doubts about his long-term health after NFL.com's Mike Mayock reported bone-on-bone in his knee, but there are no doubts about his ability to contribute to the team in the short term.
The Dolphins could carry four backs, with two spots for Damien Williams and LaMichael James. Williams and James could round out the depth chart with special teams contributions and an ability to make plays in the open field—areas where former fifth-round pick Mike Gillislee has failed to make an impact thus far in his career.
Wide Receiver
3 of 12
Starters: DeVante Parker, Jarvis Landry, Kenny Stills
Backups: Greg Jennings, Rishard Matthews, Tommy Streeter
The Dolphins almost completely gutted their depth chart at wide receiver this offseason, and they significantly upgraded the group in terms of overall talent. The departures of Mike Wallace, Brian Hartline and Brandon Gibson gave way to the arrivals of DeVante Parker, Kenny Stills and Greg Jennings. What they gained in youth and athleticism, they lost in veteran experience and savvy.
Parker and Stills, along with 2014 second-round pick Jarvis Landry, figure to be the starting wide receivers this year. That group gives the Dolphins the best trio to fill the "traditional" wide receiver spots on the field: Parker acting as the big-bodied X receiver on the boundary, Stills being the versatile Z receiver to run routes at every level of the field on the other side and Landry filling into the slot and catching passes over the middle.
The battles down the depth chart could get very interesting. Jennings has a relationship with head coach Joe Philbin and should be considered a reasonably strong candidate for the final roster. Rishard Matthews does not have the same kind of bond with the coaching staff, but that hasn't stopped him from making the roster in the past couple seasons.
There is a mix of young players and veterans battling it out for the sixth spot (assuming there is a sixth spot) at wide receiver, but veteran Tommy Streeter has the size and skill set to back up Parker as the boundary receiver. Undrafted rookie Christion Jones brings that all-important special teams ability as a punt returner, though, and could be a threat to the fifth or sixth spot on the roster, as well.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Tight End
4 of 12
Starter: Jordan Cameron
Backups: Dion Sims, Arthur Lynch
The Dolphins offense will probably feature predominantly three-receiver sets with one tight end on the field at a time. Thus, there is less of a need for a lot of depth at the tight end position.
Jordan Cameron will undoubtedly be the starting tight end. He is by far the most talented when it comes to catching the ball, and he showed a ton of potential in 2013 when he hauled in 80 passes for 917 yards and seven touchdowns in the first (and only) fully healthy season of his four-year career. He's only 26 yards old, but with his history of concussions, there's no guarantee that he'll be the Dolphins' tight end for the next three years.
The Dolphins only signed him to a two-year deal worth $15 million and $5 million guaranteed, and they can part ways with him following the 2015 season and only incur $2 million in dead money.
Dion Sims made some plays for the Dolphins offense last year and should be locked in as the No. 2 tight end on the depth chart. He caught 24 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns despite only running 230 pass routes. He was also an effective blocker and should continue to get reps in that role even if Cameron takes up most of the opportunities in the passing game.
A back injury took Arthur Lynch out of action in the preseason last year, and he spent the 2014 season on injured reserve. As long as he's recovered, he should make the roster; the Dolphins saw enough potential in him to draft him in the fifth round last year.
Offensive Line
5 of 12
Starters: Branden Albert, Jamil Douglas, Mike Pouncey, Billy Turner, Ja'Wuan James
Backups: Dallas Thomas, J.D. Walton, Jason Fox
Three of the Dolphins' five starting offensive line spots are sewn up: left tackle Branden Albert, right tackle Ja'Wuan James and center Mike Pouncey are locked in as starters. The two guard spots and every backup spot are up for grabs at this juncture.
Young upstarts Jamil Douglas, Billy Turner and Dallas Thomas should be considered close to roster locks because they will all be competing for those two guard spots, but it's possible that whoever doesn't win a starting job could be cut by the end of the preseason.
Former New York Giants and Denver Broncos starting center J.D. Walton should make the roster for his extensive experience at center and his ability to step in as a backup for Pouncey in a worst-case scenario. That being said, Walton has earned a negative grade from Pro Football Focus in three of his four seasons in the league (he missed the 2013 season and only started four games in 2012).
Just because the Dolphins signed Jeff Linkenbach as a free agent this offseason doesn't mean he's any kind of lock to make the roster. After all, the Dolphins only gave him $50,000 guaranteed for the 2015 season. If he has a chance to make the roster, it's due to his experience at so many different positions on the offensive line; he has played every line position but center.
Defensive End
6 of 12
Starters: Cameron Wake, Olivier Vernon
Backups: Derrick Shelby, Terrence Fede, Ray Drew
There's no doubt in anyone's mind that Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon will be the starting defensive ends in Week 1. At this point, the Dolphins just need to find someone who can come onto the field and give those two a break.
In the past, that's been Derrick Shelby and Terrence Fede. Shelby enters his fourth year with the team, and it could very well be his last, since his rookie deal will expire following this year. Fede was a seventh-round draft pick by the Dolphins last year and earned only 82 snaps in relief duty for Wake and Vernon last season. He also played special teams, but the height of his contributions was a penalty and a missed tackle.
The Dolphins also picked up undrafted free agent Ray Drew, who has a high ceiling but also needs a lot of polish around the edges. With improved pad level and work ethic, Drew could unlock the potential that made him a 5-star recruit out of high school, according to 247Sports.
Defensive Tackle
7 of 12
Starters: Ndamukong Suh, Earl Mitchell
Backups: Jordan Phillips, C.J. Mosley, Anthony Johnson
The Dolphins didn't pay Ndamukong Suh nearly $60 million guaranteed to be a part-time player. The expectation is that he will play nearly every snap—or at least as close as he can get to it (he's played at least 85 percent of the snaps in each of the past three seasons).
And if you thought there would be an open competition for the starting spot next to Suh, Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald has some bad news in reporting that Earl Mitchell is still the Dolphins' starting defensive tackle next to Suh at this point.
Mitchell's status as a starter is intriguing. He has been a part-time player throughout his career, and he maxed out at 553 snaps in 2013 with the Houston Texans. He's a much better run defender than pass-rusher, but just because he's not an every-down player does not preclude him from being a starter.
At some point, Suh and Mitchell will have to come off the field. That's where Jordan Phillips, C.J. Mosley and Anthony Johnson come in. Phillips was drafted in the second round in 2015, and while he may not be ready to start right away, he could be groomed into that role in the next couple of years. Mosley has been a supplementary defensive tackle next to Suh for the past two seasons with the Detroit Lions.
Johnson played only 84 snaps as a rookie last year but could see more playing time in 2015 now that he has a full year of NFL experience under his belt.
Linebacker
8 of 12
Starters: Jelani Jenkins, Koa Misi, Chris McCain
Backups: Kelvin Sheppard, Jordan Tripp, Jeff Luc
The starters at defensive end and defensive tackle are players who were hand-picked and/or developed into those roles over the years. At linebacker, the starters will mostly be of the "developed" variety, because most of them are getting their first real crack at a starting job this year.
The only exception there is Koa Misi, who has been a starter at multiple positions in his career thus far; he started out as a 3-4 pass-rushing outside linebacker and later moved to a role as an outside linebacker in a 4-3 before finally landing in the middle of the 4-3 defense for the first time last year.
Jenkins did not initially earn the starting nod in 2014, but he emerged into that role following a season-ending injury to now-departed Dannell Ellerbe. Jenkins should be considered the front-runner to start at weak-side linebacker in 2015.
Chris McCain appears primed to fill a void vacated by Philip Wheeler, but also one left by the suspended Dion Jordan, who has been a chess-piece-type player moving back and forth from defensive end to outside linebacker. McCain has played mostly defensive end, both in college and in his first year in the NFL, so the jury is still out on whether or not he'll be successful in a full-time role at linebacker.
The backup spots are up for a bit more competition.
Kelvin Sheppard has extensive experience at middle linebacker in the 4-3, and that's where he fits best, so he seems like a logical and natural backup to Misi. Sheppard also excels against the run, where Misi has struggled at times.
Jordan Tripp played a very menial role on defense as a rookie in 2014, with only 12 snaps to his credit. He also served on special teams, though, so he could find ways to make positive contributions in 2015 even if his role doesn't expand much on defense this year.
Cornerback
9 of 12
Starters: Brent Grimes, Jamar Taylor
Backups: Brice McCain, Bobby McCain, Will Davis, Zack Bowman
The Dolphins are not looking for a No. 1 cornerback. Brent Grimes has filled that role for two years now and will continue to fill that role in 2015. The search continues, however, for the No. 2 cornerback.
The Dolphins hope they have found their man in Jamar Taylor, a 2013 second-round draft pick who has struggled at times in his two-year career. He has yielded completions on 37 of the 53 passes in his direction throughout his career (69.8 percent) with two touchdowns and has not registered a single pass breakup, according to Pro Football Focus.
He still has two years left on his contract, but after two years of inconsistent play and filling in as a backup, this could be a do-or-die year for Taylor with the Dolphins.
Even after determining whether or not Taylor has what it takes to be the No. 2 cornerback, the Dolphins then must decide on Nos. 3-5 or 6. Brice McCain has extensive experience as a slot cornerback, and as a coveted free-agent signing, he should be a front-runner for spot No. 3. His play has taken a dip lately, and he allowed 84 completions on 128 passes thrown into his coverage from 2013-2014 (65.6 percent) with seven touchdowns and four picks, according to PFF.
Will Davis was looking primed to be a prominent cornerback in the Dolphins' defensive backfield last year, but an ACL tear took him out of the lineup. If he can pick up where he left off, he could be a major factor in the defensive rotation. Rookie Bobby McCain could push for some opportunities in the slot, as well. Zack Bowman is 30 years old and is most likely on the downside of his career, but his starting experience and special teams experience should work in his favor in his push to make the roster.
Safety
10 of 12
Starters: Reshad Jones, Louis Delmas
Backups: Michael Thomas, Cedric Thompson
Thanks to the presence of veteran safety Reshad Jones, the Dolphins have secured one of their two starting safety spots. Jones has started 56 of the past 65 games for the Dolphins at safety, with four of his absences due to a suspension last season. He has never been recognized for his accomplishments in the form of Pro Bowl selections, but he has been a high-quality starter whether lining up at free safety or strong safety.
Louis Delmas was the other starting safety last year, and it appears he will be the starting safety once again in 2015. He tore his ACL in Week 14. Alex Marvez of Fox Sports indicates that Delmas is "borderline full-go," which is impressive given how late in the season he suffered the injury. Delmas has played all over the secondary, but after playing the strong safety role for much of 2014, it would appear he will resume that role in 2015.
From there, it's all about finding the backups. Michael Thomas has been a key backup for the past couple of years, filling in at varying safety and cornerback spots while also contributing on special teams. His versatility and experience covering kicks and punts will help him lock up a roster spot.
Cedric Thompson's physical upside makes him an intriguing prospect. He showed off great athleticism at his pro day this offseason; the 6'0" and 208 pound safety ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash and posted a 10'2" broad jump and 21 reps on a 225-pound bench press. The fifth-round pick can't consider himself "safe" from the chopping block, but if he can use his physical tools to show some value on special teams, he should make the cut.
Specialists
11 of 12
Kicker: Andrew Franks
Punter: Brandon Fields
Long Snapper: John Denney
It's time to end the Caleb Sturgis experience. The Dolphins kicker has made only 77.5 percent of the field goals he has attempted in his two-year career, and though he could still turn it around, time is running out. Not only is Sturgis dealing with a quad injury, but the Dolphins have also acknowledged Sturgis' shortcomings by adding Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute's Andrew Franks to their roster this offseason.
Franks will be competition for Sturgis, but there's also a chance neither one makes the roster. Franks made 37 of 56 attempts in college (66.1 percent), and that number would have to go way up to be considered acceptable at the NFL level.
As for the punting and long-snapping duties, there are no surprises there. Fields has been one of the better punters in the NFL over his career, and although he's making $2.52 million in 2015, his experience and readiness should make him the favorite over rookie free agent Matt Darr.
Full 53-Man Roster Projection
12 of 12
QB (2): Ryan Tannehill, Matt Moore
RB (4): Lamar Miller, Jay Ajayi, Damien Williams, LaMichael James
WR (6): DeVante Parker, Jarvis Landry, Kenny Stills, Greg Jennings, Rishard Matthews, Tommy Streeter
TE (3): Jordan Cameron, Dion Sims, Arthur Lynch
OL (8): Branden Albert, Jamil Douglas, Mike Pouncey, Billy Turner, Ja'Wuan James, Dallas Thomas, J.D. Walton, Jason Fox
DE (5): Cameron Wake, Olivier Vernon, Derrick Shelby, Terrence Fede, Ray Drew
DT (5): Ndamukong Suh, Earl Mitchell, Jordan Phillips, C.J. Mosley, Anthony Johnson
LB (6): Jelani Jenkins, Koa Misi, Chris McCain, Kelvin Sheppard, Jeff Luc, Jordan Tripp
CB (6): Brent Grimes, Jamar Taylor, Brice McCain, Bobby McCain, Will Davis, Zack Bowman
S (4): Reshad Jones, Louis Delmas, Michael Thomas, Cedric Thompson
ST (3): Andrew Franks, Brandon Fields, John Denney
Unless otherwise noted, all advanced statistics provided by Pro Football Focus and all salary-cap and contract information provided by Over The Cap.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
.png?w=480)
