Projecting the Miami Dolphins' Final 53-Man Roster After Preseason Week 2

We've hit the halfway mark of this preseason, so this is an opportune time to take one final stab at projecting the Miami Dolphins' final 53-man roster. 

At this point, only a handful of positions are up for grabs, but those competitions are all tightly contested. 

The Dolphins are still hosting positional battles at running back, offensive guard, defensive end, linebacker, cornerback and safety. Joe Philbin and his staff will use the remainder of the preseason to determine which players warrant spots on the 53-man roster. 

However, a small handful of players who will don aqua and orange in Week 1 may not even be on the roster yet. All 32 teams will trim their roster from 90 to 80 to 53 in these next two weeks, and some quality veterans are bound to hit the open market. 

There's a good chance Miami will pounce on a few, specifically a linebacker, cornerback or safety. 

But, for now, this is how I see the Dolphins' final 53-man roster materializing. 

Quarterbacks

Projected Final Roster: Ryan Tannehill, Matt Moore, Pat Devlin

On Monday, Joe Philbin crowned Ryan Tannehill the victor of Miami's quarterback competition, announcing the eighth overall pick will enter the regular season as the team's starting QB. 

Now, the Dolphins have an unenviable decision to make as roster cut-down deadlines approach: What do they do with David Garrard and Matt Moore? There are pros and cons to both quarterbacks, but the likelihood of both sticking around is slim. Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald explains:

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The Dolphins are in the bottom five NFL teams on cap space. The club's cap space hovers between $2 million and $2.31 million, depending on the week. Last week, that was third-worst in the NFL...Keeping [both Garrard and Moore] is a salary cap luxury. Moore is scheduled to make $2.25 million in base salary this year. Garrard is scheduled to make $2.75 million in base salary. Cutting or trading one would make sense. The Dolphins would lower the price they're paying for backup quarterbacks, which now promises to be at a relatively expensive $6.5 million in salary cap space for both players.

"

There isn't a drastic difference between their salaries, but considering the vast number of Dolphins players slated for free agency next summer, the team can use every spare dollar.  

Garrard was running away with the starting job before he suffered a knee injury, and his nine years of NFL experience would be welcomed in the locker room—especially as guidance for Tannehill. But he's 34 years old, he's not healthy and his trade value is minimal. 

Moore has been pedestrian at best this offseason, however he's still only 28 years old and his teammates just voted him team MVP for last season, which shows how popular he is in the locker room. 

Ultimately, it makes more sense to keep Moore and dump Garrard, though there's still a chance both remain on the roster. 

And then there's Pat Devlin, who has played surprisingly well this preseason, completing 22-of-37 passes for 183 yards. He's making a strong case for the No. 3 quarterback spot on the 53-man roster, and that's where he should settle if one of the vets is in fact released.

Roster Total: 3/53 

Running Backs

Projected Final Roster: Reggie Bush, Daniel Thomas, Lamar Miller, Marcus Thigpen, Jorvorskie Lane (fullback)

Bush, Thomas and Miller can rest easy knowing their jobs on the 53-man roster are secure, but the same can't be said for Steve Slaton and Marcus Thigpen, who are currently entrenched in a battle for the No. 4 running back job. 

This is one of the most difficult competitions to gauge because Slaton and Thigpen are such different players. 

Slaton is a former rookie sensation who has accrued just 187 rushing yards in the last two years combined. Despite his recent struggles, Slaton is a one-cut runner who finds the hole, hits it and runs straight through. Think Arian Foster.

Slaton fits nicely into Miami's zone-blocking scheme and can also contribute in the passing game (caught a combined 94 passes in his first two NFL seasons), which is crucial for running backs in the West Coast offense. And, lastly, he rushed for 22 yards on four carries against the Panthers on Friday, making him the team's leading rusher. 

Thigpen is a CFL import noted for his speed and versatility, and he put both on display against Carolina. Although he didn't register a carry, Thigpen caught three passes for 40 yards and returned three kickoffs for a combined 90 yards. He must win the kick return job in order to make the team, and he appears to be the favorite right now. On each of Miami's three tentative depth charts, he's been listed as the first-team return-man. 

So while Slaton gives the 'Phins a practical veteran, Thigpen is more of a wild card—but his upside is far more intriguing. At this point, why not roll the dice and keep Thigpen? The Dolphins have nothing to lose by doing so. 

Finally, Jorvorskie Lane is the clear favorite for the fullback job. The 'Phins cut Ryan Mahaffey on Monday, leaving Lane and CFL import Jerome Messam to compete for the job. However, Messam has been a ghost for most of training camp. While his chances of making the 53-man roster are dwindling, I suspect the Dolphins are keeping him under wraps on purpose:

"

RT @scott_altman: Maybe Phins are keeping Messam under wraps so he won't get poached?» Maybe. I've seen that done PLENTY around here.

"

"— Omar Kelly (@OmarKelly) August 20, 2012"

Messam was a prized acquisition in January. Not many 6'4", 248-pound running backs dominate like he did in the CFL, so there's clearly big potential and talent there. Messam was set back by knee surgery in May, so the 'Phins should try their best to stash him on the practice squad. 

Roster Total: 8/53

Wide Receivers

Projected Final Roster: Davone Bess, Legedu Naanee, Roberto Wallace, Brian Hartline, Julius Pruitt, Marlon Moore

Now that the quarterback competition is settled, the battle for the No. 6 wide receiver spot comes to the forefront.

Slowly but surely, Clyde Gates has fallen off of the map. He'll need a miraculous breakthrough to even warrant consideration for the 53-man roster. With Gates out of the picture, this competition boils down to Marlon Moore, Rishard Matthews, Jeff Fuller, Chris Hogan and B.J. Cunningham. 

All five wideouts have flashed their talent, but none have done so on a consistent basis, making this competition increasingly difficult to gauge and predict. Ultimately, the winner of this battle must offer value on special teams and ideally offer some value on offense as well.

Right now, Marlon Moore appears to be in the driver's seat. He saw some reps with the first-team offense against Carolina and delivered with a pair of receptions for 25 yards. (He has also played sparingly with the first-team in camp.) Moore has sub-4.5 speed, which makes him valuable to a wide receiver corps that lacks a home run threat. 

This competition is still wide open, however. Matthews, Fuller and Hogan refuse to go away quietly, and all three still have an excellent chance at cracking the 53-man roster. 

Total Roster: 14/53

Tight Ends

Projected Final Roster: Anthony Fasano, Charles Clay, Michael Egnew, Jeron Mastrud

The Dolphins currently have five tight ends on the roster, and the only one who faces an uncertain future is Les Brown. He's vying for a spot on the practice squad and should earn one based on upside alone. Brown is extraordinarily raw, but he's a freak athlete who's worth an investment. 

Meanwhile, Michael Egnew's disappointing play and Charles Clay's transition to tight end has opened the door for Jeron Mastrud to all but secure a roster spot.

Remember, Egnew rarely blocked at Missouri, so he'll need substantial time to develop that facet of his game. Clay, meanwhile, wasn't a great blocker to begin with, and his move to tight end requires a great deal of refinement. 

The Dolphins need more than one reliable blocking tight end, which makes Mastrud a near-lock. Although he won't contribute in the passing game, he may see an extended role in 2012. 

Total Roster: 18/53

Offensive Tackles

Projected Final Roster: Jake Long, Jonathan Martin, Lydon Murtha

Long and Martin are obvious locks for the 53-man roster. 

Although Murtha has been something of a disappointment this offseason, he's a lock as well. Because he can play both left and right tackle, he's the only backup offensive tackle Miami needs to keep on board for now. 

Total Roster: 21/53

Offensive Guards

Projected Final Roster: Richie Incognito, Artis Hicks, Nate Garner

With the death of one positional battle (quarterback) comes the birth of another. 

Veterans Nate Garner and Eric Steinbach are currently fighting for the backup guard job.

Garner has to be considered the favorite given his age and flexibility. Not only is he five years younger than Steinbach, but he can also play every position on the offensive line.  

The Dolphins signed Steinbach one day before training camp began. Initially, it looked like the 32-year-old would quickly supplant Artis Hicks as the starting right guard. However, he never managed to do so. Steinbach, who missed all of 2011 with a back injury, is now dealing with a knee injury. 

Granted, Steinbach's resume is exponentially more impressive than Garner's and he has experience in a zone-blocking scheme, but his best days are far behind him. Keeping Garner just makes more sense for the 'Phins. 

John Jerry has run with the first-team offense in practice this week, but I don't think that's anything more than the coaching staff giving him one last chance to shed the bust label. And, I wouldn't count on him delivering. 

Total Roster: 24/53

Centers

Projected Final Roster: Mike Pouncey, Josh Samuda 

Undrafted free agent Josh Samuda came out of nowhere to snag a spot on the 53-man roster. He quickly shed the "camp body" label and established himself as a viable backup center within the first two weeks of camp.

Samuda has experience at guard from his days at UMASS, which further increases his chances of making the team. Artis Hicks hasn't exactly set the world on fire at right guard, so if he falters, then the Dolphins have a contingency plan. However, it'd be interesting to see how Samuda fares as a first-team guard in case he's ever tossed into the gauntlet.

Either way, he provides much-needed depth at center and guard.

Total Roster: 26/53

Defensive Ends

Projected Final Roster: Cam Wake, Jared Odrick, Derrick Shelby, Olivier Vernon

Another undrafted free agent taking Dolphins camp by storm is Derrick Shelby.

He, like Josh Samuda, came out of nowhere and now has a firm grasp on a roster spot. Shelby was one of the only bright spots in the defense's poor performance against the Panthers last Friday, racking up four tackles (two for a loss) and a sack. 

There's really only one question about this unit's roster projection: What happens to Jamaal Westerman?

Shelby's ascension puts his roster spot in jeopardy even though he just signed with the Dolphins in March. Westerman can generate a pass rush (and Lord knows this team needs all of the pass-rushing help it can get), but he can't do it consistently, which might be his downfall.

There's still time for Westerman to right the ship. He needs to make a notable impact on both defense and special teams in order to regain a chance at the 53-man roster.   

Total Roster: 30/53

Defensive Tackles

Projected Final Roster: Paul Soliai, Randy Starks, Tony McDaniel, Kheeston Randall

Miami's first-team defense looked mostly miserable in its first two preseason appearances, but there is one unit that still managed to shine: the defensive tackles. 

Paul Soliai and Randy Starks are going to wreak havoc in the 4-3, but who will settle in behind them on the depth chart?

Well, Tony McDaniel is a lock—if he stays with the team, that is. McDaniel is slated to make $3 million in 2012, which is a bit much for a player who registered only 13 tackles last season and is now struggling with a knee injury he suffered in the preseason opener.

Whether McDaniel stays or goes, seventh-round pick Kheeston Randall should be on the roster come Week 1. He's displayed an ability to shed blocks, create penetration and cause disruption in both of his preseason appearances. 

Total Roster: 34/53

Outside Linebackers

Projected Final Roster: Kevin Burnett, Koa Misi, Gary Guyton, Josh Kaddu

There's not much up for debate at outside linebacker. 

Yet. 

Koa Misi and Gary Guyton played terribly in both preseason games. They are visibly struggling against the run and the pass, and they are constantly on the wrong end of big plays. Things will improve once Kevin Burnett recovers from his leg injury, but even then Miami can't feel good about entering the season with such a depthless, underperforming unit. 

A slew of linebackers will become available in the coming weeks as teams trim their rosters. If one piques the coaching staff's interest, then the Dolphins have to bring him in, don't they?

Things will get complicated if they do. 

None of these four linebackers deserve to be cut, so the Dolphins may soon have a conundrum on their hands. For now, however, these four figure to assemble the team's outside linebacker crew. 

Total Roster: 38/53

Middle Linebacker

Projected Final Roster: Karlos Dansby, Jason Trusnik

Karlos Dansby is obviously locked in here, so let's cut to the chase. 

Austin Spitler and Jason Trusnik are competing for the backup middle linebacker job.

Although Trusnik spent his first five NFL seasons as a 3-4 outside linebacker, he's now seeing time at middle linebacker—including Friday's game and Tuesday's practice. He was outstanding against Tampa Bay, racking up a team-high six tackles, but came back down to earth against Carolina.  

Trusnik's success spells trouble for Spitler, a former seventh-round pick entering his third NFL season. 

Right now, this competition is a toss-up. The Dolphins will use these next two weeks of practice to decipher which player brings more value on special teams and more reliability as a backup.

Based on the first two weeks of the preseason, Trusnik should be the favorite. 

Total Roster: 40/53

Cornerbacks

Projected Final Roster: Sean Smith, Vontae Davis, Richard Marshall, Nolan Carroll, Jonathan Wade

The cornerback corps has encountered some unwanted turmoil this offseason, but things are slowly settling down. Vontae Davis has responded well to the onslaught of criticism that followed his embarrassing segment on Hard Knocks, and Sean Smith looks like he's primed for a rebound season. 

Right now, the only question regarding the cornerback corps is: Who wins the No. 5 job?

A long list of players including Vincent Agnew, Marcus Brown, Trenton Hughes, Quinten Lawrence, Kevyn Scott and Jonathan Wade are competing for the spot.

Wade is the most experienced of the crew, and he played under defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle in Cincinnati. These two factors make him the favorite, but it doesn't guarantee him a roster spot.

None of these corners—Wade included—have separated themselves from the pack. The Dolphins would be wise to poke around the free-agency market after roster cut-downs. 

Total Roster: 45/53

Safety

Projected Final Roster: Reshad Jones, Chris Clemons, Jimmy Wilson, Tyrone Culver, Anderson Russell

Free-agent acquisition Tyrell Johnson has been a monumental bust. The Dolphins gave him a chance to win a starting—or at least major—role, but he has instead run exclusively with the second- and third-team defenses. 

Johnson's chances of making the roster are obsolete, which opens the door for a third undrafted free agent to crack the 53-man roster: Anderson Russell.

Russell made noise for his outstanding play at the beginning of camp. Although the hype has died down a bit, he has done enough to carve out a role as a special teamer. 

Total Roster: 50/53

Specialists

Projected Final Roster: Brandon Fields (P), Dan Carpenter (K), John Denney (LS)

Brandon Fields and John Denney aren't just two of the longest-tenured Miami Dolphins, they're also two of the team's most consistent, reliable and valuable players. 

They're not going anywhere. 

Dan Carpenter, on the other hand, missed his only two field-goal attempts in Miami's first preseason game. He rebounded by smacking a 52-yarder against the Panthers on Friday, but Jeff Ireland won't hesitate to bring in a competitor if Carpenter falters again. 

Total Roster: 53/53

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