Making Call on the Miami Dolphins' Hardest Remaining Cuts

The Miami Dolphins are going to cut some talented players between now and the start of the 2015 regular season. Some of those players will be picked up by other teams in need of more depth at a particular position.

Ultimately, this will lead to some scrutiny and second-guessing from fans and media members alike, but with roster sizes of 53 players, teams have to be careful about how they divvy up the depth at every position.

It's not as easy as just keeping the best 53 players. Sometimes, a player who may be better than another has to get cut to make room for more insurance at another roster spot. 

Here are some of the talented players who are simply a victim of a crowded depth chart.

Jeff Luc

Wilfredo Lee/Associated Press

The Dolphins signed four talented undrafted free agents: Neville Hewitt, Jeff Luc, Mike Hull and Zach Vigil. Only one or two, tops, will make the cut. 

Some players are simply a victim of playing in the wrong era. Twenty years ago, Luc would have been a key player on almost any defense in the NFL. He is a classic "run-thumper" in the middle of the field, but don't ask him to play out in the open field in coverage.

Luc would have been a two-down linebacker in the late-'80s or early-'90s. In 2015, though, he would be lucky to play 30 percent of the team's snaps. The Dolphins coaching staff makes no bones about Luc's strengths. 

"We call him the 'Earth Shaker,'" said defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle, "the reason being—he's a powerful man. He's 255 pounds-plus and he's got about 10 percent body fat. So when he hits you, it's like running into one of these walls over here. He's a strong, physical guy. So he adds that dimension, so we're pleased with that."

But will they be pleased enough to keep Luc in such a niche role? He could still find a home on the Dolphins' practice squad, but his prospects of making the final roster are slim.

Sam Brenner

J Pat Carter/Associated Press

The Dolphins offensive line has been in turmoil for so long, it would seem crazy to even entertain the thought of cutting a player who has experience in the system. Backup lineman Sam Brenner joined the Dolphins in 2013 as an undrafted free agent, and started two games for the team in 2013 as the unit dealt with injuries and poor play. 

Brenner is listed as a center on the depth chart, but he has played both guard spots in his tenure with the Dolphins. His versatility has been his meal ticket thus far, but by drafting Jamil Douglas in the fourth round and by signing free-agent center J.D. Walton, the Dolphins may have pushed Brenner out of the picture. The bigger concern is the lack of depth at offensive tackle, but Brenner has never played the position.

To make the decision a little easier, cutting Brenner would not cost the team a thing, according to Over The Cap. That doesn't mean Brenner won't find work elsewhere; there are plenty of teams who could use some experienced depth on the interior of the offensive line. 

Josh Freeman

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Between Ryan Tannehill and Matt Moore, the Dolphins already have their top two quarterback spots sewn up. If they were to carry a third quarterback, they would have to make a provision at another position. The question is, is there a No. 3 quarterback worth that kind of consideration?

In the case of former first-round pick Josh Freeman, the answer is no. 

Freeman hasn't done anything noteworthy since 2010, when he almost led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to the playoffs; he didn't play a single snap in 2014. Yet, somehow, he continues to get opportunities in the NFL.

It's a little surprising that Freeman is still on the roster at this point; according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, Freeman has not practiced well. That's not terribly surprising, considering the length of his gap in meaningful NFL playing time. 

Freeman is on the books for only $795,000—the veteran minimum—and it would not cost the Dolphins any cap space to move on from him. 

Ray Drew

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Ray Drew (47, left) never lived up to his potential in college.

Coaches love it anytime they can add a player with a high ceiling. They especially love when that player comes at a low price.

Defensive end Ray Drew was described by NFL.com's Lance Zierlein as a "former 5-star recruit out of high school who ended up being a disappointment." Zierlein quoted a scout saying "not sure (whether) he has that overwhelming desire to be great." 

That doesn't sound like the kind of player who will succeed at the NFL level.

The Dolphins already have a ton of depth on the defensive line, particularly at defensive end where veterans Terrence Fede and Derrick Shelby could reprise their roles as the top backups behind Cameron Wake and Olivier Vernon.

Even if Drew begins to realize some of his potential, he has a long way to go if he's going to surpass any of the veterans on the depth chart.

Zack Bowman

Associated Press

Zack Bowman (30, left) doesn't have nearly the long-term potential of Will Davis (29, right) or other young guns in the Dolphins secondary.

The cornerback position is one where the Dolphins have more question marks than they have at other spots on the roster. It's also the position that could be one of the hardest to crack in terms of the bottom spots on the depth chart.

There's Brent Grimes and Jamar Taylor, who should end up as the starters; Brice McCain and Will Davis are front-runners for backup spots; and then there's everyone else: Bobby McCain, Tony Lippett, Sammy Seamster and Zack Bowman are all competing for the one or two remaining spots.

At 6'1" and 196 pounds, Bowman has size that is unmatched by most other cornerbacks on the Dolphins roster, but at 30 years old, his ceiling doesn't match up with that of the younger cornerbacks in the lineup. Bowman played 458 defensive snaps for the New York Giants in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus, and allowed only 13 completions on 36 throws into his coverage. 

According to Omar Kelly and Chris Perkins of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Bowman "has made plays but it's not consistent, and without consistency you're not making the 53." The Dolphins only gave Bowman $80,000 fully guaranteed, so they wouldn't be missing out on much if they chose to part ways before the season begins. 

Unless otherwise noted, all quotes obtained via team news release. All salary-cap and contract information provided by Over The Cap.