The Miami Dolphins are two weeks into their 2025 training camp, with their first preseason game just over a week away. With the calendar now moving to August, today is a perfect day to take a look at the team’s roster and update the projected depth chart.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/26074349/2227397853.jpg)
A lot has changed since the first 53-man roster projection. The Dolphins traded away cornerback Jalen Ramsey and tight end Jonnu Smith, while acquiring safety Minkah Fitzpatrick and tight end Darren Waller. They have had injuries, especially to the cornerback group where Artie Burns sustained a torn ACL last week and Kader Kohou tore his ACL this week. An already depleted secondary is only getting even thinner as training camp progresses.
Where do we stand as we reach August 1? Here is the latest 53-man roster projection for the Dolphins, along with any changes from the last projection and any notes for the position group.
Rookies in italics.
Offense (25)
Quarterbacks (3)
Tua Tagovailoa
Zach Wilson
Quinn Ewers
Changes: None.
No real changes here. The Dolphins should carry all three quarterbacks on their roster this year. The team did waive Brett Gabbert last week, but he was not listed on the original roster projection. Update: As I was finishing this, Gabbert was re-signed as the Dolphins made some roster moves, but it does not impact the projection.
Running backs (5)
De’Von Achane
Jaylen Wright
Alexander Mattison
Ollie Gordon II
Alec Ingold (Fullback)
Changes: None.
Achane clearly remains the top option at the position, and Wright seems to have solidified himself as the number two runner. Mattison, who joined the Dolphins as a free agent, is having a good start to training camp and looks like he will be the third running back while rookie Gordon develops and, potentially, surpasses him. Ingold continues as the team’s fullback.
Wide receivers (6)
Tyreek Hill
Jaylen Waddle
Malik Washington
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
Tahj Washington
Dee Eskridge
Change: Add Eskridge
Hill, Waddle, and Malik Washington are locks, while Westbrook-Ikhine should join that group at some point (if he is not already there). Adding Eskridge forces a change somewhere else on the roster, but he has played himself into that position early in camp. Tahj Washington may be the bubble player from the group, with the Dolphins deciding they need to cut him due to roster limits. Erik Ezukanma and Andrew Armstrong have work to do to claim a spot.
Tight ends (3)
Darren Waller
Tanner Conner
Pharaoh Brown
Changes: Add Waller; remove Jonnu Smith (trade)
Jonnu Smith was on the original projection and now gets replaced by Waller as the team made a couple of trades. Waller, Conner, and Brown seem like a solid group - assuming Waller is able to shake off the rust from his one-year retirement last season. The much maligned Julian Hill is on the roster bubble, falling to the wrong side in this projection.
Offensive linemen (8)
Patrick Paul
Jonah Savaiinaea
Aaron Brewer
James Daniels
Austin Jackson
Larry Borom
Kion Smith
Jackson Carman
Changes: Move Savaiinaea to left guard and Daniels to right guard; remove Liam Eichenberg (PUP), Ryan Hayes
Adding players at other positions forced the offensive line to cut from 10 in the initial projection to eight now. Eichenberg could start the year on the physically unable to perform list, which creates one spot. Hayes has not grabbed ahold of a roster position, so he falls off here. Bubble players to watch include Hayes, Jackson Carman, and Andrew Meyer.
Defense (25)
Defensive lineman (5)
Zach Sieler
Benito Jones
Kenneth Grant
Jordan Phillips
Matt Dickerson
Changes: None
Rookies Zeek Biggers and Alex Huntley are probably practice squad players, but could force the team to make a choice between one of them and Dickerson. Miami could also look to add depth as roster cuts happen. And there is always the possibility of Christian Wilkins floating out there - assuming he is healthy, whatever is causing the drama that led to his release from the Las Vegas Raiders is not anything major, and his price tag is not too high.
Linebackers (8)
Jaelan Phillips
Jordyn Brooks
Tyrel Dodson
Bradley Chubb
Chop Robinson
K.J. Britt
Quinton Bell
Willie Gay, Jr.
Changes: Add Gay
I will admit it - and the comments were quick to point it out on version one of this projection - I completely missed Gay as I put together my list. That is fixed here. The other one the comments questioned was edge rusher Mohamed Kamara not making the roster. He absolutely could, but I still have him on the wrong side of the cut line. If he does make it, it might be at the expense of Bell. Edge rusher Grayson Murphy could also throw his name into that discussion if he has a strong preseason.
Channing Tindall is a question mark. He has had a decent start to training camp, but he is still facing an uphill battle to make the roster.
If a roster spot opens, Cameron Goode may have the first claim on it to give the Dolphins another special teams option.
Cornerbacks (8)
Storm Duck
Jason Marshall
Ethan Bonner
Cam Smith
Kendall Sheffield
Cornell Armstrong
Jack Jones
Mike Hilton
Changes: Remove Kader Kohou (injured reserve); remove Artie Burns (injured reserve); add Armstrong, Jones, and Hilton
At this point, this is a roster listing and not really a depth chart projection. Who will climb out of this group to claim a top spot on the depth chart? Who will stay healthy enough to even try to claim a starting role? If there are changes anywhere on the roster between now and September, this is where is has to be.
Safeties (4)
Minkah Fitzpatrick
Ashtyn Davis
Elijah Campbell
Ifeatu Melifonwu
Changes: Add Fitzpatrick (trade); remove Patrick McMorris; remove Dante Trader, Jr.
Patrick McMorris and Dante Trader, Jr., fall off the roster with the addition of Fitzpatrick and the additions at other positions. They are both bubble watch players who could play themselves into roster spots. Davis’ injury is something to watch - he could start the year on injured reserve with the goal to bring him back later if possible. That could allow the team to keep one of the younger players on the roster. Melifonwu is also injured, but expected to come back.
Special Teams (3)
Punter (1)
Ryan Stonehouse
Changes: None
Kicker (1)
Jason Sanders
Changes: None
Long Snapper (1)
Joe Cardona
Changes: None
