Miami Dolphins roster 2024: Predicting the 53-man roster as training camp opens

The Miami Dolphins welcome their veteran players into training camp on Tuesday, joining the rookies who reported to the team facilities last week. With the full roster now in Miami Gardens, the team begins their work in preparation of the 2024 NFL regular season kickoff in September. The team has just over six weeks until they are playing in games that count and only five weeks to put together their 53-man roster.

How will the Dolphins put together their regular season roster? With today’s start to training camp, it is time to update our 53-man roster prediction? Who is a lock to make the roster? Who is on the cut bubble? Who might be hoping for a practice squad spot? It is time to take make an early prediction.

Quarterbacks (2)

Tua Tagovailoa
Mike White

The only real question here is whether Tagovailoa is practicing early in training camp as he and the team negotiate a contract extension. White would seem set to be the team’s backup while Skylar Thompson is the odd man out. Thompson, unless he is claimed off waivers by another team, should land on the practice squad under the league’s updated emergency quarterback rules. Could Thompson ball out and push White out of the second position? Yes, but it seems like the Dolphins would prefer a veteran to backup Tagovailoa, rather than a third-year developmental player. Rookie Gavin Hardison is likely a camp arm. There could be an outside possibility of Miami making a move to sign a free agent quarterback (Ryan Tannehill?) if White struggles early in camp.

Running backs (4)

Raheem Mostert
De’Von Achane
Jaylen Wright (R)
Chris Brooks

Brooks moves onto the roster, replacing Salvon Ahmed in this projection. Ahmed is starting camp on the non-football injury list. While the Dolphins can pull him off that list at any time and he could still work his way back into the roster mix, the battle for that final roster spot would seem to be between Brooks and Ahmed, with Brooks now having the edge based on availability. Jeff Wilson, Jr., is the odd man out here, but a strong camp and preseason could force Miami into making tough decisions at the running back position

Fullback (1)

Alec Ingold

No changes here. The Dolphins have a Pro Bowl fullback, and they will keep him on the roster.

Tight ends (3)

Durham Smythe
Jonnu Smith
Julian Hill

A battle between Hill and Jody Fortson will decide the third tight end position behind roster locks Smythe and Smith. Hill has familiarity with the offense, giving him the edge here. If both Hill and Fortson have strong camps and preseason, Miami may be forced to add a fourth tight end, but after keeping only two to start the 2023 season, that seems like a lot. Tanner Conner and rookie Hayden Rucci are battling for practice squad positions.

Wide receivers (6)

Tyreek Hill
Jaylen Waddle
Odell Beckham, Jr.
Malik Washington (R)
River Cracraft
Braxton Berrios

There will be a huge position battle throughout the summer when it comes to the receivers. Miami has a lot of potential talent at the position, but players are going to have to show that potential talent is becoming on-field talent this year. Hill, Waddle, and Beckham are roster locks atop the depth chart. Malik Washington would seem to be a lock as well, given his draft status. That probably leaves two roster spots for eight players. Throughout the offseason, the projection changed for those last spots, but it remains the same here as camp opens. Cracraft is a favorite among the coaching staff and Berrios gives the Dolphins the return option they like. If Erik Ezukanma, Anthony Schwartz, Braylon Sanders, Mathew Sexton, or rookie Je’Quan Burton can make an early special teams impact, they could push Berrios for that spot. Ezukanma might be the definition of a bubble player all summer, with his potential being overshadowed by injuries last year. Rookie seventh-round draft pick Tahj Washington is the wild card here, but he is starting camp on the physically unable to perform list, putting him a step behind the rest of the group.

Offensive line (9)

Terron Armstead
Isaiah Wynn
Aaron Brewer
Liam Eichenberg
Austin Jackson
Patrick Paul (R)
Kendall Lamm
Robert Jones
Jack Driscoll

The offensive line will be watched closely throughout camp and the preseason. The Dolphins have to do better protecting Tagovailoa and opening holes for Mostert and Achane than they did last year. Armstead will anchor the line at the left tackle position, but injuries are always a concern for him and the Dolphins will be hoping second-round draft pick Paul is ready if he is needed. Wynn should have the inside track for the starting left guar position, but he is beginning camp on the physically unable to perform list, raising at least a question about the position. Brewer was signed in free agency to be the starting center. Eichenberg will serve as the backup center for Brewer, but played his best at right guard last year and could settle into that role. Jackson resume his role as Tagovailoa’s blind-side blocker. Lamm gives the Dolphins a veteran swing-tackle option and he could be the game-day backup for Armstead while Paul, who needs time to develop, is inactive unless he is needed to start. Jones will battle for a starting guard position or will provide depth. Driscoll continues to make the roster as a depth option, but could be pushed by some of the other players who are on the wrong side of the roster bubble right now.

Lester Cotton and Kion Smith have good chances to force their way onto the roster, but they would need to put up strong training camps and move past Driscoll and Jones. Miami should be deep in lineman on the practice squad, which may be the best path for Chasen Hines, Ryan Hayes, Matthew Jones, Andrew Meter, and Ireland Brown. Bayron Matos, the Dominican-born basketball player looking to convert to the NFL as a lineman, is an International Pathway Program player and should make the practice squad in an exempted spot.

Defensive line (6)

Calais Campbell
Zach Sieler
Emmanuel Ogbah
Da’Shawn Hand
Teair Tart
Benito Jones

Our last projection came before the Dolphins signed Campbell, who is an obvious lock for the line. Earlier today, reports indicated the Dolphins had agreed to terms with Ogbah, adding another lineman to the group. The addition of those two pushes Neville Gallimore and Brandon Pili off the roster. Pili, Gallimore, and Jonathan Harris are all battling to overcome Jones and Tart on the roster. Daviyon Nixon and Isaiah Mack need strong camps to avoid being on the wrong side of the roster bubble. Rookies Leonard Payne and Mario Kendricks need to prove themselves.

Linebackers (9)

Jaelan Phillips
David Long, Jr.
Anthony Walker, Jr.
Bradley Chubb
Chop Robinson (R)
Jordyn Brooks
Mohamed Kamara (R)
Duke Riley
Grayson Murphy (R)

Shaquil Barrett’s retirement opened a roster spot, with Ogbah filling that position. However, Ogbah is likely a defensive lineman rather than a linebacker, and pushed a player off the roster at that position group. That opens a position for a linebacker here. Phillips, Chubb, and Cameron Goode are all on the physically unable to perform list to start camp. Phillips and Chubb are roster locks (though it seems likely Chubb at least starts the year on the reserve PUP), while Goode may need a strong camp to make the roster. Long and Walker should be the starting inside linebackers. Robinson, the team’s first-round pick, will either serve as the primary rotational player behind Phillips and Chubb, or be starting in the place of one of them if their injuries do not let them play early. Brooks, Kamara, and Riley provide depth options. Murphy is the surprise on the list. The Dolphins need pass rushers, and he has the potential to provide that. If Goode is cleared to play, he likely replaces Murphy who lands on the practice squad.

Channing Tindall and Zeke Vandenburgh will need strong camps to make the roster. Quinton Bell and Cam Brown have a steep hill to climb to make the roster.

Cornerbacks (5)

Jalen Ramsey
Kendall Fuller
Kader Kohou
Siran Neal
Cam Smith

Ramsey and Fuller will take the top two spots on the depth chart, with Kohou likely serving as the nickel cornerback. Neal makes the roster as a special teams ace. Smith holds on to a roster spot because of his draft status from last year, though he cannot be considered a lock for the roster until he shows something this summer. Ethan Bonner, Storm Duck (R), Isaiah Johnson, and Jason Maitre (R) will need to impress during camp.

Safeties (5)

Jevon Holland
Jordan Poyer
Marcus Maye
Elijah Campbell
Nik Needham

Holland, Poyer, and Maye will be the three top safeties this year. Campbell and Needham provide depth as both safeties and cornerbacks. Patrick McMorris (R) has work to do to force his way onto the roster, despite being a sixth-round pick. Jordan Colbert (R) is probably on the wrong side of the numbers game. Mark Perry (R) feels like a roster bubble player, but is starting camp on the non-football injury list and may have to overcome that hurdle to make it to the 53-man roster.

Special Teams (3)

K: Jason Sanders
P: Jake Bailey
LS: Blake Ferguson

Nothing new here.