From inside linebacker to corner, exploring Dolphins’ tricky roster choices ahead
The Dolphins’ roster has so many unproven young professionals that there might not be much difference in quality between the 30th player and the 53rd on Miami’s 53-man roster.
And that makes battles for roster spots a bit different than previous years.
A look at the five most interesting roster battles on defense, after doing a similar exercise on offense last week:
▪ How do you make room for seven inside linebackers?
That’s one of the biggest quandaries in projecting this roster. There are a combined seven players at that position who are either proven NFL veterans or Dolphins rookie draft picks. But teams rarely keep more than five, if that.
That’s why starters Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson can’t be completely certain they won’t be traded, though the Dolphins have said they want to extend Brooks. Willie Gay Jr. is the most accomplished strong side linebacker on the roster and seems very likely to stick and potentially start.
Three draft picks also assuredly will make it — Jacob Rodriguez, Kyle Louis (listed by the Dolphins as a linebacker but played a lot of safety at Pittsburgh) and Trey Moore (listed as a linebacker but has played extensively on the edge at Texas and figures to play both in Miami).
Despite considerable NFL experience, Ronnie Harrison appears at risk unless there’s an injury or Miami moves on from Brooks or Dodson. Jackson Woodard is the other one battling for a job; he has played no defensive snaps in four appearances for the Dolphins and Texans.
▪ What corners don’t make the cut?
Darrell Baker Jr., who started 25 games for Tennessee over the past two seasons, has gone from a potential starter to a question because of an injury that has left his status up in the air for the start of training camp. The Dolphins have guaranteed nearly all of his $1.2 million salary, but that’s not a big number to move on from if he struggles in camp.
First-rounder Chris Johnson and Jason Marshall Jr. are automatics, and Juju Brents enters camp as the front-runner for one of potentially four other cornerback jobs.
So that would leave Baker, Ethan Bonner, AJ Green, Marco Wilson, Alex Austin, injured Storm Duck, Miles Battle and Ethan Robinson competing for three jobs. Aside from Baker, who’s probably the most talented of the group, there isn’t a lot separating the seven others.
▪ Who joins young players Dante Trader Jr. and Texas rookie Michael Taaffe in the safety room?
Zayne Anderson, a special teams ace whom the coaches trust from their Green Bay days together, has a good chance to stick.
Lonnie Johnson Jr., now on his seventh team in five years, has by far the most starting experience of the group but would be at risk if he’s bad in August.
This ultimately could come down to whether Miami finds a better player than Johnson in the months ahead. As of a week ago, Miami seemingly hadn’t been inclined to try to find one.
▪ Who sticks among the nine edges?
Chop Robinson and Josh Uche are automatic, while David Ojabo and rookie seventh-rounder Max Llewellyn are likely to make it, unless either is a total disaster in training camp.
The fact the Dolphins passed on veteran free agent A.J. Epenesa could help the chances of the players firmly on the bubble, including Robert Beal and Cam Goode.
At this point, it’s likely Beal, Goode and undrafted rookies Seth Coleman, Rodney McGraw and Mason Reagor are competing for one job, barring injuries or outside reinforcements. I would give Beal a slight edge because of his proficiency against the run, but keep in mind that Reagor was viewed as a fifth-round pick by some evaluators if he hadn’t dealt with a serious knee injury in college.
▪ Do the Dolphins try to sign any of the top remaining free agents, something they haven’t shown much inclination to do?
The notable summer development, to this point, has been the Dolphins’ lack of interest in adding superior outside options at safety, edge and cornerback. If that changes, that pushes out as many as three players who otherwise might stick.
Reps for three of the best remaining free agents at those positions say Miami has shown no interest in any of them. So while the Dolphins aren’t tanking, they’re also not trying to build the absolute best possible roster either, because they want to give opportunities to their young players and ideally carry over some of their cap space. That’s understandable, considering none of these free agents likely would lift Miami to playoff contention.
