Preseason Week 3 Miami Dolphins 53-man roster projection: Jarquez Hunter crashes the party in the backfield and changes the math
The Miami Dolphins will play their final preseason contest of the summer tonight against the Atlanta Falcons. Who will make the 53-man roster?
The Miami Dolphins got a jump start on their churn of the bottom of the roster (again) yesterday with the trade for Rams running back Jarquez Hunter. The player they shipped out, wide receiver Tutu Atwell, did not make my previous 53-man roster projection ahead of the team’s preseason matchup last Saturday against the New York Giants. Something for a bubble player? That’s a win.
But it doesn’t make Miami’s 53-man roster picture and more clear. Here’s an updated 53-man roster forecast ahead of this weekend’s preseason contest against the Falcons.
Miami Dolphins’ 53-man roster projection ahead of the third preseason game against the Atlanta Falcons
Quarterback (3)
IN: Malik Willis, Quinn Ewers, Mystery QB
OUT: Cam Miller, Mark Gronowski
The skinny: I’m looking for Miami to shake this room up a little bit. I do think they’ll ultimately hold on to one of Ewers and Cam Miller because a new backup behind Malik Willis feels like a recipe for trouble if someone needs to play early. But whether it’s a trade, free agent signing, or something else? I’m calling my shot — there’s a new quarterback on the roster by this time next week.
Running back (4)
IN: De’Von Achane, Jaylen Wright, Ollie Gordon II, Jarquez Hunter
OUT: Carlos Washington Jr., Donovan Edwards, FB D.J. Herman (R), Bennett Coleman
The skinny: Hunter creates a crowded group behind De’Von Achane. It certainly doesn’t help the outlook for rookie FB D.J. Herman to make the cut, either. I wouldn’t dismiss Miami from moving on from either Jaylen Wright or Ollie Gordon II if the right offer came around. Hunter is the first addition by this regime to that room.
Wide receiver (5)
IN: Caleb Douglas (R), Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert, Kevin Coleman Jr. (R), Chris Bell (R)
OUT: AJ Henning, Jalen Reagor, Terrace Marshall Jr., Ryan Miller, Theo Wease Jr., Donaven McCulley (R)
The skinny: The numbers game for running backs and quarterbacks shows up here. Keeping four backs, three quarterbacks, and six receivers is a tough math proposition. It ends up costing AJ Henning a spot on this projection. I would not be the least bit opposed to see the Dolphins add Cedric Tillman from Cleveland this weekend — he was waived yesterday. If the Dolphins were to add a wide receiver, Jalen Tolbert would be my first one off.
Tight end (4)
IN: Greg Dulcich, Will Kacmarek (R), Ben Sims, Seydou Traore (R)
OUT: Jeremiah Franklin (R), Ethan Conner (R)
The skinny: This group doesn’t require a lot of imagination as long as health doesn’t interrupt things. I’ve had this group of tight ends in the 53-projection for each week of the preseason. No need to change now.
Offensive line (9)
IN: LT Patrick Paul, LG Kadyn Proctor (R), C Aaron Brewer, RG Jonah Savaiinaea, RT Austin Jackson, OL Caedan Wallace, OG DJ Campbell (R), C Andrew Meyer, Mystery OL
OUT: Charlie Heck, Gottlieb Ayedze, Josh Priebe, Kevin Cline (R), Marques Cox
The skinny: I really only feel confident about the top seven names here. You could tell me Josh Priebe bumps Andrew Meyer and I’d believe it. You could tell me they keep Charlie Heck and I would understand it — although he’s been a tough watch on tape this summer. I do think they’ll add someone new. They need to churn this group and find some more upside at swing tackle, especially if Caedan Wallace ends up being tabbed to play for an injury elsewhere.
Defensive line (5)
IN: Zach Sieler, Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips, Zeek Biggers, Keith Cooper Jr.
OUT: Matthew Butler, Alex Huntley, Fatorma Mulbah, Cam Rice
The skinny: Jeff Hafley had some kind words for Keith Cooper Jr. this past week and no one else has been able to separate from the rest of the bubble. Give me last year’s core players and Cooper Jr., who can serve as a backup for the Zeek Biggers role as a big end or tackle.
Linebacker (6)
IN: Jordyn Brooks, Jacob Rodriguez (R), Tyrel Dodson, Kyle Louis (R), Ronnie Harrison Jr., Jackson Woodard
OUT: Cam Riley, Stephen Dix Jr. (R), Jaheim Thomas (R)
The skinny: Jackson Woodard has played so well this summer and that makes it hard to accept the idea that the Dolphins should move on because of numbers at the position. Let Woodard be a core special teamer — but keep him nonetheless. Given Kyle Louis also moonlights as a safety hybrid and Willie Gay can moonlight at OLB, we can make the numbers work here.
EDGE/Outside Linebacker (5)
IN: Chop Robinson, Joshua Uche, Clelin Ferrell, Willie Gay Jr., Mystery EDGE
OUT: David Ojabo, Cameron Goode, Robert Beal Jr., Max Llewellyn (R), Rodney McGraw (R), Seth Coleman-Lyles
Injured Reserve (Designated for return): Trey Moore (R)
The skinny: This group needs some work after the injury to rookie linebacker Trey Moore. The injury is a major bummer and Hafley’s tone suggests his absence will be extended. I think the Dolphins are well positioned here to add a fresh face off the waiver wire behind the top three names and Gay Jr., who is a more hybrid player.
Cornerback (5)
IN: Chris Johnson Jr. (R), JuJu Brents, Jason Marshall Jr., Ethan Bonner, AJ Green III
OUT: Alex Austin, Miles Battle, Nick McCloud, Marco Wilson, Ahmad Harvey, Ethan Robinson, Jai’Onte’ McMillan (R)
PUP List: Darrell Baker Jr., Storm Duck
The skinny: The numbers game throughtout the linebacker room and the skill positions catches up to cornerbacks, too. I have Green III claiming the final bubble spot. He’s had some bright moments in the preseason games and has been disruptive at training camp practices, too.
Safety (4)
IN: Dante Trader Jr., Zayne Anderson, Michael Taaffe (R), Lonnie Johnson Jr.
OUT: Louis Moore (R), Major Burns
The skinny: Head coach Jeff Hafley likes to play games with opposing quarterbacks with his safeties — making this group very important to the big picture for this defense. The unit has some questions, but nevertheless I see Trader Jr. as a starter. The team seems to like rookie Michael Taaffe a ton, and Zayne Anderson has two years under Hafley.
Specialists (3)
IN: K Riley Patterson, P Bradley Pinion, LS Tucker Addington
OUT: N/A
The skinny: Three players for three spots. It is fair to speculate on how safe punter Bradley Pinion is based off of some poor kicks this summer, though.
Final Word
I have the Miami Dolphins cutting to 50 names and adding three additional new faces. But you could tell me that add another waiver claim/trade at safety and at wide receiver. That would be five new faces — just about 10% of the final roster. We’ll know by Monday what things look like for real and go from there.
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