The Miami Dolphins have completed their final preseason game ahead of the start of the 2025 season, finishing their ramp-up period with a 14-6 victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Miami, despite some of the perceptions, has a number of difficult decisions to make. It must thread the needle between keeping the right combination of its young talents and veteran players mixed in to the groups to give valuable experience for the 2025 season.

With cutdowns looming just a few days away, here is our final prediction for Miami’s initial 53-man roster.

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Miami Dolphins 53-man roster prediction

Quarterback: 3

IN: Tua Tagovailoa, Zach Wilson, Quinn Ewers (R)
OUT: N/A

For all of the challenging decisions the Dolphins have to make, this is not one of them. Miami’s season was derailed by quarterback availability issues in 2024, not only for Tua Tagovailoa but also for the team’s initial backup, Skylar Thompson. By Week 4 of last season, the Dolphins were starting a quarterback who wasn’t on the roster until mid-September. Miami has carried Zach Wilson and Quinn Ewers on the roster since the end of April, and because of the well-documented durability questions for Tagovailoa, the team needs to carry three.

Running Back: 4

IN: De’Von Achane, Jaylen Wright, Ollie Gordon II (R), Alec Ingold (FB)
OUT: Mike Boone, Aaron Shampklin
Injured Reserve: Alexander Mattison

It would not be surprising if the Dolphins end up landing another veteran running back before their Week 1 contest against the Colts. Based on who Miami has at its disposal, carrying three backs plus fullback Alec Ingold feels like the best course of action. Shampklin and Boone were signed in the midst of Mattison’s season-ending injury and feel like better practice squad candidates than 53-man roster options.

Wide Receiver: 6

IN: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Malik Washington, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Dee Eskridge, Tahj Washington
OUT: Erik Ezukanma, Andrew Armstrong (R), AJ Henning (R), Theo Wease Jr. (R)

The Dolphins’ questions at wide receiver are not about the pecking order, but instead about how many slots are available. Miami kept four on its initial 53-man roster last year before claiming WR Grant Dubose from Green Bay in the aftermath of the cutdowns. Dee Eskridge and Tahj Washington have staked firm claims for a roster spot and are projected to secure one accordingly. It comes at the expense of either a running back or a defensive lineman based on the other bubble players that get the axe, so making the initial 53-man roster is only half of the battle as waiver options make themselves available at other positions mid-week.

Tight End: 4

IN: Darren Waller, Julian Hill, Pharaoh Brown, Tanner Conner
OUT: Hayden Rucci, Chris Myarick
Injured Reserve: Jalin Conyers (R)

Darren Waller has been steadily on-boarded, and despite not having guarantees on his 2025 contract, he feels like the most vital piece of this puzzle. The questions about his readiness to compete amid a return from retirement necessitate carrying Tanner Conner as a hedge for that role. Conner can also provide special teams value.

The Dolphins need improved play from their in-line options from last year, and their best options right now include Julian Hill and Pharaoh Brown. Brown makes the cut here, but his preseason work has been an uphill climb — he’s struggled with Miami’s movement assignments and presnap motion, plus had some lapses as a blocker in space. He’s on shaky ground, but Miami needs another option to Hill. It could opt to waive Brown and try to pluck a waiver wire add elsewhere, but for now, it’ll carry both ‘Y’ tight end options.

Offensive Line: 8

IN: Patrick Paul, Jonah Savaiinaea (R), Aaron Brewer, James Daniels, Austin Jackson, Larry Borom, Daniel Brunskill, Kion Smith
OUT: Jackson Carman, Jalen McKenzie, Braeden Daniels, Addison West (R), Ryan Hayes, Josh Priebe (R), Bayron Matos*, Mason Brooks
IR to Return Designation: Andrew Meyer
PUP List Designation: Liam Eichenberg
Injured Reserve: Yodny Cajuste, Germain Ifedi, Obinna Eze

Miami’s depth offers positional cross-training, and Miami will need it in the early stages of the season. Miami could feasibly keep as many as 10 if everyone is healthy, but not everyone is healthy. It shouldn’t surprise if Miami makes an addition here, but starter Austin Jackson has missed most of camp, pushing swing tackle Larry Borom into the lineup for the preseason games. Liam Eichenberg hasn’t been active all camp, but Miami can now carry him as a PUP List candidate, who doesn’t count against the 53-man roster for at least the first four weeks.

The same can be said for Andrew Meyer, who looks like a potential IR to return candidate. If his recovery window is faster than four weeks, Miami should carry him as a ninth lineman and make a cut at wide receiver, tight end, or potentially defensive tackle to make room.

Defensive Line: 6

IN: Zach Sieler, Kenneth Grant (R), Benito Jones, Jordan Phillips (R), Matthew Butler, Zeek Biggers (R)
OUT: Matt Dickerson, Ben Stille, Alex Huntley (R)

I did not have a fun time making this cut. I ultimately went with Miami’s trio of rookies, Benito Jones, roster cornerstone Zach Sieler, and former mid-round draft choice Matthew Butler as the sixth and final member of the unit. Veteran Matt Dickerson was a near-miss and has a firm argument for the final slot, but my strategy is rooted in who I think Miami is more likely to get back on the practice squad. Dickerson is a 29-year-old vet and a career journeyman — Miami should have the chance to get him back despite missing the cut here in one of the tenured practice squad slots.

EDGE Defender: 5

IN: Chop Robinson, Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, Matthew Judon, Cameron Goode
OUT: Quinton Bell, Grayson Murphy, Derrick McLendon, Mohamed Kamara

The top four spots are self-explanatory. Miami boasts an impressive collection of pass rushers, and there’s a great blend of speed, length, and power. The final spot is a tough nut to crack. Cam Goode gets the call for his special teams profile relative to names like Quinton Bell, who has had a quiet summer after emerging out of necessity in 2024, and a trio of youngsters. Mohamed Kamara is a former fifth-round pick from 2024 but missed Miami’s two-week trip with a concussion. Derrick McLendon is the most toolsy of the bunch, but is still a bit raw as an early down defender. Grayson Murphy has a good rush IQ but lacks length and punch power to profile on early downs or offer a power element to his rush menu.

Linebacker: 4

IN: Jordyn Brooks, Tyrel Dodson, Willie Gay Jr., K.J. Britt
OUT: Channing Tindall, Eugene Asante (R), Dequan Jackson

Miami should feel great about the outlook of this room. Former third-round pick Channing Tindall hasn’t made the leap. But the top four players in the room could be the deepest in football, especially with how well Willie Gay Jr. has taken to Anthony Weaver’s system throughout training camp.

Cornerback: 5

IN: Jack Jones, Storm Duck, Jason Marshall (R), Cam Smith, Mike Hilton
OUT: Kendall Sheffield, Isaiah Johnson, Cornell Armstrong, BJ Adams (R), Ethan Robinson (R), Cameron Dantzler
IR to Return Designation: Ethan Bonner
Injured Reserve: Kader Kohou, Artie Burns, Jason Maitre

Kader Kohou and Artie Burns would have been locks for the roster if not for their ACL injuries during the first week of training camp. There appears to be some separation among those who are left in the room — Jack Jones has emerged as a starter, and the team is buying in on second-year UDFA Storm Duck, too. Cam Smith could have been a cut candidate if not for Ethan Bonner’s hamstring injury against Detroit. Smith is a former second-round draft choice who got an early run in Miami’s third preseason game against Jacksonville. Physical talent is not the problem, and amid the questions of Miami’s cornerback room, that should be enough.

Veteran Mike Hilton should be a valuable veteran to keep in the room, even if Miami is hoping to see its experiment with fifth-round rookie Jason Marshall Jr. as a nickel convert through. It’s worth noting Hilton does not have much guaranteed on his contract, but his experience should help his value.

Safety: 5

IN: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Ashtyn Davis, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Elijah Campbell, Dante Trader Jr. (R)
OUT: John Saunders Jr. (R), Jordan Colbert, Patrick McMorris

The biggest question for the safeties is whether Ashtyn Davis or Dante Trader Jr. will end up with an IR-return designation. Davis went down early in training camp but appears to be progressing back to a return, whereas Trader Jr. had a brief cameo for a half-dozen snaps in Week 2 of the preseason against Detroit and was inactive again this week.

Elijah Campbell could be a cut candidate, but he is a core special teamer who should at minimum command a roster spot for his value in that phase.

Specialists: 3

IN: Jason Sanders, Jake Bailey, Joe Cardona
OUT: Ryan Stonehouse (already waived)

Sanders was mysteriously absent from Miami’s third preseason contest against Jacksonville — his status will be something to monitor. However, Miami has already declared Jake Bailey the winner of the punter competition and should have this trio set in stone, unless Sanders suffers a severe injury that will cause him to miss time.