The Miami Dolphins‘ initial 53-man roster for the 2025 season was set on Tuesday afternoon. The Dolphins can survey the landscape across the NFL and peruse the waiver wire for any potential additions that could live up to that old adage: “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure”.

The numbers crunch across the NFL has prompted four figures worth of players to flood the market. You can expect waiver claims to be placed. Who should Miami consider filing a claim for? Here’s a six-pack of available players who could help Miami amid its own unique roster dynamics this fall.

---

6 Waiver Claims The Miami Dolphins Should Consider Amid NFL Roster Cuts

Cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis

Armour-Davis was a victim of a numbers game in Baltimore after a pair of undrafted rookies blew the doors off of training camp for the Ravens in the secondary. Keyon Martin, a nickel defender, seized the sixth cornerback spot from Armour-Davis, who was set to enter into a contract year as a former fourth-round draft choice. Armour-Davis has explosive long-speed but has been used modestly in each of his first three seasons.

The wildcard here is his familiarity with Anthony Weaver, Miami’s defensive coordinator. Does that connection breed any interest for a Dolphins team that keeps giving votes of confidence to their young cornerbacks while simultaneously tinkering with the room?

Offensive Tackle Esa Pole

“Chiefs fans almost universally despised the team’s decision to waive Esa Pole during 53-man roster cuts because they understand the potential here. He’s a relatively raw player with just four seasons of football played between a junior college and his two seasons at Washington State. Still, he managed a strong training camp and even stronger preseason.

The Chiefs mostly played him with the third-team offensive line at left tackle, where he pitched a shutout on 46 pass-blocking snaps. You can probably take it with a grain of salt given the time of year, but I was told that if the team had 54 roster spots, he would’ve been No. 54.”

— Charles Goldman, A to Z Sports

Offensive Tackle Brant Banks

“Brant Banks was the best among Packers’ rookie undrafted offensive linemen, which wouldn’t tell you much. But he also had the best PFF pass blocking grade on the entire roster and the second-best overall grade among offensive linemen, just behind Zach Tom. If you don’t believe in PFF grades, the tape will tell you a similar story. Sure, Banks played mostly against third-stringers during the preseason, but he took advantage of every opportunity he’s had. He played 50 offensive snaps at left tackle, including 28 pass block snaps, and gave up zero pressures.

The Packers waived him because they have strong depth at tackle with recent high picks in Jordan Morgan and Anthony Belton, but their idea is to bring Banks back on the practice squad if he clears waivers.”

— Wendell Ferreira, A to Z Sports

Cornerback Beanie Bishop

“A lot of Steelers fans were either surprised or upset with the team’s decision to waive CB Beanie Bishop. Mainly because Bishop played remarkably well for a rookie UDFA, and he looked to be continuing on an upward trajectory this preseason. It simply came down to a numbers game with Bishop and the Steelers. Pittsburgh already employs two slot corners: Jalen Ramsey and Brandin Echols. Ramsey is more of your Swiss Army Knife, but he will be your starter in base defense as the Steelers gravitate towards nickel packages. That puts Brandin Echols as the dime back.

With a lack of size limiting Bishop’s ability to play outside, there were simply too many mouths to feed in the slot. Bishop will certainly be on another team in 2025, however. He has terrific hips, and he can find his way to the football. He plays with one speed, and for any team in need of an aggressive nickel, he will be either claimed or signed very soon.”

— Rob Gregson, A to Z Sports

Tight End Jelani Woods

“The Colts drafted Woods in the third round of the 2022 NFL Draft. His large frame and next-level athleticism had many around the NFL projecting him to become a serious threat in the pass game. During his rookie season, he showed flashes of what he could become, generating a lot of buzz entering his second season. Sadly, that wouldn’t come to fruition as a lingering hamstring injury in training camp would land the TE on the IR, and he would go on to miss the entire 2023 season.

The anticipation for his return to the field grew even larger over that year, with excitement still high entering 2024. Woods had a shaky camp, though, and many were projecting him not to make the Colts’ 53-man roster as a result. He wouldn’t find out if that were actually the case because he once again landed on season-ending IR just ahead of the cutdown with a new injury.”

— Destin Adams, A to Z Sports

Woods has the tools and stature to be a potential role player for Miami amid its search for a replacement for Pharaoh Brown in its tight end equation. Brown did not take to all of the in-space assignments Miami handed him this offseason, rendering him disposable amid their cuts.

Running back Damien Martinez

Martinez slid to the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft before being plucked by the Seattle Seahawks. Amid a two-headed rushing monster that includes Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker III, Martinez shook loose today. He enjoyed a productive season in South Florida with the Hurricanes in 2024, and the Dolphins have a need for another running back amid the injury to Jaylen Wright.

Martinez is not as explosive as Wright, but he’s a hard downhill runner who has some pass protection chops, which the Dolphins could use in their backfield.

Miami Dolphins News

Dolphins’ 2025 Initial 53-man Roster: Miami’s youth movement rolls into a full-court press entering a high-stakes season

It’s time to meet the Miami Dolphins’ initial 53-man roster for the 2025 NFL season.

Kyle Crabbs