Remember all that panic after the Miami Dolphins‘ bleak first day of free agency? It seems a bit foolish now.
Sure, the Dolphins’ roster in 2024 is worse in some ways. But it’s better than others.
Which is why our opinion is this: Even with the team’s salary cap purge, the expectations in 2024 should be no lower than they were last year — another postseason appearance is a must, and a deep playoff run is not out of the realm of possibility.
Miami Dolphins 2024 Roster Breakdown
Quarterbacks
2023
- Tua Tagovailoa
- Mike White
- Skylar Thompson
2024
- Tua Tagovailoa
- Mike White
- Skylar Thompson
- Gavin Hardison
Will Tagovailoa make that big leap that his coach and GM believe he can in Year 5? If so, this is a better group than in 2023. But even if not, the Dolphins lost no ground at this position.
EDGE: Push
Running Backs
2023
- Raheem Mostert
- De’Von Achane
- Jeff Wilson Jr.
- Salvon Ahmed
- Chris Brooks
- Myles Gaskin
2024
- Raheem Mostert
- De’Von Achane
- Jaylen Wright
- Jeff Wilson Jr.
- Salvon Ahmed
- Chris Brooks
Swapping out Gaskin for Wright is a clear upgrade, while Achane should take another step forward in 2024. Of course, this assessment can change if Mostert (32) starts showing signs of age.
EDGE: 2024
MORE: How Will the Dolphins Use the NFL’s Most Dynamic RB Group?
Wide Receiver
2023
- Tyreek Hill
- Jaylen Waddle
- Cedrick Wilson Jr.
- River Cracraft
- Braxton Berrios
- Robbie Chosen
- Erik Ezukanma
- Braylon Sanders
- Freddie Swain
- Chris Coleman
- Daewood Davis
2024
- Tyreek Hill
- Jaylen Waddle
- Odell Beckham Jr.
- River Cracraft
- Braxton Berrios
- Erik Ezukanma
- Malik Washington
- Tahj Washington
- Braylon Sanders
- Anthony Schwartz
- Mathew Sexton
- Je’Quan Burton
The Dolphins last year had a big dropoff after their top two WRs. They leveled up here by signing Beckham and drafting Malik Washington, who could ultimately end up as Miami’s slot receiver for the next half-decade (at least).
EDGE: 2024
Tight End
2023
- Durham Smythe
- Tyler Kroft
- Julian Hill
- Tanner Conner
- Eric Saubert
- Elijah Higgins
2024
- Durham Smythe
- Jonnu Smith
- Julian Hill
- Jody Fortson
- Tanner Conner
- Hayden Rucci
The market is telling us the Dolphins improved at this position. They replaced Kroft — who is currently jobless — with Smith, who had a career-high 582 receiving yards in 2023.
EDGE: 2024
Offensive Line
2023
- Terron Armstead
- Isaiah Wynn
- Connor Williams
- Robert Hunt
- Austin Jackson
- Kendall Lamm
- Liam Eichenberg
- Dan Feeney
- Robert Jones
- Cedric Ogbuehi
- Geron Christian
- Kion Smith
- Alama Uluave
- Lester Cotton
- Ryan Hayes
- James Tunstall
2024
- Terron Armstead
- Isaiah Wynn
- Aaron Brewer
- Jack Driscoll
- Austin Jackson
- Kendall Lamm
- Patrick Paul
- Liam Eichenberg
- Robert Jones
- Kion Smith
- Lester Cotton
- Chasen Hines
- Ryan Hayes
- Matthew Jones
- Bayron Matos
- Andrew Meyer
The Dolphins got better at tackle (Patrick Paul is a very promising OT4), but that jump wasn’t big enough to offset the decline on the interior offensive line with Williams and Hunt gone. Chris Grier needs to sign another guard before training camp.
EDGE: 2023
Defensive Line
2023
- Christian Wilkins
- Raekwon Davis
- Zach Sieler
- Emmanuel Ogbah
- Da’Shawn Hand
- Brandon Pili
- Josiah Bronson
- Randy Charlton
- Jaylen Twyman
2024
- Zach Sieler
- Teair Tart
- Neville Gallimore
- Jonathan Harris
- Benito Jones
- Brandon Pili
- Da’Shawn Hand
- Isaiah Mack
- Daviyon Nixon
- Grayson Murphy
- Leonard Payne
Another place where the Dolphins lost big-ticket players (Wilkins, and to a lesser extent, Davis) and have tried to replace them by committee. The hope is that three solid DTs emerge from the group of Tart, Gallimore, Jones, Pili, and Hand.
EDGE: 2023
EDGE
2023
- Jaelan Phillips
- Bradley Chubb
- Andrew Van Ginkel
- Cameron Goode
- Malik Reed
- Mitchell Agude
- Garrett Nelson
2024
- Jaelan Phillips
- Bradley Chubb
- Shaq Barrett
- Chop Robinson
- Mohamed Kamara
- Cameron Goode
- Quinton Bell
- Zeke Vandenburgh
The only thing stopping us from giving 2024 the clear advantage is injury uncertainty. The season begins in four months, and it’s still very much up in the air if either Phillips or Chubb will have recovered in time to play. The Dolphins wisely committed resources to this position in the offseason.
EDGE: Push
Linebacker
2023
- Jerome Baker
- David Long Jr.
- Duke Riley
- Channing Tindall
- Mike Rose
- Aubrey Miller II
2024
- David Long Jr.
- Jordyn Brooks
- Anthony Walker Jr.
- Cam Brown
- Channing Tindall
- Duke Riley
Brooks for Baker is at worst a wash, but the Dolphins’ depth at off-ball linebacker is much better with Walker as the primary backup instead of Riley, who struggled in coverage late in the season.
EDGE: 2024
Cornerback
2023
- Jalen Ramsey
- Xavien Howard
- Kader Kohou
- Nik Needham
- Cam Smith
- Eli Apple
- Ethan Bonner
- Noah Igbinoghene
- Justin Bethel
- Keion Crossen
- Tino Ellis
- Mark Gilbert
- Parry Nickerson
2024
- Jalen Ramsey
- Kendall Fuller
- Kader Kohou
- Nik Needham
- Cam Smith
- Siran Neal
- Ethan Bonner
- Storm Duck
- Isaiah Johnson
Depth is the big concern at corner. It’s reasonable to expect Fuller to give the Dolphins roughly what Howard did in 2023, but beyond that, there’s several question marks at this position group. One of Kohou, Needham, and Smith need to really show up.
EDGE: Push
Safety
2023
- Jevon Holland
- DeShon Elliott
- Brandon Jones
- Elijah Campbell
- Trill Williams
- Verone McKinley III
- Keidron Smith
- Bryce Thompson
- Myles Dorn
2024
- Jevon Holland
- Jordan Poyer
- Elijah Campbell
- Patrick McMorris
- Mark Perry
- Jordan Colbert
No, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. This year’s list of Dolphins safeties is as thin as it seems. Perhaps Needham gets moved to safety, but even if he does, signing another vet here is a must.
EDGE: 2023
KEEP READING: Predicting the 2024 NFL Playoffs
Specialists
2023
- Jason Sanders
- Jake Bailey
- Blake Ferguson
2024
- Jason Sanders
- Jake Bailey
- Blake Ferguson
The Dolphins didn’t want to mess with the chemistry of their kicking battery, but they also didn’t upgrade, which they could have done.
EDGE: Push
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