The Dolphins have completed their preseason games and are now gearing up for Week 1. However, before that, the team must reduce its roster to 53 players.
While some teams have already begun their roster cuts, the Dolphins are expected to make most of their decisions on Monday and Tuesday. While the starting lineup seems largely settled, several depth positions remain competitive, and every year brings some surprising choices.
This offseason has seen significant focus on the Dolphins’ offensive line. Assuming no injuries occur, the starting five will likely consist of Patrick Paul, Jonah Savaiinaea, Aaron Brewer, James Daniels, and Austin Jackson, arranged from left to right. However, the situation behind them raises numerous concerns.
Throughout the summer, the performance of the backup linemen, particularly the tackles, has been underwhelming. In Joe Schad’s most recent 53-man roster projection for the Palm Beach Post, he indicated that the team might only retain seven offensive linemen.
This doesn’t necessarily mean Schad believes there should be only seven linemen on the roster; it simply reflects that there aren’t more than seven who currently merit a spot. Consequently, Schad anticipates that the Dolphins will seek to trade for or claim at least one additional lineman by week’s end.
“Miami could add a veteran tackle after Germain Ifedi and Yodny Cajuste were promptly placed on IR,” Schad noted. “It would be unexpected if the Dolphins did not acquire at least one offensive lineman through trade or waivers by Wednesday.”
As Schad pointed out, Germain Ifedi and Yodny Cajuste, both veteran backup tackles, are now on injured reserve. Additionally, Liam Eichenberg and Andrew Meyer are likely to start the season on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list, further depleting the team’s depth.
Kion Smith, Ryan Hayes, and Jackson Carman have all received ample opportunities this summer, but none have stood out. While numerous linemen will be available following roster cuts, there’s a reason those players were let go in the first place.
Trades within the division are uncommon, but the Patriots may have a couple of tackles with starting experience available, should the Dolphins decide to pursue them.
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