The Miami Dolphins are almost back in work mode, with rookies set to report to the Baptist Health Training Complex on Tuesday, July 21, and veterans due in on Tuesday, July 28. That means camp is about to start, and with Miami having moved on from several of its most productive players this offseason, there’s a real chance some lesser-known names end up playing bigger roles than expected.
A few of those players are worth tracking closely once the pads come on.
Jaylen Wright is one of the more interesting backfield pieces in the mix. Miami grabbed him in the fourth round, No. 120 overall, in the 2024 NFL draft after his four-year run at Tennessee, where he earned All-SEC honors once.
His production over the last two seasons has been modest: 537 rushing yards, two touchdowns, a 3.9-yard average per carry, and eight catches for 52 yards. De'Von Achane is still lined up to be the starter in 2026, but Wright is battling Ollie Gordon II for the backup job.
At 23, he needs to make his case now, especially with free agency looming in 2028.
Theo Wease Jr. also has a path to real snaps if he can keep building on what he showed late last season. He split his college career between Oklahoma from 2019-22 and Missouri from 2023-24 before Miami brought him in as an undrafted free agent last year.
Most of his rookie season was spent on the practice squad, but he got on the field over the final three weeks and made the most of it, catching six passes for 139 yards and a touchdown. The wide receiver room is wide open now with Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Cedrick Wilson Jr. and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine all gone, and offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik is one of the few holdovers from last year’s staff.
He saw Wease’s late-season work firsthand, which gives the receiver a real chance to push forward.
Seydou Traore brings a different kind of intrigue. Born in France and raised in London, England, he played at Arkansas State from 2021-22, where he earned All-Sun Belt honors once, and then at Mississippi State from 2023-25.
Miami used a fifth-round pick, No. 180 overall, on him in this year’s draft. At 6-foot-4 and 244 pounds with a 4.65-second 40-yard dash, he has the kind of athletic profile that can make a tight end stand out fast.
If he turns heads in camp, a roster spot is there for the taking, and so are meaningful snaps later in the season.
Jamaree Salyer is the veteran of this group, and he could end up being one of the more important depth pieces on the roster. He played at Georgia from 2018-21, picking up All-SEC and All-American honors in his final season, which ended with a national championship.
The Los Angeles Chargers drafted him in the sixth round, No. 195 overall, in the 202 NFL draft, and over the past four years he has appeared in 64 games and started 40. Miami signed him to a one-year deal this offseason, and he was initially expected to compete for a starting job before the Dolphins took Kadyn Proctor in the first round.
Even so, Salyer could still wind up as the top backup, and if Jonah Savaiinaea struggles to settle in at right guard, Salyer may be called on to start.
In Other News...
Dolphins Fans May Finally Be Getting The Uniform Update They Crave
The latest jersey rollout around the NFL has only fueled the kind of uniform chatter Dolphins fans know well. Fanatics is selling stitched-style authentic jerseys for 30 teams, but Miami and New Orleans were left out, which has naturally led to speculation that both clubs may be headed toward something new down the line. For a fan base that has spent years debating the look, even a small omission can feel like a clue.
What makes the conversation more interesting is that any update does not necessarily have to mean a full throwback revival. The most realistic path could be a refresh built around the current identity, with changes to the color palette, striping, shading or font rather than a wholesale return to an old logo. No official announcement has been made, but the absence from this rollout has already given Dolphins supporters something to watch for, and maybe a reason to keep an eye on 2027. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Rebuild Is Drawing Brutal Reviews For One Troubling Reason
The Dolphins spent the offseason making a hard break from the roster that had defined their recent run, and the reaction around the league has been just as blunt as the moves themselves. After major changes at quarterback, in the secondary and along the defensive front, one Sporting News analyst handed Miami a D grade for the work, a verdict that reflects how much uncertainty now hangs over the teams direction.
What stands out most is how thin the margin for optimism looks right now, especially with questions still swirling around the quarterback spot and a receiver group that no longer carries the same punch. The defense has its own set of unknowns, and the overall picture is so shaky that some evaluators are already wondering whether Miami can avoid a full bottom-out in the standings. [Read more 🡒]
Jacob Rodriguez May Be Forcing A Dolphins Decision Already
The Dolphins spent a second-round pick on Jacob Rodriguez even with Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson already in the linebacking room, a move that said plenty about how Miami views the Texas Tech product. Rodriguez arrived with a different kind of background too, having spent time at quarterback before becoming a linebacker, and that versatility has helped shape the way he sees the game as he settles into the NFL.
Rodriguez has also fit quickly into the building, praising the teams facilities and the overall care Miami provides while he and the rest of the rookie class grind through their early work ahead of training camp. The bigger question now is how soon his presence starts to affect the depth chart, because when a rookie linebacker is already drawing attention in practice, the veterans around him can feel the pressure even before the pads come on. [Read more 🡒]