The Dolphins’ first 53-man roster says plenty about what they saw in camp, and a few of the decisions were hard to miss.
At quarterback, Miami’s moves matched the evidence from the summer. The team signed Malik Willis to a three-year, $67.5 million deal this offseason to be the starter, but the depth behind him never settled in.
Quinn Ewers and Cam Miller were both holdovers from last year, while Mark Gronowski arrived as an undrafted free agent. None of the three made a strong enough impression in camp or the preseason, and over the last two days the Dolphins traded Ewers to the Jacksonville Jaguars and waived Miller and Gronowski.
Miami then brought in Kyle McCord from the Green Bay Packers, and there’s a clear reason that move makes sense. The Dolphins should have solid background on him through passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo, who was with the quarterback in Philadelphia in 2025.
The wide receiver group also brought a little surprise. Miami kept seven receivers to begin the 2026 season, and while Malik Washington, Jalen Tolbert, Caleb Douglas, Chris Bell and Kevin Coleman Jr. looked like the obvious core, A.J.
Henning and Ryan Miller both made the cut too. Henning earned his spot with steady camp production and three catches for 75 yards in the preseason.
Miller was the bigger eyebrow-raiser, especially since Miami had only claimed him off waivers a few days earlier and he played only on special teams in the preseason finale.
One of the clearest signs of where this roster is headed came at linebacker. The Dolphins made their most shocking pre-deadline cut by moving on from Tyrel Dodson, who started for them last season. That decision points directly to the team’s belief in second-round pick Jacob Rodriguez, who handled camp well and now looks likely to start alongside Jordyn Brooks in Week 1.
There’s still work to do on the back end, though. Miami had to place cornerbacks Storm Duck and Darrell Baker Jr. on the reserve/PUP list because neither practiced all summer. The team also cut veterans Marco Wilson and Alex Austin after disappointing showings.
Safety looks like the biggest area of concern. The Dolphins cut Lonnie Johnson Jr., Louis Moore and Major Burns, leaving only three players in the room, and two of them are very young. With that in mind, Miami should be ready to claim at least one defensive back over the next two days.
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Dolphins Final Roster Has A Few Unexpected Winners To Watch
The Dolphins have set their 53-man roster, and a few names that might not have been penciled in a month ago are suddenly part of the conversation. Jackson Woodard, Keith Cooper Jr. and D.J. Herman all played their way into jobs with steady camp work, and their inclusion says plenty about how Miami weighed performance, consistency and versatility as it built out the back end of the roster.
Kenneth Grants injury also shaped some of those decisions, leaving the Dolphins to sort through a few unexpected options as they head into the season. For players like Woodard, Cooper and Herman, the challenge now shifts from surviving camp to proving they can carry that momentum into a much different stage, where roster spots are earned all over again once the games count. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Roster Churn Just Created Some Unexpected Depth Battles
The Dolphins roster picture changed quickly after the initial 53-man cutdown, and the front office wasted little time adding more competition across the board. Miami landed seven players off waivers and also signed former Chiefs edge rusher Malik Herring, a clear sign the team still sees opportunities to strengthen depth and potentially improve a few spots before the season settles in.
To make room, the Dolphins released or waived eight players, including Clelin Ferrell, A.J. Green III and Max Llewellyn, underscoring how fluid the back end of the roster can be this time of year. What comes next is a fresh round of depth battles, with the newcomers arriving not just as bodies for camp, but as legitimate challengers who could push for roles in Miamis rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Take Another Flier On Two Familiar Draft Names
The Dolphins added eight players to the practice squad, and two of the more interesting names are a pair of former first-round picks who already know what the NFL looks like. Defensive tackle Mazi Smith and edge rusher Clelin Ferrell both arrive with previous league experience, and both were picked up after being released by other teams, giving Miami a chance to take another look at players whose pro careers have not followed a straight line.
For a roster that is always searching for useful depth up front, the moves make sense as a low-risk way to widen the pool. Miami also moved on from quarterback Mark Gronowski to make room, a reminder that practice-squad churn is part of the weekly business as the Dolphins keep sorting through familiar names and trying to find help wherever it might be hiding. [Read more 🡒]