Miami Dolphins practice squad possibilities

The Miami Dolphins released some 22 players over the course of Friday and Saturday and today will start filling out their practice squad. It’s tough to predict who will be added to that squad but there is a lot of potential from their own cuts that could find a home on the Dolphins practice field.

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Talent is a portion of the equation that goes into deciding who makes that roster but so does practice habits, potential, physical attributes, and positional needs. The Dolphins released 14 players that are eligible for the practice squad but only ten are allowed to be kept on that squad by NFL rules. That’s not to say that the Dolphins will add ten from the list of their own training camp players and it’s normally very rare that happens.

Of those 14 players that are eligible, the Dolphins could add eight or nine to their squad from that list. Here is a look at the eligible players and who has a shot at the practice squad. Of course that is contingent on them clearing waivers first.

Tim Semisch – with Semisch’s size and potential the Dolphins need to seriously consider this addition. Semisch has some good moments in pre-season but of course his efforts were on display against deep back-ups. Regardless Semisch started training camp off very strong and some thought he could make a play for the 53 man roster but as camp continued, his progression slowed.

Jake Stoneburner – I’m still trying to wrap my head around why he was released to begin with. Stoneburner is a solid blocking tight end who has yet to realize his potential. Not only does he have a legit shot to make the practice squad but Stoneburner is a guy who could be signed to the 53 man roster sooner rather than later.

McLeod Bethel-Thompason – With only two quarterbacks on the active roster the Dolphins will carry one on the practice squad. MBT was on the squad last year and while he didn’t perform great in pre-season he showed some signs that he was developing.  There is however outside options that Miami may take looks at.

Mike Hull – The Dolphins opted to go with Neville Hewitt over Mike Hull and the practice squad could be in his future. Hull has a lot of upside and potential but he needs time to develop.

Jeff Luc – It will be interesting to see if the Dolphins carry two linebackers on the practice squad. Luc is a lot like Hull right now in that he has to develop to make it to the next level. The Dolphins may opt to take only one to the practice squad.

Michael Liedtke – Liedtke didn’t play badly on the offensive line. As an un-drafted rookie it was going to be difficult to make the roster but he showed some promise and could find himself on that squad. He has a lot of potential but he will be competing with another un-drafted rookie offensive lineman.

Aundrey Walker – Walker showed a little bit more than Liedtke and there was some who believed that Walker could make the 53 man roster. Of all the lineman he has the most chance to come back to the practice squad and frankly I would be surprised if he did not.

Cedric Thompson – The 5th round safety was the only draft pick the Dolphins released from the 2015 class. He has been told that the team wants him on the practice squad and it’s a good place for him to learn and develop. The problem is he may not clear waivers. Thompson has good upside and didn’t play poorly in pre-season but again, he lacks the experience at this level obviously to make an immediate impact.

Damarr Aultman – Aultman started to surge towards the end of camp and looked pretty good at times in pre-season. He still is a little raw and really he never stood a chance at cracking a thick deep wide-receiver group. He has a good chance at making the practice squad and could be the only WR that was in camp to do so.

The rest

Linebacker Jams Davidson really is caught in a numbers game and the Dolphins seem to be higher on Luc and Hull.

Defensive tackle DeAndre Coleman – Miami has a deep defensive front but they love interior defenseman. Coleman may have shown the team something in camp so while it can’t be ruled out, he still has a slim chance of making the squad.

Defensive end Emmanuel Dieke is a potential practice squad player but there are better free agent options across the NFL today that would be better options for the Dolphins.

Cobi Hamilton has shown some promise as a wide-receiver but not more than Aultman. Both players will face some competition from outside of the teams training camp roster.

Donald Hawkins never really impressed much through camp and the Dolphins seem to be higher on Walker and Liedtke.