Dolphins final 53: Tight ends

Each day brings the Miami Dolphins 24 hours closer to the start of the 2016 training camp. With only 10 days remaining between now and the start of camp, it’s starting to look more and more like the team will go through a lot of changes once pads come on.

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Tight end isn’t likely to be a major camp battle but the Dolphins do want to make sure that they have the right players on the 53 man roster and this season the Dolphins could take four TE’s into the season.

More than likely that number will be three.

The Dolphins will enter the training camp period with seven tight ends on the roster and only one player who is 100% making the roster. Jordan Cameron.

Adam Gase likes to use tight-ends in his offense so the position could be more integral to the offense than in years past. Gase has made Julius Thomas a household name and used Martellus Bennett and Zach Miller often in Chicago.

Dion Sims has a very good chance at making the roster and his chances are around 95% but things can happen when a new head coach is calling the shots. Everything starts to get cloudy after Sims however and the remaining five players will be battling for what amounts to 2 spots at the most.

Jake Stonburner did a solid job in his short play last season before returning to the practice squad. This year he has a shot to make the final 53 and potentially see playing time but he will have to win a spot.

While it’s not a set in stone outcome, Dominique Jones and Gabe Hughes are extreme long shots to make the roster. That leaves 7th round selection Thomas Duarte and free agent MarQueis Gray as the top competitors for Stoneburner and the final one or two positions.

Gray has three years of NFL experience and has a lot of potential while Duarte has the 7th round investment that actually seems more like a pre-invite to the teams practice squad. Which is where I believe he will end up.

The competition for 3rd comes down to Gray and Stoneburner and if the Dolphins keep four TE’s, then both should make the roster. If they keep three…

53 man roster:

Spots taken by TE: 4

Roster spots total thus far: 16

Players at TE:

Jordan Cameron

Dion Sims

MarQueis Gray

Jake Stoneburner