Miami Dolphins updated 53 man roster predictions

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It’s been more than two weeks since the Miami Dolphins took the field for training camp. Predictions by local media experts and national experts have been posted as have hack-jobs like myself. You can read my initial predictions here.

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As position battles continue to unfold across all of the units, this prediction will most assuredly change. It already has from the first prediction. So let’s get to it. To make it easy, I have opted to number the spots so you can see I’m hitting the 53 mark.

Special Teams

1: John Denney

2: Brandon Fields

3: Kicker – the battle between un-drafted rookie Andrew Franks and Caleb Sturgis will likely continue through the pre-season. As of today neither player has truly stepped up to take over the job. While Sturgis was good on his field goal attempts he also booted a kick-off out of bounds. Sturgis has had issues with his kick-offs mainly getting them out of the end zone. This will be an ongoing competition but for now I would give the spot to Sturgis.

Quarterbacks

4: Ryan Tannehill

5: Matt Moore – Moore did not look good against the Bears last Thursday but the Dolphins still believe he is a good enough QB to back-up Tannehill. McLeod Bethel-Thompson and Josh Freeman did nothing in pre-season game one to challenge Moore, they haven’t in camp either.

Running backs

6: Lamar Miller

7: LaMichael James – James is looking good through camp and got a lot of work agains Chicago. He needs to do a better job on special teams but he is challenging Damien Williams for the number two spot.

8: Damien Williams – Williams has been solid during camp and is expected to see more reps this week against Carolina.

9: Jay Ajayi – thus far Ajayi has been quiet through camp. His running is good but he needs to improve on pass protection. He is a rookie so there is a curve here at this level. Mike Gillislee is not doing enough to earn a roster spot.

Tight Ends

10: Jordan Cameron

11: Dion Sims

12: Jake Stoneburner – Stoneburner isn’t standing out but the competition is between him and Gerrell Robinson for the 3rd TE spot. Initially I had Tim Semisch and Robinson making the roster. Semisch has sort of fell off the radar a bit and Robinson watched as Stoneburner got a lot of time in pre-season game one.

Wide-receivers

13: Jarvis Landry

14: Greg Jennings

15: DeVante Parker

16: Kenny Stills

17: Rishard Matthews – Matthews has looked very solid through camp and Matt Hazel has not. I had Hazel initially projected to make the 53 but he isn’t progressing where Matthews has.

18: Michael Preston – Preston didn’t get a lot of passes last Thursday but he is still performing well in practice and with the injury to Parker, the Dolphins very well may carry six receivers into the season.

Oline

19: Branden Albert

20: Mike Pouncey

21: Ja’Wuan James

22: Jason Fox

23: Sam Brenner – I thought that this may be the last of Sam Brenner but he played well last Thursday and has taken back the number two role behind Pouncey. J.D. Walton looked horrible against 3rd and 4th team defenders and I’m now thinking he won’t make the roster.

24: Billy Turner – Turner got extensive playing time against Chicago and will again this week against Carolina. He didn’t play all that bad last Thursday and is showing some very good improvement. He has a lot more ahead of him but for now it’s looking good.

25: Jamil Douglas – Douglas is looking very good as the teams left guard so far.

26: Dallas Thomas – Thomas hasn’t looked good thus far in camp but he will get more opportunities. The team is still high on him but it’s looking like he won’t be starting.

27: Jeff Linkenbach – If he is going to make the roster he needs to start improving quickly.

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