Final Miami Dolphins 53 man roster prediction

It’s that time. Time to put up and shut up. Time to predict the Miami Dolphins 53 man roster for a final time. I was like five of 13 or six of 13 in my first round of cut predictions so feel free to leave a comment with your predictions on the 53…let’s see if you can do better.  O.k. you can we know.

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With the release of Brandon Fields on Tuesday I have one less to get wrong because I would have had him making the roster over Matt Darr because frankly I’m not that bold. This will be broken down into four distinct groups because I don’t want to be just wrong, I want to be completely wrong. The first group is the locks. Those are the no-question players who we all know will make the roster. The 2nd group is comprised of the players we expect to make the roster. The third is the group of players who are teetering on the proverbial bubble and the last group are the players who I predict will make the roster but could find it short lived as the Dolphins look at the waived players from around the league.

So let’s get to it.

Locks

Ryan Tannehill, Matt Moore, Lamar Miller, Damien Williams, Greg Jennings, DeVante Parker, Jarvis Landry, Rishard Matthews, Kenny Stills, Branden Albert, Mike Pouncey, Ja’Wuan James, Billy Turner, Jamil Douglas, Dallas Thomas, Jordan Cameron, Dion Sims, Ndamukong Suh, Cam Wake, Olivier Vernon, Earl Mitchell, Jordan Phillips, Derrick Shelby, Terrence Fede, Koa Misi, Jelani Jenkins, Kelvin Sheppard, Chris McCain, Brent Grimes, Jamar Taylor, Brice McCain, Reshas Jones, Walt Aikens, John Denney, and Matt Darr.

Listed above are the 34 players that are in no way losing their position on the final 53. These are the players that are the teams starters and heavy contributors. No surprises should come from this list now that Brandon Fields has been cut. To be honest, if he hadn’t been I wouldn’t have put him on the list above. Rishard Matthews who I originally had as not making the team in my pre-training camp roster prediction has exploded thus far. I find it very hard to believe he isn’t contributing heavily this season.

Expected to make

Jay Ajayi – despite being a 5th round pick, Ajayi is not 100% lock but he is about 98%. The Dolphins like his upside and potential but he has a lot of work to do to get ready for the NFL level.

Jeff Linkenbach – Linkenbach hasn’t been great but he is a viable option as a back-up and the Dolphins simply do not have enough interior offensive lineman. And he is a better option than Jacques McClendon.

Sam Brenner – Brenner has done a very good job this 0ff-season and in many ways has had his best training camp since joining the team as an un-drafted rookie.

Jason Fox – Fox has been cleared to play after suffering a concussion. His play has been inconsistent this training camp but there is no reason to believe he won’t make the final 53 and I fully expect him to.

Zach Vigil – Vigil has been incredibly fun to watch through pre-season and he is one of the few players I really want to watch play this week against Tampa. He has a non-stop motor and good vision for a young linebacker. This guy could be a monumental steal as an un-drafted rookie free agent.

Tony Lippett – If you believe the local media, there is a strong push from the teams management to keep Lippett and if that is true the Dolphins coaching staff will do just that. Lippett has a lot of potential and needs time if nothing else.

Bobby McCain – So many McCains on the roster this year. Bobby McCain has looked good at times and bad but he has looked better with each outing and has shown enough to warrant a roster spot.

Michael Thomas – Thomas was expected to compete with Walt Aikens for the starting safety job opposite Reshad Jones but he has yet to push Aikens for the position. With Cedric Thompson drafted in round five the Dolphins may see more value with going with the draft pick although I do think they keep both.

Cedric Thompson – Still has a lot to learn but has shown enough to deserve that time.

On the Bubble 

(I have 43 players on the roster so far)

These are the players that are on the bubble but I believe will make the roster and stay on the roster through at least the first week or two of the season if not all season.

LaMike James – James has had an up and down pre-season but more up than down and is improving in the kick return game.

Jake Stoneburner – Stoneburner is a better blocker than Gerell Robinson which is why I believe Robinson was cut. The Dolphins need a third tight end and frankly I don’t think Semisch has shown enough to warrant anything other than the practice squad.

Matt Hazel – will the Dolphins keep six receivers? Hazel started very poorly in camp but has stepped it up in the last two weeks, enough that I now believe he has a real shot of making the team.

A.J. Francis – Francis is having a good pre-season but he is not going to jump up the depth chart which leaves him exposed.

Will Davis – Davis is nursing an injury that he suffered last season and says he isn’t fully recovered yet. It’s shown through a shaky pre-season that has seen him give up the most receptions and yards. Definitely on the bubble but it’s really up to whether or not the team likes another corner better.

The bottom five

My final five players are those players that I believe will make the final roster but may not last beyond the first weekend of waivers. If the Dolphins can fill holes or needs at other positions, it’s one of these players I think will get released to make room.

Caleb Sturgis – I’m not a fan and like Franks better but I wouldn’t be surprised to see Sturgis make the roster and then get cut if the Dolphins find a better option in free agency.

Zack Bowman – Bowman hasn’t played especially well but he is a veteran presence that is sorely lacking opposite Brent Grimes. McCain is a veteran of course but Bowman is stellar on special teams and I fully believe that will be the catalyst for him making the first set of cuts to 53 but it could be short lived.

Spencer Paysinger – this could very well be Paysinger or Mike Hull and it’s really a push for either one of them. I’m giving the nod to Paysinger as a veteran but like Bowman if a better option presents itself Paysinger could be looking for work before the season starts.

Jordan Tripp – Tripp has been injured and that could very well leave the team looking for an answer. Will he make the roster or not? I honestly think that the team will use it’s short term IR designation on him shelving him for the first six weeks letting him recover. That would mean this spot will be open.

Anthony Johnson – Johnson hasn’t looked all that special this year and he has had more than too many neutral zone infractions when he is in the game, but for now the Dolphins will stay the course with him. Johnson however could be the first cut for a waiver wire acquisition after the 53 is firm.