Dolphins release first depth chart…sort of

The Miami Dolphins are required by the NFL to list a depth chart because they have a game this week. Yes pre-season football returns unless like Canton, the field sucks and then there won’t be.

More from Dolphins News

• Tua Tagovailoa practicing with teammates is everything a leader does
• 4 offensive tackles Miami Dolphins could draft at 51
• Miami Dolphins don’t need CB help but these 5 could be available at 51
• 4 players that could replace Wilkins if Miami Dolphins don’t re-sign him
• Miami Dolphins have a starting point with Wilkins after Simmons deal

Breaking down the depth chart right now really doesn’t serve much purpose because it’s likely to change between now and the 3rd pre-season game and it will most definitely change between now and the first game of the season.

Of course what fun would waiting be?

Offense:

Are there any real surprises here? Well, sort of. Jay Ajayi is the top running back and that’s expected. Arian Foster is having a very good camp thus far and at the rate he is going starting will be in his future by week one.

This is another of those, “doesn’t really matter” spots because Foster is not going to get a lot of playing time during pre-season.

As for the rest of the offensive depth chart, the starting left guard position is Dallas Thomas’. Laremy Tunsil is on the 2nd team but that is an ongoing battle as Tunsil learns to play guard at this level.

No other surprises really stand out. The receivers are pretty much where we expected them to be. The interesting are to watch is at running back where Damien Williams needs to get in gear as Kenyan Drake will move up the chart at some point.

At receiver, Jakeem Grant has been working at pass catching drills to help him improve catching contested balls so it’s likely he will eventually pass A.J. Cruz if the work pays off.

Defense:

On the starters front, there are no surprises here. Not one of the starters is a surprise. Tony Lippett will continue to try to fend off Chimdi Chekwa while the team  awaits Xavien Howard’s return. Bobby McCain and Michael Thomas are still fighting for the nickel corner job.

On the 2nd units, the Dolphins have to be at least a little disappointed in the play of Jordan Phillips thus far. Phillips has been singled out by Vance Joseph as someone he needs to push harder and the fact that now entering his 2nd season he is not pushing harder on Earl Mitchell is a disappointment.

If you could say there is a surprise it would be Chris McCain listed as the 3rd defensive end. McCain has had a good camp thus far and really seems to becoming disruptive. It’s something to watch as the pre-season progresses.  Of course he is behind veteran Jason Jones and Mario Williams.

Special Teams:

No real surprises here except the inclusion of Jarvis Landry as the top P/KR. The Dolphins want to get Grant in one of those spots and they have been giving him a lot of work thus far. The Dolphins could start looking at couple of others to slide into one of those roles. Griff Whalen and Leonte Carroo could become a part of that return group.

An area to watch is at long snapper. O.k. so chances are that is not an area many will focus on but if all things become equal between Denney and Ryan DiSalvo the Dolphins could opt to go with DiSalvo. Denney who is the longest tenured veteran on the team right now is entering his 12th season with the Dolphins and in the NFL.

The issue here is that Denney makes $1.2 million and DiSalvo makes $400K. At some point the Dolphins are going to have to say good-bye to Denney. Either he retires or the Dolphins move on. That may not be this year but unlike years past, it’s more of a possibility.