Predicting the Miami Dolphins final 53 by units: Wide-receivers
By Brian Miller
With training camp getting closer we continue to make our predictions for the final 53 man roster and this time around we look at the Miami Dolphins wide-receiver group.
The Miami Dolphins will likely carry six receivers into the season but it is not going to be easy to pick those six and while it’s unlikely a seventh could be kept in some other way but ultimately, they will be listed as a receiver.
While prefacing anything is always redundant, injuries happen so this prediction is barring injuries that would obviously change the dynamics of the unit.
Locks:
Danny Amendola – Forget the New England years and all that rubbish about Tom Brady making Amendola the player he is. He is a hard-worker who found the right opportunity. Now he can prove that he wasn’t a product of the Patriots way. Amendola is electric when it comes to his preparation. He will be one player to watch during training camp because he gets on himself as much as others.
Albert Wilson – Wilson has a chance to make the Dolphins fan base forget about that Landry guy. He is fast and has good hands and runs really clean routes. Wilson is dynamic and gives Miami more than a seam threat receiver from the slot.
Kenny Stills – Still is Miami’s go-to speed burner outside who will stretch the field. With the addition of several other players this season, including Wilson and Amendola, Stills could see a lot of one-on-one coverage with no safety help this season. He could potentially have his best year as a professional. But there are going to be a lot of balls to be thrown around.
DeVante Parker – Is this Parker’s year? We have been hearing this since his sophomore season and frankly the drum beat has gotten old. Parker doesn’t care what people think and that’s good but on the field he is the one player who continues to show flashes of greatness with so little consistency you wonder how he was ever a first round pick. Parker has to step up and make plays this year or his fifth year option will get rescinded and he will be playing somewhere else next season.
Jakeem Grant – Miami loves this little engine that can. His speed is crazy and his versatility is something that elevates the Dolphins offense. He can lineup in the slot, outside, and in the back-field. He can also play special teams. Grant is working more into the offense and Adam Gase believes his talent has been shown enough to warrant the increase in work. The question is how will he fit with all the other talent on the field? Only so many balls to go around.
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The 6th and 7th spot
This could be the most talented group of receivers in over a decade or more for the Dolphins. So much so that good players will be on the bubble to make the team when a year or two ago they may have been locks.
Leonte Carroo – Will this be his last chance in Miami? Adam Gase drafted him in his first season as head coach and so far, Carroo has struggle to get to the active roster on game days. This can’t continue through this years camp. There is simply too much talent ahead of him and behind him. He is clearly on the bubble this year but for some reason, the Dolphins seem to like him.
Rashawn Scott – Scott has jumped over Carroo not once but twice to get on the active roster but he still trails Carroo in actual game experience. Are the Dolphins using Scott to push Carroo harder? If so this will be the end for Scott who could find himself back on the practice squad.
Isaiah Ford – Ford is an interesting player here. Very talented and was considered a 7th round steal in the 2017 NFL Draft. Injuries however have kept him off the field. He was injured in camp last year and spent the entire season on IR. He has an uphill climb to make the roster but if he can stay healthy and show his talent he could take the 6th spot away from Carroo or Scott.
Drew Morgan – Morgan will get his shot to make the roster but it is very unlikely. The talent level is simply too deep on this roster and Morgan is battling to stay afloat. His best shot is another practice squad landing but here is where it gets real. Morgan has the chops and talent to have a very good camp and still not make the final 53. That means he will get released and then have to clear waivers to return to the practice squad. This could be a Chris Hogan all over again and he could land somewhere else if released.
The Rest
Malcolm Lewis and Francis Owusu
While you can never say never, the odds of either of these two making the roster are far less than slim. They would need injuries to occur and even then have to beat out any street free agents that could fill that vacancy.
FINAL Predictions
The Dolphins are unlikely to carry seven receivers so this comes down to a battle between Carroo, Ford, and Scott. While I think Morgan may have the higher upside this year the Dolphins will likely try to stash him on the practice squad. I think they do the same with Ford.
The six
Amendola, Stills, Parker, Grant, Wilson, Carroo
I think Carroo will beat out Scott for the 6th spot but I will not be surprised if the Dolphins opt to carry five receivers this year with Carroo getting released. Miami has a lot of talent on offense and having five receivers allows them to keep a player at another position.