The Miami Dolphins are no strangers to relying on undrafted rookies, and there are plenty of cases of those players working out in recent years. Chris Brooks and Kader Kohou come immediately to mind. Who will make the roster in 2024 from the undrafted pool? Keep an eye on these four players once camp gets here:
4. Hayden Rucci
The Dolphins may have a diamond in the rough with this undrafted tight end from Wisconsin. Hayden Rucci should have been drafted and the fact that he wasn't is a steal for the Dolphins. He is raw for certain, but his potential is through the roof. With a combination of blocking and pass-catching abilities, Rucci is going to push hard for the final TE spot.
Miami is set with Jonnu Smith and Durham Smythe at the top of the depth chart, but beyond those two, it will come down to Jordy Fortson, a free agent addition who played 2023 with the Chiefs, and fellow undrafted rookie from last year Julian Hill. Between the three of them, two spots will be available and it seems to point to a Hill vs. Rucci training camp battle for that last spot.
Rucci will have to have an outstanding camp to make the team. Hill has the NFL experience from making the roster last year and Rucci may be better suited this year for the practice squad, but that is why this camp battle will be fun to watch.
3. Andrew Meyer
At 6-3 and 295 pounds, Andrew Meyer is going to make a statement with Butch Barry as to why he deserves to be on the final 53-man roster. Meyer has work to do, and it is not easy to get the looks in camp above the veterans and other players who are higher on the depth chart. Meyer will have to take advantage of every opportunity that is given to him if he is going to make the final roster.
Working in his favor is a lack of quality depth along the offensive line. Miami is fine at both tackle positions, center, and left guard, but the depth behind them is questionable and that is where Meyer will have to show that he is capable of developing quickly.
Meyer's contract with the Dolphins will also at least help a little. He signed a three-year deal that is worth up to $2.8 million according to Spotrac.com. The Dolphins clearly see something in him to give him that much money as an undrafted rookie - $90,000 is all that was guaranteed. Working in his favor is his ability to provide depth at center and guard, something the Dolphins need.
2. Storm Duck
Every Dolphins fan will be watching to see what Storm Duck can bring to the table. Already, fans are hoping to see Duck line up against Waddle for the natural memes that will surely follow. For Duck, it's more than having a cool name. He has to play hard and impress Anthony Weaver.
The Dolphins have a good stable of corners, but they also have inexperience deeper on the roster and this is where Duck can make an impact and show that he belongs. He will make this team on his ability to beat out the depth at the position and his play on special teams.
Miami has had good experience in the past with their undrafted players at the position including Kohou and Nik Needham. Will Duck be the next guy that steps up in camp? His OTAs and minicamp sessions were nothing good or bad, but when the team gets into the late July practices and throughout August, that is where he needs to step up and make it known that he can provide what the Dolphins need. Duck is one of only three rookie corners on the Dolphins roster.
1. Gavin Hardison
Hardison is more than a long shot to make the 53-man roster and in fact, he is a long shot to make the practice squad, but he is also worth watching closely during this year's training camp. The former UTEP quarterback shouldn't have been drafted, but this is one of those cases of finding a player who just might have more to offer than his draft status. Hardison has a big arm and can move around the pocket. He needs work and time to develop, but Miami will try to bring out a lot of upsides.
At first thought, Hardison is nothing more than another arm for training camp, but I wouldn't rule this guy out making a push for the practice squad. The Dolphins will not carry four quarterbacks on the roster, including the fourth being on the PS. Here is why you should pay attention, though.
If Hardison has a good camp and shows enough ability to be developed, he could make Grier and Mike McDaniel look closer at the competition between Mike White and Skylar Thompson. One of those two will not make the team and will become the emergency third quarterback who will be on the practice squad. If that player is White, he may not land on the PS and sign elsewhere. That opens the door for Hardison to be the emergency quarterback for the Dolphins. He will need to have a great training camp, but it is worth keeping an eye on as things progress.