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Whew. Breathe.
That's how it always feels - both for the team and the media covering them - when the deadline passes for teams to get down to their initial 53-man rosters. And that's exactly what happened yesterday for the Miami Dolphins and the rest of the league.
While some teams were done way before the deadline (i.e., the Tampa Bay Buccaneers the day before), the Dolphins went all the way until the 4:00 pm ET deadline to get everything done.
And when the smoke cleared, Miami had its 53 , although that changed slightly on Wednesday with the waiver claim of WR Grant DuBose and the release of OL Jack Driscoll.
So, what stuck out to me the most after all is said and done? Three things hit me particularly.
Chris Grier really believes in the interior of the Dolphins' offensive line - for some reason
I don't know why this team hasn't made a play to improve the interior of its offensive line, but it seems pretty clear that the 10 (and now 9 after Driscoll's release)) that they have on their roster at OL aren't nearly what they were last season, at least in the interior starting spots.
General manager Chris Grier's comments on Wednesday didn't offer much optimism that Isaiah Wynn will be back any time soon this season. Who knows if Aaron Brewer will be ready. As such, you could be looking at a starting interior trio Week 1 of Robert Jones, Liam Eichenberg, and Lester Cotton. That's quite the step down from Wynn, Connor Williams, and Robert Hunt a year ago.
How a trade, signing or waiver claim hasn't been made to try to improve the interior of the line (not to mention a draft pick in April, for heaven's sakes) is pretty confounding to me.
Miami's short-term wide receiver outlook is worrisome
I guess it helps that Eriz Ezukanma eventually ended up on the practice squad, but Miami carrying 5 receivers (with River Cracraft on IR and OBJ on PUP; both are out for the first 4 weeks) has me wondering if that's enough for the first month of the season.
Out of those players, Miami has just three fully healthy wide receivers on their roster right now in Braxton Berrios, Malik Washington, and new waiver claim Grant DuBose (who I'm assuming is healthy). Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill are both dealing with supposedly minor issues, but does anything go the Dolphins' way on the injury front over the last two years? Not often.
Miami's depth at cornerback is promising but also kind of scary
I like when players who've played well enough to earn a roster spot actually get it. That happened on Tuesday when the Dolphins made their 53-man roster. Particularly in the secondary. Ethan Bonner, Storm Duck, and Siran Neal all made the roster as reserves, with Cam Smith starting on IR. That means that two of the three - likely Bonner and Duck - are going to be the first cornerbacks off the bench to play on the boundary behind starters Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller.
While I like when folks are given what they've earned, that's...not an experienced group. A promising but unproven player in Bonner and an undrafted free agent rookie. I hope that the injury bug can stay away from the Dolphins cornerbacks (which seems unlikely given this team's recent history), because it will be the ultimate baptism by fire for this group if not.
Related: Miami Dolphins claim preseason standout from Green Bay Packers
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