MIAMI GARDENS — Depth is always important in the NFL, and with training camp now 11 practices old after Tuesday’s session it’s time to take a look at the Miami Dolphins’ second- and third-team players, guys who could be pressed into action in critical situations.
I like the Dolphins’ depth at inside linebacker, I don’t like their depth at cornerback or on the offensive line. Recent Dolphins history tells us quarterback depth could be important, and at this point it appears it’s ahead of where it was at this time last year.
The Sept. 7 season opener at Indianapolis is still roughly a month away, so none of these grades are final.
At this point, even with the training camp injuries to players such as nickel cornerback Kader Kohou (season-ending knee injury) and right tackle Austin Jackson (lower extremity), I have the Dolphins as a nine-win team.
I’ll add this for perspective: I think the Dolphins must win a playoff game to have a successful season. And I’m not convinced nine wins earns a playoff berth. It did in 2022, McDaniel’s first season, but it wouldn’t have earned a playoff berth last season.
Further, I think the Dolphins need a home playoff game to get a postseason win, and nine wins won’t earn a home playoff game.
Having said that, I think the results from training camp have been more positive than negative overall, even considering the injuries. That’s because the starters have done well, for the most part. Still, the depth shows promise.
Let’s grade the Dolphins’ depth with a unit-by-unit look at the projected top reserves.
Quarterback: C+
Zach Wilson, the No. 2, and Quinn Ewers, the No. 3, have both had their moments in training camp. The big question is whether either is capable of leading the Dolphins to a .500 record, at least, if called upon to play in the absence of starter Tua Tagovailoa.
Running back: B
Among Alexander Mattison, Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II, the Dolphins seem to have power, speed, experience and youth behind De’Von Achane. Mattison combines power and speed. This is potentially the best group in the McDaniel era. Fullback Alec Ingold doesn’t have a backup.
Wide receiver: C
The top reserves behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Malik Washington, Dee Eskridge, Erik Ezukanma and Tahj Washington. Malik Washington and Monaray Baldwin, who are both return men for special teams, are the top contenders for slot receiver. None of these receivers has been especially good in camp. One of the big problems is experience. Westbrook-Ikhine has it, most of the others don’t.
Tight end: C-
Pharaoh Brown and Julian Hill, who are both blocking or in-line tight ends, are the likely starters. Behind them are Tanner Conner, Hayden Rucci and newly-added Chris Myarick. There are more questions than answers, especially when it comes to a receiving tight end, a role that’s unfilled at this point as Darren Waller works his way back to form.
Offensive line: D
The top healthy reserves are guard-tackle Kion Smith, center Andrew Meyer, tackle Larry Borom, center-guard Daniel Brunskill and guard-tackle Jackson Carman. Guard-center Liam Eichenberg, who is on the physically-unable-to-perform list, is also in that group. But they’re all troubling. The reserves haven’t had a good camp backing up the likely starters — center Aaron Brewer, left guard Jonah Savaiinaea, right guard James Daniels, left tackle Patrick Paul and Jackson, who is expected to return from his lower extremity injury by the opener. The Dolphins might eventually have to go outside the roster for help. The upcoming joint practices with Chicago and Detroit will be telling.
Defensive line: C+
The depth has improved in camp. Reserve defensive tackles Matthew Butler and Matt Dickerson have flashed, and so has rookie Zeek Biggers. Rookie Jordan Phillips and Ben Stille must show more. The likely starters — nose tackle Benito Jones and tackles Zach Sieler and rookie Kenneth Grant — have been solid.
Inside linebacker: A
Depth is excellent here with Willie Gay Jr. and K.J. Britt. Gay has been one of the best players in camp. The likely starters — Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson — are strong. And the backups are solid. No concerns here.
Outside linebacker: B+
This has been an emerging area. Reserves such as Grayson Murphy, Derrick McLendon, Quinton Bell, Mo Kamara and Cameron Goode have all flashed. They’re starting to gain consistency. This is a promising group so far.
Defensive backs: C-
The reserve safeties — Elijah Campbell, Ashtyn Davis, Jordan Colbert and John Saunders Jr., in particular — greatly improve the grade here. Patrick McMorris has been low key and Dante Trader Jr. has been sidelined. The cornerbacks are a different story. They haven’t been good. Likely starter Storm Duck has been money. The others — most notably Kendall Sheffield, Cam Smith and newcomer Jack Jones — have struggled to find their footing to this point. In the slot, newcomers Mike Hilton and Cornell Armstrong have flashed. Safety Iffy Melinfonwu, the projected starter beside Minkah Fitzpatrick, has been limited due to recently coming off the non-football injury list.
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