{"id":385195,"date":"2026-08-30T10:07:43","date_gmt":"2026-08-30T10:07:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/385195\/"},"modified":"2026-08-30T10:07:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-30T10:07:43","slug":"final-miami-dolphins-2026-53-man-roster-projection-some-tough-cuts-ahead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/385195\/","title":{"rendered":"Final Miami Dolphins 2026 53-Man Roster Projection: Some Tough Cuts Ahead"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"inline-text-0\" class=\"mt-[18px] md:mt-0 mb-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"98\">The time finally has arrived.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-1\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"9d\">There are no more practices, no more preseason games, it&#8217;s time to decide which players will make up the Miami Dolphins&#8217; initial 53-man roster for 2026.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-2\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"9i\">That roster invariably will undergo some changes between the cutdown deadline of Sunday at 4 p.m. ET and the season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium on September 13, so there&#8217;s got to be a starting point.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-3\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"9n\">Through the 16 intrasquad practices, two joint practices and the three preseason games, there has been some movement in the pecking order of the Dolphins roster, and injuries also have and will play a factor in the final composition of that roster.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-4\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"9s\">All that said, here is Miami Dolphins On SI Publisher Alain Poupart&#8217;s fifth and final 53-man roster projection of 2026:<\/p>\n<p>DOLPHINS QUARTERBACKS (2)<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-6\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"a2\">On the 53:\u00a0Malik Willis, Quinn Ewers<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-7\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"a7\">Off:\u00a0Cam Miller, Mark Gronowski (R)<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-8\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ac\">Changes from projection 4.0: None<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-9\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ah\">Analysis:\u00a0Nothing has changed here at all throughout training camp, and that&#8217;s just how it should have been expected. Now, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/dolphins\/onsi\/the-biggest-dolphins-roster-question-at-every-position-01m151rgs6cx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">whether the Dolphins bring in somebody from the outside to challenge or replace Ewers<\/a> at number 2 is an entirely different story and obviously will depend on who becomes available. For now, we&#8217;re still going with Ewers.<\/p>\n<p>DOLPHINS RUNNING BACKS (3)<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-11\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ar\">On the 53:\u00a0De&#8217;Von Achane, Ollie Gordon II, Jarquez Hunter<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-12\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"aw\">Off:\u00a0Donovan Edwards, Carlos Washington Jr., Coleman Bennett, Jaylen Wright<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-13\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"b1\">Changes from projection 4.0: Hunter in, Wright out<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-14\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"b6\">Analysis:\u00a0It&#8217;s impossible to imagine <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/dolphins\/onsi\/what-to-know-about-new-dolphins-rb-jarquez-hunter-and-the-great-trade-that-brought-him-to-miami-01m129tyb53v\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the Dolphins acquiring Hunter in that trade <\/a>Thursday knowing he wouldn&#8217;t play Friday night if they didn&#8217;t already have him pegged for the 53, which creates a logjam. The Dolphins absolutely could wind up keeping four running backs, but that means something would have to give somewhere else on the roster. Don&#8217;t dismiss the possibility of the Dolphins swinging a trade involving either Gordon or Wright.<\/p>\n<p>DOLPHINS WIDE RECEIVERS (5)<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-16\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"bg\">On the 53:\u00a0Jalen Tolbert, Chris Bell (R), Caleb Douglas (R), Kevin Coleman Jr. (R), Malik Washington<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-17\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"bl\">Off:\u00a0A.J. Henning, Terrace Marshall Jr., Donaven McCulley (R), Theo Wease Jr., Ryan Miller, Jalen Reagor<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-18\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"bq\">Changes from projection 4.0: Reagor out<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-19\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"bv\">Analysis:\u00a0Teams usually carry five or six wide receivers, and the Dolphins actually went with four a few years back. The reality is the Dolphins easily could put two or three on the practice squad and elevate as needed because they won&#8217;t dress six of them on game day. If the Dolphins indeed to go with five, the last spot is far from certain because we could see the newly acquired Miller make it for his special teams work.<\/p>\n<p>DOLPHINS TIGHT ENDS\/FULLBACKS (4)<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-21\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"c5\">On the 53:\u00a0Greg Dulcich, Will Kacmarek (R), FB D.J. Herman (R), Ben Sims<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-22\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ca\">Off:\u00a0Jeremiah Franklin (R), Seydou Traore (R), Ethan Conner (R)<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-23\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"cf\">Changes from projection 4 .0: Herman out<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-24\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ck\">Analysis:\u00a0We&#8217;ve held off the temptation to overreact to Herman having a bad drop against Atlanta on Friday night and instead look at his body of work. Sims&#8217; uncertain status considering he hasn&#8217;t practice in weeks also complicates matters. While he looked ready to play a role on offense early in camp, now he&#8217;s a bit of a question mark. He also could wind up on IR. And we still haven&#8217;t seen enough from Traore to keep him on the 53, though he&#8217;ll be brought back on the practice squad <a href=\"https:\/\/www.si.com\/nfl\/dolphins\/onsi\/explaining-the-ipp-ins-and-outs-with-seydou-traore-plus-the-dolphins-precedents-01kqzf1ggb3j\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">with his IPP exemption<\/a> if he clears waivers (which he should).<\/p>\n<p>DOLPHINS OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9)<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-26\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"cu\">On the 53:\u00a0Patrick Paul, Austin Jackson, Aaron Brewer, Jonah Savaiinaea, Kadyn Proctor (R), Charlie Heck, Andrew Meyer, Caedan Wallace, D.J Campbell (R)<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-27\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"cz\">Off:\u00a0Marques Cox, Kevin Cline (R), Josh Priebe, Gottlieb Ayedze<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-28\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"d4\">Changes from projection 4 .0: Campbell in, Priebe out<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-29\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"d9\">Analysis:\u00a0Teams more often than not keep eight offensive linemen, but we&#8217;ve been consistent in thinking the Dolphins will go with the extra player for more versatility and because they don&#8217;t have three clear answers at backup. We had Priebe on the 53 last time, but he was on the bubble and played himself off the team with a rough outing against Atlanta.<\/p>\n<p>DOLPHINS EDGE PLAYERS (5)<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-31\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"dj\">On the 53:\u00a0Chop Robinson, Josh Uche, Clelin Ferrell, Robert Beal Jr., Max Llewellyn (R)<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-32\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"do\">Off: David Ojabo, Rodney McGraw (R),  Cameron Goode, Seth Coleman-Lyles, Trey Moore<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-33\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"dt\">Changes from projection 4.0: None<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-34\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"dy\">Analysis:\u00a0The biggest issue here is the status of Ferrell, who&#8217;s been out for a bit but continues to show up at practice and does conditioning work, suggesting he should be ready for the start of the season. We have Moore here even though he&#8217;s listed as an edge\/linebacker.<\/p>\n<p>DOLPHINS DEFENSIVE TACKLES (6)<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-36\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"e8\">On the 53:\u00a0Zach Sieler, Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips, Zeek Biggers, Matthew Butler, Keith Cooper Jr.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-37\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ed\">Off:\u00a0Alex Huntley, Fatorma Mulbah, Cam Rice (R)<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-38\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ei\">Changes from projection 4.0: Cooper in<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-39\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"en\">Analysis:\u00a0This is a tough call in terms of whether the Dolphins will keep five or six, but Kenneth Grant&#8217;s injury makes us think they&#8217;ll go with the larger number.<\/p>\n<p>DOLPHINS LINEBACKERS (6)<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-41\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ex\">On the 53:\u00a0Jordyn Brooks, Tyrel Dodson, Jacob Rodriguez (R), Ronnie Harrison Jr., Kyle Louis (R), Jackson Woodard<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-42\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"f2\">Off:\u00a0Willie Gay Jr., Stephen Dix Jr., Cam Riley, Jaheim Thomas<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-43\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"f7\">Changes from projection 4.0: None<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-44\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"fc\">Analysis:\u00a0This is a bit tricky because we could see the time when Louis starts getting listed as a safety since he&#8217;s kind of a two-player position right now. It remains difficult to not have Gay on the roster and the feeling remains that either he or Dodson is going to wind up getting traded.<\/p>\n<p>DOLPHINS CORNERBACKS (6)<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-46\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"fm\">On the 53:\u00a0JuJu Brents, Chris Johnson (R), Jason Marshall Jr., Ethan Bonner, Alex Austin, A.J. Green III<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-47\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"fr\">Off:\u00a0Miles Battle, Darrell Baker Jr., Storm Duck, Marco Wilson, Jai&#8217;Onte&#8217; McMillan (R)<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-48\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"fw\">Changes from projection 4.0: None<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-49\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"g1\">Analysis: The first four remains pretty solid and it remains a free-for-all for the final two spots, and there&#8217;s so little differentiating the candidates that maybe the Dolphins only keep five, stack like three cornerbacks on the practice squad and just elevate as needed.<\/p>\n<p>\u200b\u200bDOLPHINS SAFETIES (4)<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-51\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"gb\">On the 53:\u00a0Dante Trader Jr., Michael Taaffe (R), Zayne Anderson, Major Burns<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-52\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"gg\">Off:\u00a0Louis Moore (R), Lonnie Johnson Jr.<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-53\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"gl\">Changes from projection 4.0: Burns in, Johnson out<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-54\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"gq\">Analysis:\u00a0This always has been about who gets the fourth spot and we flipped back to Burns this time because he simply has made more plays than Johnson. But, make no mistake, this position very much is in flux.<\/p>\n<p>\u200b\u200bDOLPHINS SPECIALISTS (3)<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-56\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"h0\">On the 53:\u00a0K Riley Patterson, P Bradley Pinion, LS Tucker Addington<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-57\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"h5\">Off:\u00a0None<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-58\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"ha\">Changes from projection 4.0: None<\/p>\n<p id=\"inline-text-59\" class=\"my-[18px] [&amp;_a]:text-primary my-f-1.5\" q:key=\"0\" q:id=\"hf\">Analysis: Once Zane Gonzalez was placed on IR (and subsequently released with an injury settlement), it made things pretty simple here, though Pinion&#8217;s preseason struggles could lead to a change there at some point.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"22\" height=\"22\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.minutemediacdn.com\/platform\/google_discover_icon.svg\" class=\"shrink-0\"\/>Add us as a preferred source on Google<a aria-label=\"Follow si.com on Google News\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=si.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\" preventdefault:click=\"\" class=\"flex h-[30px] w-[30px] shrink-0 items-center justify-center rounded-full bg-primary font-group-large text-sm font-medium text-white transition-colors hover:bg-secondary focus:bg-secondary md:w-auto md:gap-2.5 md:px-4 md:py-[5px]\" on:pointerenter=\"q-BoGJWvpc.js#s_1NOcOpHWmT0\" on:touchstart=\"q-H9q8BpPo.js#s_R8AiGTDeM28\" on:focus=\"q-BYEsQQaF.js#s_gxiTM6qMMu8\" on:click=\"q-CNwNFlTm.js#s_lDqay9E5m5g[0]\" q:id=\"hl\">Follow<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The time finally has arrived. There are no more practices, no more preseason games, it&#8217;s time to decide&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":385196,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[123,125,124],"class_list":["post-385195","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-miami","tag-miami","tag-miami-headlines","tag-miami-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/385195","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=385195"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/385195\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/385196"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=385195"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=385195"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=385195"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}