Projecting the Miami Dolphins 53-man roster

The Miami Dolphins will have some tough decisions to make when it comes time to set their 53-man roster next weekend

Miami Dolphins

We're less than a week away from the annual tradition 

QUARTERBACK

Likely number to be kept: 3

On the roster: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Josh Rosen, Tua Tagovailoa

Locks: Fitzpatrick Tagovailoa

Breakdown: The only question here is whether the Dolphins will end up keeping three quarterbacks, and that's a very likely scenario because of the uncertainty related to COVID-19. Even without that, it's fair to suggest Miami still would have kept all three to see how far Rosen can take his development.

On the 53: Fitzpatrick Rosen, Tagovailoa

RUNNING BACK

Likely number to be kept: 4-5

On the roster: Salvon Ahmed, Matt Breida, Myles Gaskin, Jordan Howard, Patrick Laird, Malcolm Perry, FB Chandler Cox

Locks: Breida, Howard

Breakdown: Perry is tricky here because even though he's listed on the roster as a running back he's actually going to wind up being an all-purpose player who will play a lot of slot receiver. Regardless, he's very close to being a lock. Cox's best chance to make the team would be if new offensive coordinator Chan Gailey really wants to keep a fullback this year (he hasn't always featured one) AND linebacker Elandon Roberts proves too valuable at linebacker for him to double up the way he did in New England. Among the young running backs, the one who has impressed the most this summer is Gaskin.

On the 53: Howard, Breida, Perry, Gaskin, Laird

TIGHT END

Likely number to be kept: 3

On the roster: Mike Gesicki, Chris Myarick, Adam Shaheen, Durham Smythe, Nate Wieting

Locks: Gesicki, Smythe

Breakdown: Not sure how many people realize this, but it was Smythe and not Gesicki who started the most games at tight end last season. Smythe is valuable because of his blocking ability and special teams contributions. Of the other three, Shaheen clearly has flashed the most.

On the 53: Gesicki, Smythe, Shaheen

WIDE RECEIVER

Likely number to be kept: 4-5

On the roster: Matt Cole, Isaiah Ford, Jakeem Grant, Mack Hollins, Gary Jennings, Ricardo Louis, Kirk Merritt, DeVante Parker, Chester Rogers, Preston Williams

Locks: Parker, Williams

Breakdown: Perry has to be counted into the equation here because his presence could mean the Dolphins keep only four wide receivers. Isaiah Ford has been the best receiver in practice and likely has cemented his spot on the roster and Grant's return ability probably has looked a spot as well. Rogers has the best chance among the others to also earn a roster spot.

On the 53: Parker, Williams, Ford, Grant, Rogers

OFFENSIVE LINE

Likely number to be kept: 9

On the roster: C Ted Karras, C/G Keaton Sutherland, G Shaq Calhoun, G Michael Deiter, G Danny Isidora, G Solomon Kindley, G/T Jesse Davis, OL Ereck Flowers, T Julién Davenport, T Jonathan Hubbard, T Robert Hunt, T Austin Jackson, T Adam Pankey

Locks: Karras, Kindley, Davis, Flowers, Hunt, Jackson

Breakdown: There's going to be quite a battle behind the six locks and it could go in a lot of directions. Deiter likely will make the team after starting 15 games as a rookie third-round pick in 2019 but he should not be considered a lock. Position versatility certainly will come into play here, which could hurt Calhoun.

On the 53: Karras, Kindley, Davis, Flowers, Hunt, Jackson, Isidora, Deiter, Davenport

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Likely number to be kept: 7

On the roster: DE Shaq Lawson, DE Avery Moss, DE Emmanuel Ogbah, DE Tyshun Render, DE Jason Strowbridge, DT Brandin Bryant, DT Raekwon Davis, DT Davon Godchaux, DT Benito Jones, DT Zach Sieler, DT Christian Wilkins

Locks: Lawson, Ogbah, Strowbridge, Davis, Godchaux, Wilkins

Breakdown: Lawson and Ogbah could be considered more edge defenders, which the Dolphins have in large supply, but they need some big bodies. So the battle for the last spot on the roster should be among pure linemen and we'd have to give Sieler the edge.

On the 53: Lawson, Ogbah, Strowbridge, Davis, Godchaux, Wilkins, Sieler

LINEBACKER

Likely number to be kept: 7

On the roster: Jerome Baker, James Crawford, Sam Eguavoen, Kamu Grugier-Hill, Trent Harris, Kylan Johnson, Calvin Munson, Elandon Roberts, Andrew Van Ginkel, Kyle Van Noy

Locks: Baker, Grugier-Hill, Roberts, Van Ginkel, Van Noy

Breakdown: The trade of Raekwon McMillan created an opening at linebacker, and this is where someone like Calvin Munson could benefit. Sam Eguavoen has had a rather quiet training camp after making some plays after coming over from the CFL. This is a group that clearly could add a veteran at some point.

On the 53: Baker, Grugier-Hill, Roberts, Van Ginkel, Van Noy, Eguavoen, Munson

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Likely number to be kept: 10

On the roster: CB Breon Borders, CB Tae Hayes, CB Xavien Howard, CB Noah Igbinoghene, CB Byron Jones, CB Nik Needham, CB Deatrick Nichols, CB Jamal Perry, CB Eric Rowe, CB Ken Webster, DB Nate Brooks, DB Clayton Fejedelem, S Jeremiah Dinson, S Kavon Frazier, S Nate Holley, S Brandon Jones, S Bobby McCain

Locks: Howard, Igbinoghene, Byron Jones, Rowe, Brandon Jones, McCain

Breakdown: This is where the toughest decisions are going to come. Along with the six we've pegged as locks, there are some good young players in this group. One player who has really flashed after being claimed off waivers is Borders. Needham, of course, started 11 games last season as a rookie free agent. Fejedelem was signed as a free agent and is almost a lock based on his special teams experience. Frazier also has had some good moments in practice. Perry started six games as a nickel back last year when he went by Jomal Wiltz, but he's no lock to make the team.

On the 53: Howard, Igbinoghene, Byron Jones Rowe, Brandon Jones, McCain, Frazier, Fejedelem, Needham, Borders

SPECIALISTS

Likely number to be kept: 3

On the roster: P Matt Haack, LS Blake Ferguson, K Jason Sanders

Breakdown: No suspense here.

On the 53: Haack, Ferguson, Sanders