Dolphins Offense Has Solid Foundation After Free Agency

A position-by-position breakdown of the Dolphins offensive depth chart following free agency

Jan 13, 2024; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) runs the / Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

There isn’t an NFL roster that doesn’t evolve every offseason.

The biggest mystery is whether the talent base got better or worse?

The Miami Dolphins took some losses in free agency recently because teams valued the young talent the franchise has developed the past few seasons.

Christian Wilkins, Robert Hunt, Andrew Van Ginkel and Brandon Jones, all draftees in recent years, were each paid salaries the Dolphins weren’t willing to match, and a couple more veterans Miami added in recent years signed elsewhere.

But the Dolphins did retain quite a few of their own free agents, players like Isaiah Wynn, Braxton Berrios and Nik Needman, and added some young, promising players to serve as replacements for the departed.

While free agency isn’t over, and next month’s NFL draft will provide more additions, the 2024 roster has a solid foundation of 66 players heading into the offseason program.

Here's a breakdown of the Dolphins' existing offensive roster, and a snapshot of the remaining free agents.

DOLPHINS QUARTERBACKS (3)

Signed: Tua Tagovailoa, Mike White, Skylar Thompson

Analysis: Tagovailoa, who led the NFL in passing yards (4,624) and had a 101.1 passer rating, produced the type of season that earned him the AFC starting spot in the Pro Bowl. White was solid in his limited snaps, and Thompson spent most of the season running the scout team. Tagovailoa is slated to play on his fifth-year option, which is worth $23.2 million, and the Dolphins plan to offer him a multi-year deal before the 2024 season begins. It’s going to be a challenge nailing down a price point per season with Tagovailoa and his camp, but Kirk Cousins' four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons, which pays him $45 million a season, should provide a solid framework.

DOLPHINS RUNNING BACKS (5)

Signed: Raheem Mostert, Devon Achane, Jeff Wilson Jr., Salvon Ahmed, Chris Brooks,

Analysis: Mostert had the best season in his nine-year career, rushing for 1,012 yards and scoring a franchise-record 21 touchdowns in the 15 games he played. But the 31-year-old was unable to finish yet another NFL season because of injuries. While Mostert remains a team leader, don't be surprised if the backfield is handed to Achane, who set an NFL record for highest yards per carry average (7.8) for a back with a minimum of 100 carries, and was named to the All-Rookie team. Wilson sparingly contributed last season, so the fact he restructured his contract to return, taking a paycut, isn’t surprising. Neither is the re-signing of Ahmed, who began last season as the No. 2 back on the team before suffering a season-ending foot injury. Brooks is a physical back who showed promise last training camp, and contributed on special teams. But he hasn't had many opportunities to show what he can do offensively in a regular season game.

DOLPHINS RECEIVERS (8)

Signed: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Braxton Berrios, River Cracraft, Erik Ezukanma, Braylon Sanders, Anthony Schwartz, Matthew Sexton

Free agents: Chase Claypool and Robbie Chosen

Analysis: Hill and Waddle produced 2,813 receiving yards and scored 17 touchdowns on 191 catches, and that’s despite collectively missing four games and each being slowed by ankle injuries in the final month of the season. They clearly make up one of the NFL’s best receiver duos, but the Dolphins had little behind them. Cedrick Wilson was Miami’s third best receiver, pulling in 22 receptions for 296 yards and three touchdowns in his 545 offensive snaps. He signed with the New Orleans Saints, but Berrios and Cracraft each returned. Those two are glorified slot receivers who can help in the return game. Claypool and Chosen remain free agents, but could eventually re-sign, possibly after the draft. But it seems as if Miami’s focused on upgrading the No. 3 spot, which explains the team’s standing offer to Odell Beckham Jr., who is seemingly weighing his options after a visit to Miami last week. Whether a deal gets done likely depends on how much money the Dolphins are offering, and what other teams have an offer on the table.

DOLPHINS TIGHT ENDS/FULLBACKS (6)

Signed: Jonnu Smith, Durham Smythe, Julian Hill, Jody Fortson, Tanner Conner, Fullback Alec Ingold,

Free agents: Tyler Kroft

Analysis: The Dolphins signed Smith, a former Florida International standout, to a two-year deal reportedly worth $10 million hoping that he could remain one of the top run after catch producers at his position. It's possible that he could take the lead tight end role, especially in the passing game. Smythe finished third on the team in receptions, pulling in 35 catches for 366 yards, and Julian Hill was a pleasant surprise as a rookie, playing 343 offensive snaps in Miami’s two-tight end package. The Dolphins are excited about Julian Hill’s upside and potential, but that didn’t stop the team from adding Fortson, who has spent the past five seasons learning from Travis Kelce in Kansas City. 

DOLPHINS OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (11)

Signed: Terron Armstead, Austin Jackson, Aaron Brewer, Isaiah Wynn, Liam Eichenberg, Robert Jones, Jack Driscoll, Lester Cotton, Kion Smith, Ryan Hayes, Chasen Hines

Free agents: Connor Williams, Kendall Lamm and Jonotthan Harrison

Analysis: The Dolphins were forced to use 12 different starting combinations of offensive linemen because of injuries every one of the team's day-one starters were plagued with, and finished with three backups in all of the interior spots. But Miami still delivered one of the best offensive line performances in the NFL, paving the way for the NFL’s top-ranked offense in yardage (401.3) per game. Miami was sixth in rushing yards (135.8), and first in yards per carry (5.1), and tied for fourth-best in sacks allowed, and first in quarterback hits allowed. Miami began the process of rebuilding the line by replacing Williams, who suffered what is being reported as a career-threatening ACL injury, with Brewer, re-signed Isaiah Wynn, who started half the season at left guard, and Robert Jones. Brewer is athletic, and could help Miami take the run game to the next level. But there are concerns about his pass protection. The Dolphins also added Driscoll, possibly as a replacement for Lamm. Lamm could eventually re-sign, but refuses to play a 10th season for the NFL minimum, like last season.