Number 93 and the Three Dolphins Who Wore It Best

Ndamukong Suh and Trace Armstrong are among the many contributors to wear this number for the Miami Dolphins

Ndamukong Suh / Allen Eyestone / USA TODAY NETWORK

The countdown to the start of the 2024 regular season has begun now that we're under 100 days away, so we'll honor every day the best players to wear the corresponding number for the Dolphins.

Today, we're at number 93.

The top players at each number so far have been Jason Taylor at 99,Jared Odrick at 98, Phillip Merling at 97, Paul Soliai at 96, Tim Bowens at 95, and Randy Starks at 94.

As a reminder about the ground rules, the top three will be determined only by what the players did while wearing that uniform for the Dolphins.

Players who wore 93 for at least one regular season game for the Dolphins:

DE Charles Bennett (1987), LB Cliff Odom (1990-93), DT William Gaines (1994), DE Trace Armstrong (1995-2000), DE Adewale Ogunleye (2002-03), DT Mario Monds (2004), DT Kevin Carter (2005-06), LB Rob Ninkovich (2007-08), LB Akbar Gbaja-Biamila (2007), LB Quentin Moses (2009-10), LB Jason Trusnik (2011-14), DT Ndamukong Suh (2015-17), DT Akeem Spence (2018), DE Avery Moss (2019), LB Trey Flowers (2022), DT Da'Shawn Hand (2023)

The debate on the best 93 on the Dolphins

This is by far the most productive number in the countdown so far. It starts with Cliff Odom, who was a two-year starter at linebacker and played a key role in the 1990 defense that helped the Dolphins finish 12-4. Trace Armstrong came over in a trade with the Chicago Bears and delivered in a big way as a situational pass rusher, as he averaged almost 10 sacks in his six seasons in Miami, including 16.5 in 2000 when he was named to the Pro Bowl. He also helped clinch a playoff victory against Buffalo in 1998 with his sack-strip of Doug Flutie. Adewale Ogunleye had two good years as a pass rusher on the opposite side of Jason Taylor with 9.5 sacks in 2002 and 15 in 2003 when he made the Pro Bowl. Kevin Carter joined the Dolphins as a former first-round pick of the Rams and started all 16 games in both 2005 and 2006. And then there's Ndamukong Suh, who joined the Dolphins after signing a monstrous contract and had three very solid seasons (including one where he made the Pro Bowl), though it never was going to be enough for those who couldn't get past his contract.

The top three Dolphins players with number 93

1. Trace Armstrong

2. Ndamukong Suh

3. Adewale Ogunleye

Where No. 1 ranks among the NFL's all-time best

Armstrong was a very good player for more than a decade, not only with the Dolphins but also with the Bears and the Raiders, and he might be a borderline top 10 player to wear 93. Suh would be also based on his work with Detroit, but he wore 90 with the Lions. Dwight Freeney officially will become the third Hall of Famer to wear 93 predominantly this summer when he's inducted, and he joins John Randle and Richard Seymour. Calais Campbell, who the Dolphins might or might not be interested in bringing in for the 2024 season, is another clear top 10 wearer of 93.