The Miami Dolphins open training camp for the 2020 NFL season on July 28 at Baptist Health Training Facility in Davie, Florida. The Dolphins finished the 2019 regular season in last place in the AFC East, however, first-year head coach Brian Flores managed a 5-11 overall record with journeyman quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick starting 13 games. After allocating nearly $200 million to players in free agency, drafting five players in the first two rounds led by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and changing both offensive and defensive coordinators, the Dolphins have a young new-look team that has been dubbed the NFL's most improved.
Here's a 53-man roster projection:
QUARTERBACK (3): Fitzpatrick, Tagovailoa, Josh Rosen
It makes a lot of sense for the Dolphins to keep three QBs this season, so they can ease Tagovailoa into the offense coming off his hip injury and have extra insurance during the coronavirus pandemic. But, Rosen could become trade bait if another team makes the right offer.
RUNNING BACK (5): Jordan Howard, Matt Breida, Kalen Ballage, Patrick Laird, Malcolm Perry
The Dolphins' new scheme could push out fullback Chandler Cox, as linebacker Elandon Roberts can fill that role. But it could help Perry, a rookie specialty weapon, make the team. Ballage, Laird and Myles Gaskin likely will compete for one or two backup roles.
WIDE RECEIVER (6): DeVante Parker, Preston Williams, Albert Wilson, Allen Hurns, Jakeem Grant, Gary Jennings
The Dolphins ran it back from 2019 with the receiver room, but if Williams, Wilson and Grant are healthy, this should be a deep group. It could be a fun battle between Jennings, Isaiah Ford, Mack Hollins and Ricardo Louis for that final spot.
TIGHT END (2): Mike Gesicki, Durham Smythe
No NFL playcaller throws to the tight end less than Chan Gailey, who also calls for more three- and four-receiver sets than most any other team. For that reason, there's little reason to keep Michael Roberts as a No.3 tight end. Gesicki and Smythe will do.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Austin Jackson, Ereck Flowers, Ted Karras, Jesse Davis, Robert Hunt, Solomon Kindley, Michael Deiter, Julie'n Davenport, Danny Isidora
No position group has more rookies as the Dolphins try to fix their line. Davenport sticks around because of a lack of tackle depth, beating out undrafted free agents Nick Kaltmayer and Jonathan Hubbard for the third offensive tackle spot. Both rookie UDFAs could be considered for a 'project' roster spot, but that journey is tougher with this unusual offseason. Deiter could transition into a backup at center and guard if he makes the transition. Isidora is the last man to make the roster with his veteran presence helping a young team.
DEFENSIVE LINE (7): Christian Wilkins, Davon Godchaux, Shaq Lawson, Emmanuel Ogbah, Raekwon Davis, Jason Strowbridge, Zach Sieler
The Dolphins remade their front seven during the draft and free agency with a lot more versatility. Nearly every player here can swap roles depending on if it's a three- or four-man front. The first six should have a firm roster spot, and Sieler earns the seventh spot here over UDFAs Tyshun Render and Benito Jones, and veteran Avery Moss based on the prediction he continues to build off his strong finish to the 2019 season.
LINEBACKERS (8): Kyle Van Noy, Jerome Baker, Raekwon McMillan, Kamu-Grugier-Hill, Vince Biegel, Elandon Roberts, Curtis Weaver, Andrew Van Ginkel
This is a deeper group shown by the fact Sam Eguavoen, who played 56% of defensive snaps in 2019, doesn't make the team. Van Ginkel will have to show some juice to justify sticking on a more competitive roster. Expect a lot of sub-package roles for these guys with Van Noy maybe being the only guy who doesn't leave the field.
CORNERBACK (5): Xavien Howard, Byron Jones, Noah Igbinoghene, Nik Needham, Jamal Perry
Howard and Jones could be the NFL's best cornerback duo, and they have solid depth behind them with a first-rounder in Igbinoghene and one of the 2019 Dolphins' most pleasant surprises in Needham competing for the No.3 cornerback role. Perry holds off Ken Webster and Ryan Lewis for the fifth spot.
SAFETY (5): Eric Rowe, Bobby McCain, Brandon Jones, Clayton Fejedelem, Adrian Colbert
Flores loves converting cornerbacks to safety as we see with Rowe and McCain in starting roles for the second consecutive season. Jones, a third-round rookie, could immediately become the No. 3 safety. Fejedelem should be secure as a special teams ace while Colbert might have to fend off Kavon Frazier and Steven Parker for the final spot.
SPECIALIST (3): Jason Sanders (PK), Matt Haack (P), Blake Ferguson (LS)
No in-house competition exists for this crew. Miami used a sixth-round pick on Ferguson, which might show how much the Dolphins value special teams.