MIAMI -- The Miami Dolphins open the 2023 NFL regular season on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 10.
After snapping a five-year playoff drought last season, head coach Mike McDaniel and the Dolphins look to recapture the form that at one point had them atop the ESPN NFL Power Rankings. Tua Tagovailoa returns healthy, as does most of last season's sixth-ranked offense.
Defensively, Miami expects a major turnaround after a mediocre performance a season ago. Newly hired defensive coordinator Vic Fangio is expected to right the ship quickly and has plenty of star power at his disposal after the team traded for Jalen Ramsey in March.
Here is a 53-man roster projection as the Dolphins open training camp:
QUARTERBACK (3): Tua Tagovailoa, Skylar Thompson, Mike White
After last season's events, which included two diagnosed concussions to Tagovailoa, there's no way the Dolphins enter the season with fewer than three quarterbacks. Tagovailoa is the most locked-in starter on this roster but don't be shocked if Thompson outplays White for the primary backup role.
RUNNING BACK (4): Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr., Devon Achane, Alec Ingold
Drafting Achane in the third round essentially sealed the fates of Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed, although the latter could still play his way onto the final roster with a strong summer. Ingold was one of the unheralded heroes of last season, and he is locked in at fullback.
WIDE RECEIVER (7): Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Braxton Berrios, Robbie Chosen, Erik Ezukanma, Cedrick Wilson Jr. River Cracraft
Seven wide receivers? Yes, seven wide receivers. At least, until one becomes the obvious odd man out. Hill, Waddle and Berrios are written in stone. Chosen was the best of the rest during spring practice and Ezukanma needs to prove to his coaches he can be trusted in game situations after failing to do so as a rookie -- but the talent is there for the Texas Tech product.
TIGHT END (3): Durham Smythe, Eric Saubert, Tanner Conner
Without Mike Gesicki, there is no pass-catching threat in this room. Smythe is the closest thing to a complete tight end on the Dolphins' roster and Conner could be a sneaky bet to fill the receiving tight end role now that he's more comfortable in Year 2.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Terron Armstead, Dan Feeney, Connor Williams, Robert Hunt, Austin Jackson, Isaiah Wynn, Robert Jones, Liam Eichenberg, Kendall Lamm
Another position in which the Dolphins will value their depth. They sustained myriad injuries across the offensive line last season but made several depth signings this offseason to remedy that. Miami's Week 1 starting five returns but Feeney and Wynn could break into the lineup with strong summer performances.
DEFENSIVE LINE (4): Christian Wilkins, Zach Sieler, Raekwon Davis, Emmanuel Ogbah
This number could change when the second version of this 53-man projection releases in August, once a fourth interior defensive lineman establishes himself. But beyond this top four lies a combined three years of experience split between five players. Miami might just let it ride with the four veterans and sign another player if any injury occurs.
LINEBACKER (8): Jerome Baker, David Long Jr., Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, Andrew Van Ginkel, Channing Tindall, Malik Reed, Duke Riley
Phillips is poised for a breakout season after amassing 15.5 sacks in his first two years. Keep an eye on Van Ginkel's transition to inside linebacker, as well as Tindall's development in his second season. Long was one of the better value signings in the NFL this offseason.
CORNERBACK (8): Jalen Ramsey, Xavien Howard, Cam Smith, Kader Kohou, Nik Needham, Trill Williams, Keion Crossen, Elijah Campbell
Ramsey was the latest blockbuster trade the Dolphins have executed over the past two years and should form possibly the league's best tandem with Howard. The competition between Smith and Kohou will be fun to watch, the latter proving to be invaluable as an undrafted rookie last season. It's unclear when Needham will be cleared to practice in full after tearing an Achilles in October.
SAFETY (4): Jevon Holland, Brandon Jones, DeShon Elliott, Verone McKinley III
You should be excited to watch Holland this season; safeties tend to succeed under Vic Fangio, and the third-year vet should be no different. Elliott fills the void in the rotation left by Eric Rowe, and Jones will look to bounce back after tearing an ACL last season.
SPECIALISTS (3): Jason Sanders, Jake Bailey, Blake Ferguson
Sanders returns despite his struggles beyond 50 yards (4-for-12 in his past two seasons). He and Bailey give Miami former All-Pros at both kicker and punter.