MIAMI GARDENS — It's time for the NFL to end this third preseason game, so let's start there.
It's a joke when you consider what fans are asked to pay and the number of starters who actually play.
Coming into this preseason finale against the Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley said that in a "perfect world" he would have used the starters.
Nothing about the Dolphins' roster or this upcoming Dolphins season will be "perfect."
Editor's note: Hafley didn't use the starters.
Brace yourself, folks.
This Dolphins roster may be the thinnest roster in recent NFL history.
And so I can't really blame Hafley for being absolutely terrified to lose anyone of significance before the games that count even start.
Miami Dolphins roster: So thin, but don't blame this regime
Consider that the loss of rookie linebacker
Trey Moore to a serious ankle injury in preseason game 2 may have had a big impact on Hafley's thinking.
He is, understandably, trying to give the team the best chance ― and, yes, they are underdogs in 16 of 17 regular-season games ― to win.
This is going to be a year of survival. How long can Miami survive before it gets ugly?
This is not Jeff Hafley's fault. This is also not the fault of general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan.
It's the fault of the last regime, notably exiled general manager Chris Grier.
Miami Dolphins salary cap situation is atrocious
The Dolphins' 2026 dead cap money (allocated the players no longer on the roster) is $179.9 million, first in the NFL.
The Dolphins' 2026 active roster cost, according to Spotrac, is $148.6 million, 32nd in the NFL.
So, yes, more money allocated to players no longer on the team than on it.
We have seen that the Dolphins' second unit resembles a championship contenders' third team.
We have seen that the Dolphins' third unit resembles a championship contenders' practice squad.
In no way is this meant to disrespect the players. It's not their fault.
The Falcons started Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback on Friday night and it was a sore spot for Miami fans.
The Dolphins' are taking a Tua-big dead salary cap hit over two years of $99.2 million.
That's an astronomical and colossal mistake.
It's possible the Dolphins won't be able to compete for a playoff spot until 2028. At first I was thinking 2027 might be reasonable. But that has to be re-evaluated in light of the state of the roster and summer observations.
In NFL scouting, there are blue players and red players required when building a championship contender.
A "blue" player is an elite, top-tier player. At the moment, Miami has De'Von Achane.
A "red" player is a high-quality starter or impact player. At the moment, Miami has Jordyn Brooks and Aaron Brewer.
That's three total players, folks. And yes, Miami may be looking at a three-win season.
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Miami will hope that rookies like Kadyn Proctor, Chris Johnson, Jacob Rodriguez and Chris Bell and other youngsters like Patrick Paul and Kenneth Grant or Jordan Phillips can develop into "red" players.
Miami will hope Malik Willis or a quarterback they draft in 2027 or 2028 can rise to at least red.
This roster is not just talent-deprived. It's talent-starved.
Can Miami uncover a few gems throughout this season? They hope.
But it's a true indicator of Hafley's concerns about the depth of this roster that he just can't bring himself to put the first-teamers out there, as much as he'd like to.
Offense and defense have each had about one series played in three games.
(And yes, the benefits of two joint practices are both noted and yet another reason to trim the preseason.)
Miami has a first-year head coach. A first-year offensive coordinator. A first-year defensive coordinator. A first-year quarterback. No matter, the preseason is now for the bottom of the roster.
Hafley and the Dolphins can only hope not many of the players we saw on Friday night are pressed into action during the regular season.
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Can't blame Jeff Hafley for holding out Miami Dolphins starters
