The Miami Dolphins has won six out of the last seven, 10 of the last 12 and 14 of the last 17 against the New York Jets. However, they enter Sunday’s clash at MetLife Stadium as a winless underdog.
Let’s break down the Dolphins’ roster going position by position:
Quarterbacks
The Dolphins had a strange approach to the offseason, primarily heading into a rebuild as they traded guys away and looked to shed salary. This is a team that had six pro bowlers in 2023, but now all six are off the team.
However,
they coupled that approach with the signing of the biggest prize in this year’s free agent quarterback market when they signed Malik Willis to a three-year deal.
Willis is getting a chance to be a full-time starter for the first time and he’s had mixed results due to the lack of a supporting cast around him. So far, he’s completed just 56 percent of his passes with two passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns and four interceptions.
The backup to Willis is Kyle McCord, who has never thrown an NFL pass.
Offensive Line
Despite making so many other changes, Miami retained most of their offensive line and built on the foundation already in place by drafting Kadyn Proctor in the first round and putting him into the starting line-up at left guard.
The rest of their starters were all also starting for them last year, although former first round right tackle Austin Jackson only started the first game and the last five due to injuries.
The other three starters are center Aaron Brewer, left tackle Patrick Paul and right guard Jonah Savaiinaea. Savaiinaea struggled badly as a second round rookie last season and he was knocked out of the last game due to injury with Jarrett Kingston filling in for him the rest of the way.
Miami’s starting tackles have given up five sacks and eight penalties between them so far this season.
The other backups include Andrew Meyer – who started a game at center last year – and sixth round rookie DJ Campbell. Chukwuebuka Godrick and Caedan Wallace round out this group.
Running Backs
Miami’s plans for the year further shifted towards rebuild mode when they lost their star running back De’Von Achane to a torn ACL early in the season. The starter is now Ollie Gordon II, who – to his credit – is averaging five yards per carry with three rushing touchdowns.
Jaylen Wright is the main backup, but Miami also has rookie Kaytron Allen as the number three. Allen was drafted in the sixth round by the Commanders but did not make their roster.
Another rookie, the undrafted DJ Herman, is also on the roster as a fullback.
Pass catchers
With Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle now gone, Miami is hoping that Malik Washington can develop into a true number one receiver. He has 29 touches in the first five games, but less than 300 yards and no touchdowns.
Tight end Greg Dulcich is the only other Dolphins player with double digits in catches.
In order to find Willis some passing game weapons, Miami went pass catcher heavy in the middle rounds of the draft. Receivers Chris Bell and Caleb Douglas were selected along with tight end Will Kacmarek in the third round and then another receiver, Kevin Coleman, and another tight end, Seydou Traore, were picked in the fifth.
Out of all of these, the Jets may view Bell as the biggest threat as they had Malik McClain operating as him during the week on the scout team, presumably in an effort to try and replicate his combination of size and athleticism. Bell had a nice game against the Chiefs with four catches but otherwise only has two other touches all year. Those two touches gained 25 and 26 yards though, so he may be a chunk play threat.
Douglas is also a threat. He caught five passes for 94 yards in his NFL debut in the opener, but then got hurt in week two and hasn’t played since. He’ll make his return on Sunday.
Further depth comes from receivers Jalen Tolbert and Jared Wayne, and from tight end Justin Joly.
Defensive Line
Miami’s defense got a boost in the game before the bye week with the return of last year’s first round pick Kenneth Grant at defensive tackle. Grant had been dealing with a toe issue but should now see his playing time increase alongside Zach Sieler.
Sieler has been a thorn in the side of the Jets for several years with eight sacks in his past six games against them. Miami has won 10 of 12 games over the Jets with Sieler in the line-up.
With Grant out, Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers had been sharing the workload alongside Sieler, who has a team-high two sacks.
Miami’s best edge rusher is Chop Robinson, but the former first rounder’s production has been inconsistent. He had three sacks in four games towards the end of last year but only has one in five since then.
The other starter on the edge is Josh Uche with Malik Herring as the main backup. Robert Beal Jr. and undrafted rookie Rodney McGraw are also on the roster, but Beal has been listed as doubtful with a hamstring issue.
Linebackers
At linebacker, Miami is getting excellent production from their second round pick, Jacob Rodriguez, who has 57 tackles and an interception in his first five NFL games.
Rodriguez starts alongside last year’s leading tackler, Jordyn Brooks, with Willie Gay also getting plenty of reps. Gay is questionable with an illness, but did return to practice on Friday.
Shaka Heyward and Jackson Woodard are the other backups with fourth round pick Trey Moore on injured reserve.
Defensive Backs
Miami’s depth is slightly compromised in the secondary, as fourth round safety Kyle Louis and veteran safety Ronnie Harrison are both on injured reserve. In addition, cornerback Darrell Baker remains on the PUP list. Louis did return to practice this week so could be activated for Sunday. He’s officially questionable.
The starters right now at safety are Dante Trader Jr. and fifth round rookie Michael Taaffe. Trader leads the team with three pass breakups but the rookies Taaffe and Rodriguez have been inconsistent tacklers, combing for 14 missed tackles in the first five games.
At cornerback, the top three are JuJu Brents, Jason Marshall Jr. and Chris Johnson. The first round rookie Johnson has been the primary slot corner. Brents leads the team with four defensive penalties.
Further depth comes from safeties Zayne Anderson and Julius Wood, and cornerbacks Marcellas Dial and Reese Taylor, although Taylor has been ruled out due to injury. Miami also has former Jet Jaylin Simpson, who can play safety or corner.
Special Teams
The Dolphins just made a change at placekicker with another ex-Jet, Riley Patterson, having been released earlier this week after missing three kicks in five games. Zane Gonzalez was added to the practice squad to take over from Patterson.
The veteran Bradley Pinion is the Dolphins’ punter, but his net average is below 40 yards per punt so far this year.
In the return game, Washington is dangerous but hasn’t done much this year as his focus has shifted more onto the offense. Wright, who is listed as the backup kickoff returner, had a 79-yard return earlier this season. Coleman is listed as the backup punt returner.
The Dolphins also recently released wide receiver Ryan Miller, who had been a primary gunner. Simpson and Dial would be options to handle this role on Sunday. So far this year Woodard and Simpson have been productive in coverage.
