The Dolphins Have Options At Running Back
Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
The old saying goes that a team can never have too many quality running backs, but the 2024 Miami Dolphins might prove that statement isn’t always true. The Dolphins arguably had too many quality running backs before the 2024 Draft, but that didn’t stop them from taking Jaylen Wright in the fifth round.
If there was any question before, the Dolphins running back room is suffering from overcrowding, and the best way to handle this issue is by trading away Jeff Wilson Jr. It’d be a tough break for Wilson, who took a pay cut to even come back to the Dolphins this season, but at this point, that roster spot is even more valuable for Miami than Wilson on his cheap deal.
Raheem Mostert and De’von Achane are not only the two top running backs on this team, but they are also two of the best backs in the NFL. Wright had a huge first preseason game, finishing with 10 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown. He showed the flashes of what made the Dolphins so excited to get him late in the draft. Wright was a lock to make the roster before the first preseason game and has only solidified that since.
So, where does that leave Wilson in the mix? Wilson also had a solid preseason debut, but Wilson’s spot will be less determined by his individual numbers, and more by Miami’s numbers game at running back. In short, it will come down to how the team feels about Chris Brooks. Brooks hasn’t had much of a chance to show his skills in the NFL, but he also showed some flashes during the first preseason game, rushing 12 times for 40 yards.
The Dolphins could decide to keep five running backs, but with so much talent at the top of the depth chart, there’s little-to-no reason to keep five.
So what should happen to Wilson? The Dolphins need to feel out the trade market for the former North Texas Mean Green. Back in 2022, the Dolphins traded a 2023 fifth-round draft pick to acquire him. Being a few years older, that price might be only a fifth-to-seventh-rounder, or perhaps a conditional pick. But draft capital is draft capital, and it’s still worth it over just outright releasing him.
Wilson hasn’t looked like he’s lost a step and could be a big-time running back for another team; he’s just too buried in South Beach. While Wilson could theoretically be a contributor for the Dolphins, he doesn’t do anything that Wright can’t do, and any snaps he would take in 2024 would just block Wright’s development.
Wright showed flashes in the first game that proved he could be a big contributor for many NFL teams this year, but he’s on the Dolphins, and he needs to get reps in 2024.
After the first preseason game, Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel raved about Wright’s big performance.
“It was what I’d hoped to see, which was there was both – it was his first outing – but what I wanted to do was see a confident runner that found confidence after something that he didn’t like, okay? That’s the big thing in this league, is everything doesn’t go well all the time. He had a couple things he didn’t necessarily love in terms of a cut, a slip. I mean, even mid-play, I think he dribbled a screen pass, then still found some resilience. It was a good first outing for him because he got a little bit of everything and he finished strong.”
If the Dolphins aren’t going to use Jeff Wilson unless injuries strike, and they decide to keep five backs, it might not be the best decision. If they have no trade partner, it makes sense why they wouldn’t want to release someone with his talent. But the one thing he can’t do is get carries in a healthy running back room. Wright isn’t going to get enough carries as things stand now, because of Mostert and Achane; Wilson can’t be cutting into that as well.
The Dolphins have a problem on their hand with their running backs, and even though it might be good problem, the Dolphins need to do everything in their power to free up some playing time for Wright. Wilson’s presence gives Miami an avenue to easily do that while getting an asset back.
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