Which Miami Dolphins UDFAs Have The Best Shot At Making The 53-ManRoster In 2024?
Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports
Last year, the Miami Dolphins finished second in the AFC East for the third time in the past four seasons. Their 11-6 record was impressive, but in the end, they lost a tiebreaker with the Buffalo Bills for the division title. It was also fewer wins than expected when their talent is taken into consideration.
Miami was good enough to drop 70 points on the Denver Broncos in Week 3 while proving inconsistent enough to finish with fewer than 20 points in their final three games. Those final contests included a 26-7 playoff loss to the Kansas City Chiefs which followed losses to the Baltimore Ravens and Buffalo Bills. While the coaching staff has to figure out how to improve their consistency, they first need to worry about building the best possible 53-man roster entering the 2024 campaign.
Head coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier have done well building the depth, which is even more impressive after adding Odell Beckham, Jr. to the receiving corps, Jaylen Wright to the running back room, and Shaq Barrett and Chop Robinson to their impressive list of pass rushers. Even with their roster having talent from top to bottom, there’s still room for some undrafted free agents to make the cut as they trim the roster from 90 players. Here are three undrafted rookies with the best chances to do so.
3. Grayson Murphy, EDGE, UCLA
On one hand, it could be tough for outside linebacker Grayson Murphy to make the 53-man roster in Miami due to the talent on the EDGE. Their depth chart already includes Bradley Chubb, Jaelan Phillips, Shaq Barrett, and Chob Robinson. Having said that, there’s no such thing as too many pass rushers in the pass-happy NFL. And if Murphy proved anything during his collegiate career, he can get after the quarterback.
After recording 11.5 sacks for North Texas, Murphy transferred to UCLA. He and his twin brother Gabriel Murphy played together at each stop and Grayson put up five sacks in 2022 and 2023 for the Bruins. He signed with Miami as a free agent and his brother went north to play for the Minnesota Vikings.
Grayson Murphy doesn’t possess the long arms scouts love but if he can keep making plays in the backfield, no one will care. It could also help him find a way to the roster as a developmental prospect.
2. Mark Perry, Safety, TCU
It was a little surprising to see Mark Perry go undrafted after his time at TCU. Perry stands 6-foot-0 and 200 pounds and spent two seasons with the Horned Frogs following a three-year stint with Colorado.
He had 142 tackles and six pass defenses but finished with no picks. In fact, he had just three career interceptions, all of which came in 2021 with Colorado.
Even without the ball hawk skills, Perry was praised for his toughness and physicality. Miami clearly likes him too since they gave him a contest with $150,000 worth of guaranteed money which suggests they expect him to make the roster.
Perry will need to prove himself on special teams but the depth chart at safety isn’t overly impressive beyond Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer. That’s why he could find himself on the roster when cuts are made.
1. Matthew Jones, Guard/Center, Ohio State
Miami’s offensive line has been addressed a lot in recent years with players such as Connor Williams, Terron Armstead, and Isaiah Wynn being added in free agency. Williams is gone due to a torn ACL, meaning Aaron Brewer will take over as the starting center.
At guard, they have Wynn on one side and Robert Hunt on the other. While they’re set, anything goes when it comes to the backups.
Right now, Miami has Lester Cotton, Chasen Hines, and Liam Eichenberg as their primary reserves. None of them has stood out, leaving the door open for Matthew Jones from Ohio State.
A former defensive tackle, Jones spent six seasons with the Buckeyes due to redshirting early in his career. He also used the COVID rules to allow for an extra season. That gave him ample time to adjust to the offensive line where he learned both guard and center.
That versatility as well as his toughness could be enough for him to fight his way to the roster in 2024.
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