The Miami Dolphins’ logjam at the wide receiver position is suddenly looking a little clearer after yesterday’s roster transactions. We wouldn’t call the position “settled” as young receiver Kirk Merritt looks to continue his push onto the active roster; but Miami bid farewell to the likes of Robert Foster, Isaiah Ford and, temporarily, Lynn Bowden Jr. (on injured reserve). That leaves the following contenders to make a realistic push for the active roster:
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DeVante Parker
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Will Fuller
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Jaylen Waddle
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Albert Wilson
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Mack Hollins
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Kirk Merritt
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Malcolm Perry
Merritt and Perry are likely on the outside looking in, but financials or injuries could prompt the team to prioritize one or both over the likes of Jakeem Grant and Preston Williams.
But as the wide receiver room begins to come into clarity, the Dolphins still have a complicated series of decisions to make at another spot on the roster: the tight end spot.
Because Miami still has Mike Gesicki, Durham Smythe, Adam Shaheen, Hunter Long and Cethan Carter on the roster — seemingly all viable options for the 53-man roster. And, in one variation of Miami’s final roster, all five could make the team. But doing so would likely prompt the Dolphins to cut (or part ways) with three of the names above at wide receiver.
There’s a justification for seven wide receivers and a justification or five tight ends. But both and a combined 12 total pass catchers? That would be a fairly unprecedented amount of roster space invested into skill players in the passing game; meaning someone is going to have to get bumped off the roster that would otherwise make plenty of sense for Miami to hold onto.
Good luck to Dolphins general manager Chris Grier on the task of figuring out who is who. He’s going to need it.