Miami Dolphins 2021 roster: Finding the bubble in June

The Miami Dolphins are in the middle of their organized team activities as the offseason training program continues. They have 91 players on the roster, thanks to a roster exemption for guard Durval Queiroz Neto. While the end of the summer and the need to cut the roster down to the 53-man in-season limit is still a long way in the future, today, we try to break down the roster into locks and find who could be on the roster bubble. The bubble in this case is not the typical last five players who are fighting for a roster spot. In this case, it is each position group and the players within that group who could make the roster. I came up with 37 players I believe are locks to make the roster, then 23 players who I think are likely players to be cut. That left 31 players in the list of ubble players. Obviously, many of those bubble players are going to land on the roster, filling 16 open positions. But, using the wide receivers as an example, I have four locks for the position (DeVante Parker, Jaylen Waddle, Will Fuller, and Preson Williams), with six players on the bubble to fill out the position group. Will Miami keep six receivers Seven Who would you select from Lynn Bowden, Jakeem Grant, Mack Hollins, Allen Hurns, Kirk Merritt, and Albert Wilson There are some talented players who are going to miss out on the roster this year. Here is my first attempt at finding the 2021 Dolphins roster bubble. Roster Locks (37)Tua Tagovailoa, QBJacoby Brissett, QBMyles Gaskin, RBSalvon Ahmed, RBDeVante Parker, WRJaylen Waddle, WRWill Fuller V, WRPreston Williams, WRMike Gesicki, TEDurham Smythe, TEHunter Long, TEAustin Jackson, TLiam Eichenberg, TD. J. Fluker, TRobert Hunt, GSolomon Kindley, GMatt Skura, CMichael Deiter, C/GEmmanuel Ogbah, DEChristian Wilkins, DTRaekwon Davis, DTZach Sieler, DTJerome Baker, LBBenardrick McKinney, LBAndrew Van Ginkel, LBJaelan Phillips, LBElandon Roberts, LBXavier Howard, CBByron Jones, CBNoah Igbinoghene, CBJason McCourty, DBEric Rowe, SBrandon Jones, SJevon Holland, SMichael Palardy, PJason Sanders, KBlake Ferguson, LSYou could probably make some arguments that some of these players are closer to the bubble than being a true lock, but it seems like this is the foundation of the team this year. Roster numbers could end up forcing the team to make a surprise cut, or an injury could shake up a position group, but it this seems like a solid starting place for the year. Likely Cuts (23)Reid Sinnett, QBRobert Foster, WRKai Locksley, WRCarl Tucker, FBCethan Carter, TEChris Myarick Michael Deiter Hoodie, TETyler Gauthier, CCameron Tom, CDurval Queiroz Neto, GJonathan Hubbard, TTimon Paris, TNick Coe, DETyshun Render, DEJerome Johnson, DTKylan Johnson, LBTerrell Bonds, CBJararis Davis, CBToni Ellis, CBTrill Williams, CBBrian Cole, SNate Holley, SRex Sunahara, LSThere are a lot of practice squad/fringe players in this group, so do not be surprised if some of them pop back up on the roster at some point this season as injuries happen throughout the year. Bubble Watch (31)I decided that, for the bubble watch section, I would explain each position group, rather than just the entire list in one blurb. Malcolm Brown, RBGerrid Doaks, RBJordan Scarlett, RBPatrick Laird, RBMalcolm Perry, RB/WRThe running back position, including Perry, is a numbers game. I have two locks on the roster, with five listed as on the bubble. Clearly some of these players will make the roster, but I think it is a matter of training camp/preseason performance to decide who will make the roster - and how many at the position. Brown and Doaks likely have an early lead, while Laird and Scarlett could both make strong arguments as well. Perry is hard to figure out, as the team seems to like him, but he has a similar skill set to wide receiver Lynn Bowden, Jr. , and he was hit-or-miss last year. Lynn Bowden, Jr. , WRJakeem Grant, WRMack Hollins, WRAllen Hurns, WRKirk Merritt, WRAlbert Wilson, WRWide receiver is such a deep spot for the Dolphins this year. There are four players on the roster locks list, and you could make an argument for keeping three https://www.miamigearonline.com/Robert_Foster_Flag-593, four, five, or maybe all six of these players on a roster as well. This is going to hurt some. You could even argue that, with his injury history, Williams in the locked list is not as locked in as the rest of the group and could fall onto the bubble. Wilson feels like the leader in the group, followed by Bowden, and maybe Grant - assuming he comes in catching passes and kicks cleanly this summer. Hollins, Merritt, and Hurns will also factor into the final decision. Special teams will absolutely be a factor in who makes it from this group. Adam Shaheen, TEJibri Blount, TEI think Shaheen makes the roster, but four tight ends may not be something the team can do based on other needs and numbers. Blount makes the bubble list just because he is such an unknown as he tries to be a tight end after playing college basketball. I would guess he ends up on the practice squad, but he if flashes ability early, Miami may have to roster him to protect him. Or he could be well over his head as an NFL player. Jesse Davis, T/GRobert Jones, GLarnel Coleman, TAdam Pankey, TThere are seven locks on the list above for the offensive line, which means there are likely two to three roster spots open. Davis leads this group, while Jones makes the bubble list as an unproved undrafted free agent because the team was willing to give him more guaranteed money than usual for a UDFA. Coleman and Pankey provide depth Rex Sunahara Pillow Cover, but it may just be a numbers game for them. Jonathan Ledbetter, DEJason Strowbridge, DEAdam Butler, DLJohn Jenkins, DTBenito Jones, DTThe defensive line group is a hard one to project, simply because the Dolphins use so many different looks and alignments. Four players on the locked list could allow all five of these bubble players to make the roster, if the numbers work. Take your pick on any of these guys, as there really is not a reason to say they should be cut. Vince Biegel, LBSam Eguavoen, LBCalvin Munson, LBDuke Riley, LBBrennan Scarlett, LBThere are five linebackers in the locks list, with five more down here. Biegel and Eguavoen are the likely heads of this group, but any of the five could play their way onto the roster. Nik Needham, CBJamal Perry, CBJustin Coleman, CBJaytlin Askew, CBClayton Fejedelem, SThere are seven defensive backs on the locked list, four cornerbacks (counting McCourty as a corner), with three safeties. Fejedelem making the roster for his special teams play would make sense. Needham has sown flashes and is growing still, while Perry has had solid performances. Coleman comes to the Dolphins as a free agent this year, while Askew signed as an undrafted free agent this year.