The Miami Dolphins’ roster overhaul is now through two offseason cycles of the NFL Draft — although admittedly the 2020 version is much more aggressive than the 2019 edition. But with free agency open for over a month and the NFL Draft now behind us, this feels like a good time to stop and assess what exactly this Dolphins roster looks like. It’s going to be incredibly different than the one you last saw when the Dolphins took the field against the New England Patriots in Week 17.
So here’s a “way too early” forecast of what we could see the Dolphins’ starting lineup look like when the Dolphins suit up for their first game of the 2020 season.
Offense
Quarterback: Ryan Fitzpatrick OR Tua Tagovailoa (R)
Running Back: Jordan Howard (FA) /Matt Breida (Trade)
Wide Receiver (X): DeVante Parker
Wide Receiver (Slot): Albert Wilson/Jakeem Grant
Wide Receiver (Z): Preston Williams
Tight End: Mike Gesicki
Left Tackle: Austin Jackson (R)
Left Guard: Ereck Flowers (FA)
Center: Ted Karras (FA)
Right Guard: Robert Hunt (R)
Right Tackle: Jesse Davis
Rookie Solomon Kindley is a name to peg, here. If he’s healthy, he could possibly push Robert Hunt to right tackle and provide Miami with five new starters on the offensive line. Tagovailoa’s status as a starter may come down to two variables:
- How quickly he picks up the playbook
- If the NFL season starts as currently scheduled
In all, you’re looking at an expected 5 or 6 new starters on the Dolphins’ offensive unit.
Defense
Defensive End: Shaq Lawson (FA)
Defensive Tackle (NT): Davon Godchaux
Defensive End: Christian Wilkins
Rush LB: Kyle Van Noy (FA)
MIKE LB: Raekwon McMillan
WILL LB: Jerome Baker
Cornerback: Byron Jones (FA)
Free Safety: Bobby McCain
Strong Safety: Eric Rowe
Nickel back: Noah Igbinoghene (R)
Cornerback: Xavien Howard
With how much sub-package defense we should expect to see out of Miami, this base defense is listed as the “nickel” formation with one less DL and one extra defensive back on the field. Depth on defense is suddenly significant — as this startling lineup doesn’t consider 2nd-round pick Raekwon Davis, DL Emmanuel Ogbah or Vince Biegel.