The Miami Dolphins boast one of the youngest rosters in all of the NFL. After two spring seasons of collecting talent, the Dolphins are home to a slew of young talents and only one player, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, who is in his 30s. The rest of the Dolphins’ team is collectively in their athletic prime; ready for the challenges of a new season so long as injuries don’t derail their progress. And with only an additional three players (Kyle Van Noy, Allen Hurns and Jesse Davis) over the age of 27, there will be no aged slowing of this roster — not for a long time.
Yet for all of Miami’s youth, the team doesn’t exactly have hoards of established talent. The youth Miami has targeted comes with inexperience; a natural byproduct that does stand to introduce some growing pains for Miami.
NFL.com recently unveiled their 2020 All-Under-25 Team, meant to honor the best players in the league who are under the age of 25 — and despite Miami’s hoards of youth, the Dolphins did not have a single player make the roster. One former player, Minkah Fitzpatrick, was included on the team.
While it is hard to argue with a subjective list, the Dolphins do at least have a few players that could have put up a reasonable argument.
Tight end Mike Gesicki, with a full season at the level he played at for the second half of 2019, and linebacker Jerome Baker each provide promise of being standout players if they’re able to gather a little more name recognition. Baltimore Ravens TE Mark Andrews received the nod as the team’s tight end — understandably so after an 800+ yard campaign with 10 touchdowns last season. But Andrews logged 442 yards and 7 touchdowns over Baltimore’s final 9 games and Gesicki logged 417 yards and 5 touchdowns over Miami’s final 9 games of 2019.
He’s in the ballpark.
As for Baker, the All-Under-25 Team only recognized two linebackers. There’s plenty of competition for a third spot and one of the two recognized talents, Colts LB Bobby Okereke, feels like a massive reach when considering he’s played less than 500 career snaps. Baker wouldn’t warrant a nod over San Francisco’s Fred Warner, nor would he likely beat out Devin Bush from Pittsburgh or Devin White from Tampa Bay — but Baker has a better resume than Okereke none the less.
Perhaps more recognition will come for Miami’s key cogs once the wins start to come in bunches. Here’s hoping we get there sooner rather than later.