Defense
Defensive Line (7)
- Christian Wilkins
- Raekwon Davis
- Zach Sieler
- Emmanuel Ogbah
- Adam Butler
- John Jenkins
- Jason Strowbridge
Miami’s group here has plenty of versatility. There aren’t a lot of options that are regrettably left off the list — especially with the outside linebacker sub-section below that accommodates a number of other pieces.
Outside Linebackers (4)
- Andrew Van Ginkel
- Jaelan Phillips
- Brennan Scarlett
- Vince Biegel
The departures of Shaq Lawson and Kyle Van Noy this offseason make this group a fairly straight forward one as well. There’s not a single contender for a spot that Miami should feel they’re missing out on having as a piece of the puzzle outside of this group of four.
Stack Linebackers (4)
- Jerome Baker
- Benardrick McKinney
- Duke Riley
- Sam Eguavoen
Two newcomers here in McKinney and Riley provide more quality options for Miami — who also have Elandon Roberts waiting in the wings when he’s deemed healthy to return to action. We’re currently taking a conservative route with Roberts, who suffered a season-ending knee injury late in the 2020 season, and projecting him to start the year on the PUP list; which would allow Miami to retain his rights but not have him occupy an active roster spot if he’s not ready to play.
Cornerbacks (6)
- Xavien Howard
- Byron Jones
- Justin Coleman
- Noah Igbinoghene
- Jason McCourty
- Nik Needham
This group really has become an embarrassment of riches. Of course, what happens with Xavien Howard will go a long way in determining if this level of depth holds true when the season starts. If Howard is traded, look for Jamal Perry to become CB6 or else for Clayton Fejedelem (missing below) to make the cut at safety.
Safeties (4)
- Jevon Holland
- Eric Rowe
- Brandon Jones
- Trill Williams
Versatility is the name of the game. Clayton Fejedelem could contend for a spot but he’s most likely a special teams contributor only and Miami can find those contributions elsewhere if need be. UDFA Trill Williams makes the cut on potential — if he were healthy during the spring, he certainly would have been drafted in April.