Some of the Miami Dolphins' roster battles are going to go down to the wire this month. Miami has a number of competitive rooms battling out limited roster spots. The perception of the Dolphins is a bit of a polarizing spectrum — with a number of the key position battles looming as determining ...
Three 53-man roster battles shaping the Dolphins’ trenches for the 2025 season — and the players rising and falling entering Detroit joint practices originally appeared on A to Z Sports.
Some of the Miami Dolphins' roster battles are going to go down to the wire this month. Miami has a number of competitive rooms battling out limited roster spots. The perception of the Dolphins is a bit of a polarizing spectrum — with a number of the key position battles looming as determining factors in end result of the 2025 season, especially along the line of scrimmage.
With the Dolphins set to kick off two days of joint practices in Detroit with the Lions, who are some of the bubble players trending each direction for the Dolphins? Here are three positional battlegrounds up front for the 2025 Miami Dolphins and a player trending each direction for each room.
Three positional battlegrounds for the 2025 Miami Dolphins' 53-man roster
The Tight End Position
The stock up player here is a tough call because, frankly, no one is laying claim to opportunities in this room. It is a disappointing turn of events for a team that is still waiting to see Darren Waller make his training camp debut for the Dolphins, too. According to head coach Mike McDaniel, that debut will not be the next two days in Detroit, either. If you had to choose a riser, it is probably long-time McDaniel pet project Tanner Conner. Conner is a former college wide receiver who has been groomed as a tight end for several years now. He's a dynamic athlete and has been given some fullback responsibilities this summer amid an injury to Alec Ingold. That added versatility helps his case.
It would probably be fair to put everyone else into the stock down bucket but I'll go with Pharaoh Brown as the player who lost ground in the preseason debut versus the Bears. Brown played into the fourth quarter with the third-strong offense, a discouraging omen for his bid to dethrone incumbent Julian Hill as the primary in-line option. He has time, but it's time to put the gas pedal down for Brown.
The Defensive Tackle Position
The stock up player here appears to be seventh-round rookie draft choice Zeek Biggers. Biggers is trending towards a roster spot amid his outstanding length and improving pad level. He's got some major bounce as well and has a robust special teams resume as a kick blocker. He nearly got one against the Bears, too. Miami will be challenged to keep no less than five interior defensive linemen, given their roster options this year. Biggers is going the right direction to be among them.
Trending the other way is a tough call — this is a group with a lot of depth and potential role players. Veteran Matthew Butler probably leaves the Chicago game wanting a few reps back, meaning in a cut throat battle for roster spots, it may go down as a missed opportunity.
The Ninth Offensive Line Spot
Miami could choose to keep eight. The injury history to Austin Jackson makes that unlikely, though. Right now the Dolphins' projected starting five are Patrick Paul, rookie Jonah Savaiinaea, Aaron Brewer, James Daniels, and Jackson. Beyond them, Larry Borom and Liam Eichenberg feel like strong bets as the swing tackle and utility interior option — although Eichenberg has yet to suit up this summer and did not get a positive update from head coach Mike McDaniel today. McDaniel did ooze praise for second-year lineman Andrew Meyer before injury put him aside for several weeks. It makes Meyer, a 2024 undrafted free agent, the hot name for the depth offensive line positions.
"(Meyer)’s had a great camp. Really stepped his game up, been very impressed with his play. He will be out – it’ll be weeks – but he’s built a strong foundation. One of the top really performers and you want to talk growth of game; one of the top guys that from Year 1 to Year 2 has made tremendous strides so we’ll be looking forward to whenever he does get back," said McDaniel.
The offensive lineman losing ground is Kion Smith. Smith missed all of 2024 after a preseason knee injury and has been cross-training several positions this summer in his return to action. But Smith was woeful against Chicago and at times did not look like an NFL player between his opportunities at left tackle and right guard. That kind of performance can't justify a roster spot if Miami is choosing between that and veteran Daniel Brunskill for the ninth offensive line spot.
This story was originally reported by A to Z Sports on Aug 13, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Football
