Miami Dolphins Starting Lineup Revealed By ESPN Before NFL Training Camp | Dolphins Rumors

[Music] It is time to take a look at the Miami Dolphins roster heading into NFL training camp. I am Nick Rolloff. This is Dolphins Today by Chat Sports. Why are we doing this? Well, ESPN ranked all 32 teams starting lineups and roster. They gave their projected lineups, top strength, weakness, X factor, non-starters to watch, and I wanted to react to what they had to say. But the first thing I got to mention, they ranked 1 through 32. They had the Miami Dolphins number 24 on their list in the NFL starting lineups ranked. Listen, I do not expect crazy things from this Dolphins team in 2025. I think they could sneak their way into a playoff spot if they’re able to get off to a hot start and stay healthy because their schedule is relatively favorable early on. But them being ranked 24th behind the Raiders, behind the Patriots, I just find that incredibly disrespectful from ESPN. And I’ll share some more thoughts on that at the end of today’s show. But before we do all of that, I do want to get into the main part of the episode. But I do want to help us out here. I want to get the likes up here at Dolphins today. I look back at last July 2024. We got 14,034 likes in the entire month. We still have about five or six days, maybe more. I can’t do math. In the month of July, and we’re almost there. Let’s top last year’s like number of July likes on this video alone. I think we can get there. All right, we’ll start with the biggest strength on this roster outlook from ESPN. They labeled it as wide receiver. And I want to take a look exactly what Mike Clay of ESPN said on the Dolphins roster, saying Miami’s receivers might have underperformed last season, but this Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Watled group is super talented and a good bet for a rebound, dealing with injuries and two high safety looks at a league high rate. Hill plummeted from 1799 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2023 to 959 yards and six scores in 2024. And I don’t agree with ESPN often, but I do agree here. I think the two best positions on the Miami Dolphins roster right now before injuries and before the season actually gets underway are your two offensive skill position groups, wide receiver and running backs. Those two are the top two spots on my opinion. I mean, when you have Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Wadd, who in my opinion are still a top five wide receiver duo in the NFL, yeah, that’s always going to help pace this group. But you signed Nick Westber to a two-year deal, who I think is going to be very, very solid for Miami this year. Finally, a big bodied wide receiver to be a red zone threat. He’s an excellent run blocker as well. Like, I love the addition of NWI. and I think high things of Malik Washington, the secondyear wide receiver out of Virginia as a potential gadget slot specialist type of player on this roster. So, I do think the Dolphins best group is either running back or wide receiver. The biggest weakness labeled by ESPN, no surprise, it’s going to be your secondary, right? And that’s like the one thing you can’t disagree with at all either is that the worst part about this roster is that secondary. You lost Jaylen Ramsay, you lost Javon Holland, you lost Kendall Fuller. It just isn’t in a good spot considering they didn’t make too many crazy replacements for those three players I mentioned. Again, let’s see what ESPN had to say. Both starting safeties, Puyer and Holland are gone, as well as top corners Kendall Fuller and Jaylen Ramsay. Oddly, Miami didn’t do much to replace them, adding Arty Burns, Ashen Davis, and I fatuano. Fifth rounders Jason Marshall Jr. and Dante Trader Jr. were the only draft selections in the secondary. Slot corner Kohou is pretty good, but the situation around him is a massive question. And I don’t think we need to beat a dead horse here. We have been screaming from the rooftops ever since Miami did not draft a member of the secondary in the first three rounds of the 2025 NFL draft that this secondary is its biggest issue. Storm Duck and Cam Smith are your projected starters on the outside and I just don’t think that is sustainable throughout a 17g game season as ESPN said and I’ll agree with Kater co who’s the top 10 nickel in the entire NFL. I like obviously adding Minka Fitzpatrick and I’m intrigued with effort to Malifanu and Ashton Davis but I can’t comfortably say that this is a spot on the roster that I feel confident in. It is clearly the biggest weakness and I think if we sit here a year from now and look at the disaster of a season that might have happened in 2025, it will likely be one because of injuries or two, well the secondary was as bad as projected going into the year. Couple more things to get to here, but the Dolphins have the blank best roster in the NFL. ESPN thinks it’s 24th. What is your thoughts? Let me know your thoughts down in the comments. The X factor labeled by ESPN is the running game of Miami. So, as I talked about the strength, I think the two biggest strength on this roster is wide receiver and running backs, but they labeled the X factor as the running game. The Dolphins went from the most efficient running game in the league by EPA per play in 2023 to second worst last season. Run blocking played a big part of that as Miami dropped from six to 26 than run block win rate, but the running back performance dropped too. Devon Han, Jaylen Wright, and Raheem Moster all recorded negative rush yards over expectation per NFL nextG stats. And I will once again agree with ESPN. So, I like what they’re doing here in terms of labeling biggest weakness, biggest strength, X factor, um, and stuff like that. But I still don’t get why they’re ranked 24. But when you think about this Dolphins run game, they lost a couple key players from 2023 to 2024. Obviously, the biggest one was Robert Hunt. Top five guard in football, left you to go play for the Carolina Panthers. You didn’t replace him. Well, you had Robert Jones and Liam Iikenberg. Well, now you replace those two in your starting five up front with James Daniels and Jonah Savinia. That is a massive upgrade on your interior. Yes, you are losing Terron Armstead, and you’ll have to rely on firsttime fullyear starter, second round pick in 2024, Patrick Paul. But if this group is able to stay healthy, this offensive line is significantly better than last season. And I do agree that this O line, this run game is going to be the X factor. It can’t get much worse from where it was last season. It will be the most improved part of this Dolphins football team. I think without a doubt when you go through every single position group and you go through every phase of the game to me there’s no question the run game the offensive line will be significantly better from last season. I’m excited to watch this group up five work. Hopefully they stay healthy. The non-starter to know labeled by ESPN wasn’t one specific starter. They actually labeled the backup linebacker duo of KJ Brett and Willie Gay Jr. two players Miami signed an NFL free for agency. We’ll break that down more here in a second, but this is why you subscribe to the channel. ESPN puts out content behind a payw wall. We do not subscribe to the channel for daily content for free. We also go live every week. We also have watch parties during the preseason and the regular season. So, join the family here at Dolphins today. And I feel like I’m just repeating myself here, but I like the pick from ESPN about this being a non-starter to know. If there was another one out there, I think I would probably lean towards the safety room. Even though it is a weakness, I think a non-starter to know could be a fatu who is not projected to start, but that’s neither here nor there. Aaron Shatz of ESPN on the linebacker duo, KJ Britain, Willie Gay. They built great depth at inside linebacker with these former starters. Gay is strong in pass coverage while Brett had 72 combined tackles for Tampa Bay last season, but usually play two of these guys at a time. And the Dolphins also have Jordan Brooks and Tyrell Dodson. So, I will say I am not completely sold on how much these two will play barring injury. Right? You have Tyrell Dodson, you have Jordan Brooks, a linebacker duo who I think is one of the most underrated duos in the entire NFL. But when you have two guys who have so much starting experience in different skill sets, like they mentioned, Brett is a runto stopping thumper. Willie Gay is an athletic sideline to sideline pass coverage linebacker. Like if Tyrell Dodson goes down, you can replace him with Willie Gay. If Jordan Brooks goes down, you can replace him with KJ Bray. You have one linebacker perfectly matched in skill sets to replace each of your starters. God forbid an injury occurs. The depth on your front seven is so good. I like this group a lot. I think if Miami is going to exceed expectations in 2025, it is going to be because not the secondary was actually better than expected. That would certainly help. But the main reason would be one, your offense stayed healthy, and I’ll continue to reference that point. But your defensive line in front seven just took a massive step forward in their ability to be physical at the point of attack and generate pressure on quarterbacks. I mean, you have Jaylen Phillips and Bradley Chub returning. Chop Robinson was a stud last year. You drafted Kenneth Grant. You have a solid linebacker duo with great depth. This front seven should be much improved in stopping the run, getting after the quarterback. I’m excited to watch a more physical Dolphins football team, especially on the defensive side of the football. We’re going to get to the projected starting lineup here in a second, but I did want to tell everyone about this unbelievable deal. This Dolphins cutoff hoodie, usually double nickel 55, is available for double trao, that’s not a word, I’m making it up. $33 when you go to chatsports.com/mia cututoff sale. That link’s in the description of today’s video. So, take advantage. Go grab it today before sizes run out. All right, let’s look at the projected starting lineup on both sides of the football via ESPN right now. And for whatever reason, they I think were hammered making this projection because they had um 12 people starting on the defense and offense. Not a thing. Um, but we’ll just take out the extra running back. We’ll start at the back field with Tua Tongaval Aloa, Devon, Chad, and Jaylen Wright. Now, obviously on a more consistent basis, the Dolphins are only probably going to be playing one running back. Um, they do have the most two running back formations in the NFL or at least top three behind the 49ers. So, you do see it a lot. But, this doesn’t surprise me whatsoever. No shocks here to Devon Han. Right will be RB2 at position group. I’m a little bit surprised they put Darren Waller as a starting tight end. Um, would I project him to start as that lead guy week one? I wouldn’t do it right now if I’ll be completely honest, just because I haven’t seen him play football since 2023. He took a whole year off. I got to see him step on the football field and the practice field before I can label him a starter. But I do believe those are your top three wide receivers. And then no surprise at offensive line. ESPN had the same starting five that I do. But this does make it a little bit interesting for me that they did put Jonah Savvy Nai at right guard. I think that’s what Miami should do without a second of hesitation. But we know he got some snaps at left guard during mini camp and OTAAS next to Patrick Paul. Now James Daniels wasn’t practicing as he’s still recovering from that Achilles injury. Should be ready to go for by week one. Um but I will be fascinated and I can’t wait to see who ultimately is slotted in at left guard and right guard between James Daniels and Jonas Savvy. And I am. So that is what I think the majority of the starting lineup will be for this Dolphins offense this year. Miami after having a top 10 offense in 22 and 23 under Mike McDaniel was not very good in 2024. Will they return to being a top 10 offense in 2025? Type Y for yes or type N for no. Let’s transition over to the defense now. The starting lineup, the front six. Now their base package was nickel mo the most last season. So, this is what is the base package in their nickel in my opinion. And I think ESPN’s spot on here. I think you will more than likely see Zack Celer and Kenneth Grant as that defensive line duo on the interior. I think if you are fully healthy, Chop Robinson and Jaylen Phillips are going to probably be the two edges that get more playing time. I would put Bradley Chub at number three, but I would have him behind Chop and Jaylen. and obviously staying healthy. Tyrell Dodson and Jordan Brooks are going to be your starting linebacker duo, which we know Anthony Weaver likes to have two linebackers out there pretty much every single snap. Now, let’s transition to the secondary where things get a little bit more interesting. Safeties are Minka Fitzpatrick and Ashen Davis. So, ESPN gives the nod to Davis over Eatatu Melofanu. Obviously, Kater Coo is going to start, but they like me have Storm Duck and Cam Smith as the two starting boundary corners and Cahoo playing in the slot. I’ll be honest, like if you look at the entire defensive line and secondary, I think this is where my money would be as well. If you put a gun to my head and ask who is on the field for the first snap of the season defensively and offensively with no injuries from now until week one, I think those 11 people on each side would be the ones that you will see. I think Davis is going to have a strong camp to get him that number two safety spot, but that’s really up for grabs. We know MK is going to be one of them. who is the other starting safety. Heck, they might run three safeties out there, too. That’s not out of the realm of possibility with how versatile Melofanu and Ashen Davis and Ma Fitzpatrick are. But I do think ESPN pretty much hit it right on the head in terms of projecting the Dolphin starting lineup. And that’s what I’ll say here. Final word on today’s show. I agree with the starting lineup ESPN had. I agree with the biggest weakness, the biggest strength, X factor, and starting or non-starter that you need to know. Like, I agree with everything. The only thing I don’t agree with is that they’re ranked 24th amongst NFL rosters. That would project Miami to have a top 10 pick in this draft. I don’t think that’s going to happen. I really don’t. If Tua is able to play 15 games this year, I’ll give them two miss games. Plays 15. Dolphins will not be picking in the top 10. They will be absolutely in the playoff hunt. They will absolutely have seven wins at bare minimum to his 38 and 24 as a start. like he’s not going to lose 10 games. Just not going to happen as a starter. We haven’t seen it. I think that’s a little disrespectful. The half is below New England. Las Vegas might be the most egregious. I mean, are we serious? The Raiders secondary is atrocious. Their cornerback grouping is not good. Their top wide receivers, Jacobe Meyers. No offense to Jacob’s good ball player, but are we real here? Like I think the Raiders being above Miami is the most egregious, but I don’t really like the projection either from Arizona. Like I’m not sold on the Cardinals. I don’t know. Maybe I’m biased. I just think 24th was incredibly disrespectful. If Miami was like 20 or 19, I know it’s only four or five spots higher. I’d feel much more like, okay, that’s fine with me because that’s where I think I would rank them. But 24th just feels incredibly disrespectful. I can’t get over that. Can’t do it. Well, folks, if you want unfiltered thoughts around the Miami Dolphins on a daily basis, channel for you. And if anything goes down during training camp, news, rumors, we’ll have you covered here. So, join the family. As always, Dolphins fans, go fans. [Music]

Miami Dolphins rumors and Miami Dolphins news today: Following OTAs and minicamp and an offseason in which the Dolphins did not really make many moves for head coach Mike McDaniel, ESPN has published what it thinks the Dolphins lineup could look like for the 2025 NFL season. ESPN has projected the 2025 Miami Dolphins depth chart, starters, lineup, biggest strength and weakness, X-Factor and some surprising changes to the Miami Dolphins starting lineup! Chat Sports host Nic Rohloff breaks it all down in this Miami Dolphins YouTube video!

Dolphins Today had 14,034 likes during July in 2024. We currently have 13,899 this July, hit that like button!

Miami Dolphins hoodie on a MASSIVE SALE for $22 off! Sizes are running out:
https://www.chatsports.com/MIACUTOFFSALE.

Dolphins’ roster outlook per ESPN:
Biggest strength: Wide receiver
Biggest weakness: Secondary
X-Factor: Running game
Nonstarter to know: Linebacker duo

Share today’s Miami Dolphins Today episode on social media!

Don’t be the one that doesn’t know what’s going on. Follow Dolphins Today host Nic Rohloff on Twitter/X and Instagram to stay up to date on the latest Dolphins rumors:
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/nic_rohloff
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dolphinstodayig/

@chatsports has the best coverage on YouTube when it comes to the NFL & NBA! Subscribe NOW: http://www.youtube.com/@chatsports?sub_confirmation=1

Missed our recent Miami Dolphins 2025 NFL offseason YouTube coverage? We got you covered:
– Miami Dolphins Got Gifted A BIG-TIME Move They Need To Make!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwkcYZXsr6o
– Dolphins Targeting Kyle Pitts Trade? Signing Stephon Gilmore? Cutting 2025 NFL Draft Pick? Q&A: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fM6CEyBrnVs
– Miami Dolphins Fans Got EXCITING News On Jaylen Waddle & Tua Tagovailoa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FptzY1apH8

Agree or disagree with Dolphins Today host Nic Rohloff by commenting on today’s video:
– The Dolphins have the ____ best roster in the NFL!
– Will the Dolphins have a top 10 offense? Type ‘Y’ for Yes or ‘N’ for No

Dolphins offensive starters:
QB: Tua Tagovailoa
RB: De’Von Achane
WR: Tyreek Hill
WR: Jaylen Waddle
WR: Nick Westbrook-Ikhine
TE: Darren Waller
LT: Patrick Paul
LG: James Daniels
C: Aaron Brewer
RG: Jonah Savaiinaea
RT: Austin Jackson

Dolphins defensive starters:
DL: Zach Sieler
DL: Kenneth Grant
EDGE: Chop Robinson
EDGE: Jaelan Phillips
LB: Tyrek Dodson
LB: Jordyn Brooks
CB: Storm Duck
CB: Cam Smith
CB: Kader Kohou
S: Minkah Fitzpatrick
S: Ashty Davis

All REAL ONES turn on their notifications to never miss any Miami Dolphins YouTube videos from Dolphins Today by Chat Sports! 🔔

Miami Dolphins Today is LIVE throughout the NFL Offseason! Don’t miss a beat: http://youtube.com/DolphinsNews?sub_confirmation=1

Find more Miami Dolphins news and rumors this NFL Offseason at: http://chatsports.com/miami-dolphins

#MiamiDolphins #DolphinsRumors #DolphinsESPN #CSFAN2025 #ad #CSB

44 comments

  3. Dude WTF is wrong with your title, nobody knows the starting roster before pre-season has happened so how is it a revealing? Those dumb asses @ ESPN are Miami Hating diptards, get your shit together suspect, fix your title, It's not a reveal dipshat, it's an assumption or at best a guess of what the roster might or could be, but my guess is that it's far off. I'm not gonna watch this just for the fact your title is bullshit and I hate espn. You're fortunate I dont leave a thumbs down for trying to give espn some credit like they are actually doing something important, a guess is not any important news especially coming from espn. I still might thumbs down this garble, how much those dolphin haters paying you to boost that clown show cable channel, trash news?

  5. Ok I'm watching it anyway, so far I agree with you, strongly disagree with espn, the title is still trash tho, you give espn way too much credit by calling it a revealing, like it's anything official, i see you do put rumors at the end but still should make it clear that it's just anti-miami, bias assumption from them, its not even rumors lol

  6. Most significant upgrade is the o-line, i agree but you add potential jinx by not including one small addition to your comment and that is "if they stay healthy" you always need to consider that when you are guessing what our upgrades are capable of

  7. I gotta say the O line is our X factor this year. Give Tua an extra half second of protection to find his 2nd and 3rd read and mix it up with much improved run blocking. Should open up the field.

  11. The talking point here is how is Ramsey, Ramsey? He was developed from his natural talent, period. My opinion is that this is the year that our young players step up or get traded. Developing players is how all of these great players started. Storm and Kator can and will step up period. I have no concern about the secondary until after preseason period!!!

  12. The oline is still a problem, but that’s been a problem for 20 years. What I can’t understand is why we start the year with storm duck and can Smyth as our cornerback would be lucky to win two games.

  16. The biggest problem with the Dolphins is something that's happening behind closed doors. Think about it, we hire a so-called "run guru" who put together the most efficient run game in his 2nd year. So what happened in 2024? My guess is Grier and McDaniel sat in a room and discussed replacing Hunt and between those two geniuses they determined Eichenbergh was just as good and saved money. McDaniel with his rose-colored glasses and can-do attitude probably assured Grier that the run game would be okay. So why is it a guy like me, who's never had a job even closely related to the NFL, knew without a shadow of a doubt that our run game was going to fail with Eichenberg and zero depth? I don't get paid a million dollars to make those decisions, so how is it the guys who do had absolutely no foresight to see 2024's disaster? I'm just a fan. How the heck did they not see it?

  17. THE PROBLEM is that Tua doesn’t, and I would argue is incapable of playing at a level that his contract demands!!! He is barely worth $20M per year! I’d quickly take my chances with a worse QB that allowed me more cap to improve the team! TRADE HIM ASAP!!!

  25. Great video Nic but Twoo things we don't get one CB minimum every good lQB are going to thow all over us scoring points including NE second thing bo backups on o lineb

  31. Why are we still worried about these rankings? If we want to be respected, we have to make it happen ourselves. Honestly, we haven’t earned their respect so show them better than you can tell them. I’m not mad, do better.

  36. Dolphins should have drafted 48 CB Shavon Revel Jr instead of Jonah Savaiinaea og. And giving up pick 98 and 135 for pick 143 we lost ot Charles Grant and DL Joshua Farmer. We could have got 2 TE at 150 TE Mitchell Evans and 155 TE Jackson Hawes but our GM is pathetic.

  39. Tua needs to go to another team and get away from this cursed organization only a cursed organization would have GM Chris Grier messing them up but dolphins fans like the humiliation.

  41. I need to see Ashtyn Davis in this starting lineup. I thought he was the best player in our Secondary before we got Minkah Fitzpatrick back. I hope he wins the SS job over injury-prone Melifonwu.

  43. Right now they have two rookie OL. Paul is going into his second year who's going to be playing LT.. They are going to have their bumps and bruises but if Miami can somehow withstand and stay in range these guys will get better as they go. Or injured. Weaver has to be asking them to get cornerbacks unless he thinks his system is flawless. ESPN ranking Miami 24-25th doesn't bother me. We can't say Miami is being disrespected because Miami creates its own disrespect every single year.

  44. As of today the secondary looks like a disaster. Weaver has to be pushing for CBs. Correct me if I'm wrong here? but the remaining safeties in free agency are nothing special are there?

Leave a Reply