The Miami Dolphins close out training camp having had the type of camp that was a throwback to the Tony Sparano days, which was an era of the team that leaned on toughness and physicality.
Coach Mike McDaniel seemingly ditched the country club approach he had last season — which gave a ton of veterans every other day off — and had his team grinding in the South Florida heat, then went on a 11-day road trip to the midwest to hold some physical joint practices against the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions before returning home to hold joint practices and a preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The hope is that the end result of this culture shift will be a tougher, more physical and less finesse-based Dolphins team. But we will see about that when the regular season arrives.
For now, with training camp concluded with Saturday’s preseason finale against the Jaguars, let’s take a look at some of camp’s top performers, and outline areas of concern for 2025.
Top performer: Tua Tagovailoa
He wasn’t perfect, but the Dolphins starting quarterback was consistent on most days, throwing only five camp interceptions. And when he did struggle there was usually a reason, like unfamiliarity with his receivers or the challenges the offensive line had during most of training camp, especially once Austin Jackson was sidelined with a left foot injury. It’s clear that Tagovailoa will have a pace-setting season if he can stay healthy, and the Dolphins offensive line finds a way to give him an extra second of protection. However, his chemistry with Tyreek Hill needs work, and he hasn’t practiced once with tight end Darren Waller, who is coming off retirement and being eased back into practices.
Most improved player: Dee Eskridge
Eskridge was taken in the second round in 2021 because of his speed and ability to stop on a dime and change direction. Injuries, a regime change and off-the-field issues led to his dismissal in Seattle. But Eskridge is apparently on the road to redemption because he’s been one of camp’s top five offensive weapons, which should earn him a spot on Miami’s 53-man roster, if not a role on the active roster.
Most disappointing player: Jaylen Wright
Wright, whom I named the most improved player in the spring because of the work he did to redefine his body, began to struggle once the pads were put on. At first the blame was placed on the offensive line he was working with, then Alexander Mattison (who is sidelined with a season-ending neck injury) shined with the exact same unit, which hinted that it was Wright’s vision as a back that was the issue. Rookie tailback Ollie Gordon II was closing on Wright as De’Von Achane’s top backup before Wright sustained an undisclosed leg injury during Thursday’s joint practice. The hope is that he’s not out for the season and will eventually turn up the volume on his performance, improving on his 1.5 yards-per-carry average in the preseason, when healthy.
Most impressive rookie: Kenneth Grant
All three of Miami’s drafted defensive linemen have played well in the preseason games. But Grant, the Dolphins’ 2025 first-round pick, is the most ready to play as a rookie. He had held a starting spot all of training camp, before sustained an undisclosed injury that has kept him sidelined this week. The hope is he will be ready to contribute in two weeks, when Miami plays the Sept. 7 season opener against the Indianapolis Colts. However, Grant needs to work on his conditioning and stamina.
Area of concern: Cornerback
This unit already began the season lacking experience after trading Jalen Ramsey and cutting Kendall Fuller, and then Miami lost Kader Kohou and Artie Burns to season-ending knee injuries. The unit’s also watered down by Ethan Bonner (hamstring) and Kendall Sheffield’s (soft tissue) injuries, which will make them questionable for the start of the regular season. That means Miami is forced to lean on Storm Duck, a second-year cornerback, Jack Jones, veteran starter added earlier this month, and rookie Jason Marshall Jr., who is blossoming as a nickel cornerback, as the top trio. This unit needs more depth and experience.
Area of strength: Edge rushers
If Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, Chop Robinson and Matthew Judon are all healthy for the season the Dolphins have a foursome of pass rushers who could each deliver 10 sacks in a season. They will clearly be on a playing rotation, and many of them will be paired with Zach Sieler on third downs. This unit has so much depth that more than one edge rusher — Derrick McClendon, Grayson Murphy, Cameron Goode and Quinton Bell — with the talent to be on another team’s 53-man roster will be cut.
Biggest surprise: Willie Gay Jr.
Gay joined the Dolphins this offseason, signing a minimum salary contract because Miami was the only NFL team that made the 55-game starter an offer. The Dolphins clearly lucked out because there were long stretches of training camp where Gay, an undersized hybrid linebacker who is an emotional spark plug, made a flashy play (interception, sack, forced fumble, tackle for loss) every day. He was so impactful it’s hard to envision defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver not incorporating him into the team’s game plan from time to time.
Pushing for playing time: Malik Washington
Washington, a 2024 sixth-round pick who established himself as Miami’s slot receiver late last season, has blossomed into one of Tagovailoa’s most trusted weapons. Tagovailoa has turned up the volume on their chemistry in the reps he filled in for Tyreek Hill, who has missed most of the offseason because of a wrist injury and three weeks of training camp because of an oblique injury. Don’t be surprised if Washington catches 40 passes this season and becomes a major third-down weapon for Tagovailoa.
Needs the most work: Zach Wilson
If the Dolphins hadn’t guaranteed Wilson $6 million for this season, there’s a possibility Miami would have kept rookie Quinn Ewers over him because the former Texas standout seemingly possesses more upside than the 2021 second overall pick. Ewers is green, but he consistently makes bold throws. Wilson clearly needs to work on his accuracy, footwork and decision-making because he struggles to stay on schedule in Miami’s rhythmic passing offense.
What does Miami need: Offensive line help
Liam Eichenberg is sidelined by a leg injury, and Andrew Meyer is nursing an elbow injury, Without those top two backups, Miami’s second-team offensive line has struggled badly. The unit has also been watered down by seven injuries since camp started, but even if Butch Barry’s unit were completely healthy a backup left tackle is missing from this roster. That means if something happened to Patrick Paul on the injury front this offense will likely struggle, if not fall apart. General manager Chris Grier needs to fortify this unit by making a trade, adding a veteran, or being aggressive on the waiver wire, claiming offensive linemen with upside.
Last player on 53: Cameron Goode
Goode, a 2022 seventh-round pick, is not the flashiest pass rusher. But he’s a solid athlete who has begun to excel on special teams, and if special teams coordinator Craig Aukeman gets to advocate for a handful of players to be on the 53-man roster for his unit, Goode would likely be high on that list because of his consistency and experience level.
Priority for practice squad: Tahj Washington
The Dolphins have a receiver stable full of 5-0 or shorter receivers, and Washington, who is 5-8, 195 pounds, fits the mold of what works for this offense because of his ability to make the first tackler miss. However, Miami’s likely going to keep Nick Westbrook-Ikhine over Tahj Washington as the sixth receiver because of the size Westbrook-Ikhine, who is 6-foot-2, 211 pounds, brings, and the fact he has already been paid $2 million of his $3.2 million salary this season. Few teams need inexperienced slot receivers so it’s doubtful Washington gets claimed if released. Miami should want to continue investing in Tahj Washington and undrafted rookie Theo Wease Jr., who has shined in the preseason.