My final 53 roster projection

I went through the roster this morning, and this is easily the toughest time I've ever had projecting the final 53.  Here is what I have:

QB (3) – Tagovailoa, Bridgewater, Thompson

RB (4) – Edmonds, Mostert, Michel, Gaskin/Ahmed

FB (1) - Ingold

WR (7) – Hill, Waddle, Wilson, Ezukanma, Sherfield, Cracraft, Bowden

TE (3) – Gesicki, Smythe, Carter

OL ( 8 ) – Armstead, Eichenberg, Williams, Hunt, Jackson, Little, Kindley, Deiter

DL (6) – Ogbah, Wilkins, Sieler, Flowers, Davis, Jenkins

LB (7) – Phillips, Van Ginkel, Baker, Ingram, Roberts, Tindall, Riley

CB (7) – Howard, Jones, Needham, Igbinoghene, Kohou, Campbell, Crossen

S (4) – Holland, Jones, Rowe, Fejedelem

K (1) – Sanders

P (1) – Morstead

LS (1) – Ferguson

At RB, I just can't decide between Gaskin and Ahmed.  I could make a good argument for either one.  Glad I don't have final say on that one!  It is possible that we keep both and dump Michel, but I really don't see that.

7 WRs seems like overkill, but I see Bowden as a returner-only, barring injuries.  So it's really 6 WRs and 1 specialist.

At TE, I really can't justify keeping Hunter Long.  I kept Cethan Carter over him, because Carter can serve as the back-up FB, #3 TE and core special teamer.  Carter's versatility allows us to dump Long and hopefully add him to the practice squad.

The following players are guys I really wanted to keep, but couldn't:
-- DL Stille and LB/DE Gustin - I really like what I saw from both of these guys in preseason, but there simply isn't room for them.
--DT Benito Jones just keeps improving and I really, really want to keep him - but I couldn't.
--OL Adam Pankey is a difficult cut because he can play all 5 OL positions and is a valuable special teams contributor.  But the emergence of Greg Little and Solomon Kindley, and Michael Deiter getting healthy, leaves no room for Pankey.
--Rookies Verone McKinley (safety) and TE Tanner Connor are players I love, but I don't think either one is ready yet.  Hopefully they will pass through waivers and land on the practice squad.
*EDIT --LB Cameron Goode has done everything he could to earn a roster spot, but in the end I had to drop him. He could take Duke Riley's place, but Riley is a key STs player. I also wanted to keep Sam Eguavoen, but there's just no space.

What do you guys think?  (And yes, I know...most of you would dump Bridgewater!  LOL)

If Iggy is kept I will be furious

If Long and Bridgewater are kept I will just be pissed.

Connor got hurt at literally the worst possible time. If that doesn't happen he easily beats out Long, who I heard McDaniel needed to have a "heart to heart" with before the Eagles game. I've also heard that neither Long nor Carter can block any better than Gesicki.

IMO Sherfield and Cracraft do not both make it, and from what I've been told I'd take Cracraft.

Also, I hate that Grier decided to panic-sign Flowers, who will now rob Stille, Gustin, or Jones (or maybe all 3) of a roster spot they deserve--before he likely gets cut in less than a month.

McDaniel has a lot to prove to me, and it starts NOW. He'd damn well better get this right!!!

DolFan 316 wrote:If Iggy is kept I will be furious

If Long and Bridgewater are kept I will just be pissed.

Connor got hurt at literally the worst possible time. If that doesn't happen he easily beats out Long, who I heard McDaniel needed to have a "heart to heart" with before the Eagles game. I've also heard that neither Long nor Carter can block any better than Gesicki.

IMO Sherfield and Cracraft do not both make it, and from what I've been told I'd take Cracraft.

Also, I hate that Grier decided to panic-sign Flowers, who will now rob Stille, Gustin, or Jones (or maybe all 3) of a roster spot they deserve--before he likely gets cut in less than a month.

McDaniel has a lot to prove to me, and it starts NOW. He'd damn well better get this right!!!

Iggy has shown improvement this summer and played well against the Eagles. He played early in the game, which makes me think he's on the team. That said, I would have both Kohou (and maybe Campbell too) ahead of him as far as playing time.

Long and Carter are both solid blockers. Long's biggest issue from my perspective is that he's supposed to be a complete TE - but his receiving skills and route-running are sub-par. Carter had some good blocks at FB against the Eagles, and his ability to play 3 roles makes him an asset. BTW, I noticed Gesicki with a nice block on a run in the Eagles game!

I think Sherfield and Cracraft are both locks at this point. Both are excellent route runners with good hands, and they can block.

Flowers isn't getting cut, and wasn't a panic-sign. He's going to be a key part of the front 7 rotation and he is a major addition. My guess is the coaches were a bit worried about run defense - Flowers helps a lot in that area, and also gives us pass rush ability. I like the young guys, but the bottom line is - Flowers is better than Stille and Gustin.

This is even harder than I thought! Just realized that I kept both Elandon Roberts and Sam Eguavoen off the roster. One or both of them will make it. I'm taking Roberts, and making the tough decision to drop Cameron Goode. See updated first post.

Good projection.

I do not think the team will give up this soon on Hunter Long. If they choose to keep him, might be 4 TEs and we dump a receiver.

Looking at the corners I actually like that group. Outside Iggy, it looks to me like the team may have found a couple more Needham-like gems.

white1 wrote:Good projection.

I do not think the team will give up this soon on Hunter Long.  If they choose to keep him, might be 4 TEs and we dump a receiver.

Looking at the corners I actually like that group.  Outside Iggy, it looks to me like the team may have found a couple more Needham-like gems.

I agree Long probably sticks...but I would personally not keep him the way this roster is laid out. The receiver position is killing me...just too many good players! LOL

I am very happy with the corners. Kohou looks like the real deal, and Campbell did nothing but make plays all preseason. If Iggy actually develops into a serviceable player, it's a really strong group.

JMP wrote:I think Sherfield and Cracraft are both locks at this point.  Both are excellent route runners with good hands, and they can block.

Just when I thought I'd actually be...wrong about something and have to give someone else credit for a change, Cracraft possibly being the final player cut saves my sterling reputation!

Seriously, even I thought both belonged instead of either/or, and IMO Connor making it is what ultimately gave Cracraft the boot. Then again, I'd much rather have the starting TE next season than a #6 WR if it really did come down to that. But keeping only 5 WRs still gives me the heebie-jeebies Cracraft definitely would've been better to keep than Hunter Freaking Long for sure.

The Dolphins heard chatter about Connor getting picked up, so they rostered him - which tells you that he fits in to their future plans. Most likely, he will be Gesicki's replacement next season if he continues to develop. Love the long-term view!!!

Sad to see Cracraft go because I was very impressed with him, but no need to cry over the 6th receiver.

I really like the way the final roster (for now) is set.

I expect at least two moves:
--Sign ex-49ers OL Justin Skule, dropping Robert Jones.
--Not sure who gets cut to make room, but I expect a veteran boundary CB (maybe Joe Haden if healthy???) to be added to help replace Byron Jones.

Guys like White, Sanders, Goode and Stille should be easy practice squad adds...I don't see any of them getting picked up by another team.

My guess is Lynn Bowden will be a Patriot by day's end.