A brand-new season of Dolphins football is around the corner and we're getting you ready for the start of training camp!
We take a look at the entirety of the Dolphins 91-man roster and provide a cheat sheet for when the action begins at the Baptist Health Training Complex.
Defensive Backs
A familiar face returns and it's difficult to imagine a better fit for Defensive Coordinator Anthony Weaver's scheme. Minkah Fitzpatrick comes back to South Florida to resume his career where it began. The Dolphins spent a 2018 first-round pick on Fitzpatrick before dealing him to the Steelers for a first-round selection in 2020, which would become offensive lineman Austin Jackson. His football acumen, penchant for rattling through his pre-snap checklist in man-match principles and finding the football are all quintessential traits for the unique quarters coverage structures of Weaver. Fitzpatrick is a five-time Pro Bowler, three time First-Team All-Pro member with 20 interceptions and five defensive touchdowns in his illustrious career.
The cornerback room is headlined by fourth-year veteran Kader Kohou. Enjoying his best season as a pro in 2024, Kohou's sure-tackling, position flexibility and feisty challenging of the route at every step allows Weaver to be flexible in his man and zone calls.
The Cast (in alphabetical order):
- J. Adams (CB)
- Ethan Bonner (CB)
- Artie Burns (CB)
- Elijah Campbell (DB)
- Jordan Colbert (SAF)
- Ryan Cooper Jr. (CB)
- Ashtyn Davis (SAF)
- Storm Duck (CB)
- Minkah Fitzpatrick (SAF)
- Isaiah Johnson (CB)
- Kader Kohou (CB)
- Jason Marshall Jr. (CB)
- Patrick McMorris (SAF)
- Ifeatu Melifonwu (SAF)
- Ethan Robinson (CB)
- John Saunders Jr. (SAF)
- Kendall Sheffield (CB)
- Cam Smith (CB)
- Dante Trader Jr. (SAF)
Joining Fitzpatrick is fellow newcomers Ifeatu Melifonwu and Ashtyn Davis. The trio gives Pass Game Coordinator/Secondary Coach Brian Duker a plethora of options.
Melifonwu is adept fitting the run and rushing the quarterback but has the feel to play from depth in coverage. He has been called upon to blitz 36 times in his career, producing 21 pressures (58.3 percent pressure rate), 4.5 sacks, five quarterback hits and two batted passes on those blitz opportunities.
Davis has track speed. That range has helped him snag eight interceptions on 1,050 career snaps played.
Miami has options in terms of their big nickel package, which features five defensive backs, just like nickel, only with three safeties opposed to three corners.
Like Kohou, Storm Duck was an undrafted rookie who played a lot in his first season. He has the physicality and man cover skills to help Miami vary their coverages under Cornerbacks Coach Mathieu Araujo.
Third-year man Cam Smith has some of the best tools in the room but has struggled to stay on the field in his first two seasons. Another lengthy, former undrafted player, Isaiah Johnson, enjoyed a sterling spring and will have a chance to compete for reps.
Miami brough back native son Artie Burns, who played well in a limited role with the Seahawks last season. Fifth-round rookie Jason Marshall Jr., Kendall Sheffield, Ethan Bonner, Ryan Cooper Jr., and undrafted rookies B.J. Adams and Ethan Robinson round out the group.
The Fitzpatrick addition strengthens Miami's depth in the safety room. Second-year pro Patrick McMorris looked like a find last summer with a strong preseason, but an injury cost him the majority of his rookie campaign. He'll be pushed by rookie fifth-round pick Dante Trader Jr., who was no stranger to finding the football in the spring with two interceptions during team drills. Elijah Campbell has been a core special teams ace for years with the Dolphins and continues to get more reps at his safety position each year.
Rounding out the safeties room is second-year pro Jordan Colbert and undrafted rookie John Saunders Jr.
The Dolphins will be back on the field next week, and you can be in the stands at the Baptist Health Training Complex starting Saturday, July 26. Parking and admission are free, but tickets must be reserved. Learn more here.
