Miami Dolphins: 5 Cut candidates sitting on roster bubble
The Miami Dolphins crowded roster bubble could see these players get cut.
Even with the abnormal offseason, it’s been a critical one heading into the 2020 NFL season for the Miami Dolphins. They spent free agency spending big with Byron Jones being the prize of the group among other impact veterans. The draft later yielded huge dividends, headlined by taking quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with the No. 5 overall pick.
Head coach Brian Flores proved his merit last season, taking a team that was projected to go winless by some to a 5-11 record. Now he has more talent and the AFC East is wide open. The hope is that Miami can take a huge leap forward, even if their rebuild isn’t entirely complete at this point.
But with the influx of talent, that makes training camp and the Dolphins roster bubble all the more intriguing. Familiar faces from last year may now be fighting for their jobs. Subsequently, as we look at Miami, these five players seem to be in a bubble spot that will leave them on the wrong side of the cut line when the final roster is determined.
Note: All stats are courtesy of Pro Football Reference.
5. Adam Shaheen, TE
Once upon a time, Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace thought he’d found a diamond in the rough in tight end Adam Shaheen. While the big-bodied athlete from small-school Ashland had some buzz in draft circles, few expected him to be taken in the second round of the 2017 draft, which is where Pace nabbed him.
Since coming into the NFL, though, Shaheen has only struggled. He’s been unhealthy to start but, outside of that, the tight end hasn’t been effective when on the field. That’s what led to the Bears trading him to the Dolphins for only a conditional seventh-round pick this offseason.
However, the fact that he was acquired via a low-risk trade doesn’t guarantee him a roster spot. Mike Gesicki is clearly the TE1 for the Dolphins but the team also has depth. Granted, Durham Smythe and Chris Myarick aren’t world-beaters but neither is Shaheen from what we’ve seen. And if he fails to impress, the Dolphins could be better served saving money and to cut their losses early.