Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier has put together a talented roster loaded with superstar veterans and rising youngsters that was good enough to make the postseason in 2023.
While Grier will have his work cut out for him over the next several months through free agency and draft season, there are some players on the roster who should see their playing time go down next year.
Let’s take a look at three Dolphins who should get fewer opportunities in 2024.
CB Kader Kohou
Miami appeared to find a diamond in the rough last year when they signed Kohou as an undrafted free agent out of Texas A&M-Commerce. Thrust into a larger role, the rookie excelled in an injured secondary.
However, his 2023 season was quite different.
Just watching you could see that opposing quarterbacks were looking to throw to his assignment with some regularity. The numbers back up what the eyes told you.
According to Pro Football Focus, Kohou allowed a 133.4 passer rating, an 83.8% completion percentage and seven touchdowns when targeted in his second year.
The Dolphins’ secondary could look much different in 2024, but Kohou might not be someone who gets more opportunities even if they become available.
OL Liam Eichenberg
After losing his starting job to Isaiah Wynn, Eichenberg was relegated to a backup spot heading into the 2024 season.
However, due to the sheer number of injuries on the line, Eichenberg was called upon to not only play guard but was also asked to play center for the first time in his career.
The result wasn’t exactly a clinic on exceptional offensive line play. Among the 36 centers that qualified for PFF grades, Eichenberg finished 34th with a 45.2.
While it was impressive that Eichenberg battled through injuries to become one of a small number of players to start games at all five positions on the offensive line, the Dolphins should be hoping to have better options going forward.
OL Lester Cotton
After starting just one game in 2022 for the Las Vegas Raiders, Cotton was thrust in as a starter in a playoff game for the Dolphins at the end of the year.
He signed a future contract with Miami after the season ended and, like Eichenberg, was expected to be a depth piece on the line. But also like Eichenberg, Cotton was forced to play a legitimate role for the Dolphins in 2023, as he started eight games and appeared in all 17 for the first time in his career.
Of the 79 guars that qualified for PFF grades last season, Cotton was the 70th, receiving a grade of 46.4.
Again, it wasn’t his fault that he was put in this position, but Miami needs better depth if they’re going to rely on guys like Wynn, who has had a significant track record of injuries in his career, to be starters.
