The focus over the next few days will be rightfully centered on which Miami Dolphins are going to make the team’s active roster. With cuts looming and every team looking to get to 53 active players, it will be a busy few days of transactions. But for the Dolphins, a team with so much youth on their roster, the designated practice squad spots will be important, too. Especially with the expanded practice squad spaces and the ability to flex practice squad players up to the active roster on game day, Miami will have to walk the line between retaining young developmental talent and keeping capable players “on call”.
Who are Miami’s best bets on the defensive side of the ball? Here are several names who stand out as good candidates.
DE Tyshun Render
Anyone who prompts New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick to stand out in the pouring rain to watch them work out is surely someone to monitor, right? Render, an undrafted free agent from Middle Tennessee State, was productive over his final two seasons with the Blue Raiders, logging 17.5 tackles for loss along the way. But it was Belichick’s interest in Render that put him on the map — and it doesn’t seem as though there’s any reason to believe anyone else would gobble him up as an active roster player with no preseason. So consider Render a long-term stash.
LB Kylan Johnson
The Dolphins have a fairly versatile group of linebackers but Johnson is an extension of that versatility. The former Florida Gator and Pittsburgh Panther, Johnson logged 7 sacks in his final season of college football. At 6-foot-2 and 230 pounds, he will probably need a little extra time in the weight room if he’s going to be rushing the passer with such frequency in the pros. With so much versatility already on the roster, Miami can probably afford to stash Johnson as a long-term option as well.
LB Calvin Munson
Munson enters this season as a fourth-year linebacker — his third year with Brian Flores. The linebacker was in New England for 2018, New England and Miami in 2019 and now Miami again in 2020. There’s not a ton of demand for Munson on the field right now, even after the trade of Raekwon McMillan. But his familiarity with the system makes him an ideal “bullpen” option for the Dolphins should injury of coronavirus strike the room.
CB Breon Borders
Borders has spent a little bit of time in a lot of places. Oakland, Buffalo, Houston, Jacksonville, Washington, Pittsburgh and now Miami — all since 2017. And in several of Borders’ stops, he’s been an offseason or practice squad designated player only. Miami clearly sees some appeal in Borders, otherwise they wouldn’t have claimed him off the waiver wire less than a month ago. But it is doubtful they like him enough to put him on the active roster. We know Brian Flores loves his defensive backs, so a practice squad designation yet again feels safe.
CB Tae Hayes
Hayes was claimed off the waiver wire from Jacksonville in December of 2019. In the two games he played afterwards, Hayes was strong in coverage. He was targeted 16 times in those two games, giving up only 4 completions. But the Dolphins’ overhaul of the secondary makes Hayes a tough sell to keep on the active roster — there are a ton of coverage options ahead of him. If Miami can push him through waivers, a practice squad designation for this promising young cornerback is a no-brainer.
IDL Benito Jones
The Dolphins appear poised to let rookie Raekwon Davis gobble up reps at nose tackle. Between him and Davon Godchaux, Miami’s active roster isn’t necessarily in need of an A-gap plug defender in a backup role. But Jones is a bowling ball in the middle and his ability to eat up space would at least warrant “bullpen” considerations unless the Dolphins are able to find a more attractive nose tackle option on the waiver wire after Saturday’s cuts.
