The NFL Draft is an inexact science and as a result, you’ll find every year that the swell of added talent includes some who fall through the cracks and don’t hear their name called over the course of the three day event. The undrafted free agent pool is the equivalent of infinite scratch-off tickets — there’s long odds of finding a jackpot, but there’s plenty of contributors to be picked over.
The Miami Dolphins hope to have nailed down a few of them and — at least according to NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah — they have a pretty fair chance of claiming at least two. Two Dolphins undrafted rookies have been named to Jeremiah’s Undrafted All-Star Team, a showcase of Jeremiah’s highest ranked players to not get drafted.
Neither of Miami’s headlining rookies on offense — WR Preston Williams or OG Shaq Calhoun — made the cut. But linebacker Terrill Hanks and CB Montre Hartage did. Both will actually have a strong opportunity to make the 2019 Miami Dolphins, too.
Hanks will face competition from another undrafted rookie linebacker — Maryland’s Tre Watson. Whichever of those two can create a greater confidence of their special teams ability will push Quinton Poling and Chase Allen for a depth role.
Meanwhile, Hartage has the opportunity to press for a back-up role to Bobby McCain in the nickel. Hartage’s athletic profile doesn’t project favorably to playing a lot of reps in isolation — particularly on the boundary. But his ball skills and physicality offer upside on the inside, where he can play aggressive but be protected from vertical shots with a safety over the top.
Considering the lack of depth of Miami’s roster, it may serve as a place several UDFAs can call home in 2019.
