Dolphins Reduce Roster To 53 Players

After two-straight Wild Card Round losses, the Dolphins are hoping to take another step forward in 2024. The team started prepping for a crucial campaign today, as they set their 53-man roster by making the following moves:

Released:

• LB Curtis Bolton
• LS Blake Ferguson
• DT Neville Gallimore
• DT Jonathan Harris
• DT Isaiah Mack
• RB Anthony McFarland Jr.
• CB Nik Needham

Waived:

• LB David Anenih
• WR Je’Quan Burton
• S Jordan Colbert
• DT Robert Cooper
• WR Erik Ezukanma
• WR Mike Harley Jr.
• OL Chasen Hines
• RB Zander Horvath
• LB Dequan Jackson
• WR Jadon Janke
• CB Isaiah Johnson
• OL Matthew Jones
• CB Jason Maitre
• OT Bayron Matos
• WR Kyric McGowan
• DT Leonard Payne
• S Mark Perry
• TE Hayden Rucci

Waived/injured:

• RB Chris Brooks
• OT Ryan Hayes
• WR Braylon Sanders

Placed on IR:

• WR River Cracraft (designated for return)
• LB Wyatt Ray
• CB Cam Smith (designated for return)

Placed on reserve/PUP list:

• WR Odell Beckham Jr. (story)
• LB Bradley Chubb (story)
• LB Cameron Goode
• OL Isaiah Wynn (story)

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the expectation is that long snapper Blake Ferguson will end up re-upping with the Dolphins, with his release solely being for roster machinations. The former sixth-round pick has spent his entire career in Miami, with the special teamer appearing in 67 games.

Nik Needham‘s stay in Miami has come to an end after five seasons. The former UDFA started 27 of his 61 appearances with the organization, although the majority of his production came in his first three seasons with the Dolphins. Between 2019 and 2021, the defensive back hauled in six interceptions, but after returning from a 2022 season-ending injury, he only got into 71 defensive snaps in 2023.

There was some hope that Neville Gallimore could provide the Dolphins with some defensive line depth when he caught on with the organization. The former third-round pick never clicked in Dallas, but he still got into 52 games in his four years with the organization. He collected four sacks and nine QB hits over the span, and he twice managed to top 400 defensive snaps in a campaign.