The 2023 Miami Dolphins roster is considered among the best in the NFL, with most of the attention given to the offensive side of the ball highlighting the huge upside with QB Tua Tagovailoa under center and the speediest skill position player group an NFL team might have ever put together.
Here, we'll take a look at the complete Miami Dolphins depth chart, on offense and defense, in preparation for the 2023 NFL season.
Dolphins Depth Chart 2023: Offense
The Dolphins offensive depth chart is among the best in the NFL, highlighted by arguably the best wide receiver duo in the NFL with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. The name of the game in the Dolphins' offense? Speed, everywhere, and all else comes second. Let's break down the Dolphins depth chart on offense, from top to bottom.
Dolphins QB Depth Chart
Former Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa is the Miami Dolphins starting quarterback in 2023, coming off a breakout season with the team, albeit one that left fans and analysts alike concerned for his future. He missed five games in the 2022 season after suffering multiple concussions, eventually going on the injured reserve list as he recovered. When healthy, Tagovailoa had his ups and downs, but his ups were high. Tagovailoa finished the season with a 105.5 passer rating (2nd among quarterbacks, min. 100 dropbacks), 8.9 yards per attempt (1st), and an 81.4 PFF passing grade (4th).
This offseason, the Dolphins let backup QB Teddy Bridgewater walk in free agency, signing veteran Mike White to a two-year deal worth up to $8 million, now listed as the QB2 behind Tagovailoa on the team's initial depth chart. In two seasons as the Jets backup quarterback, White had a 2-5 record on games he started, averaging 268 passing yards per game to pair with an unfortunate 8-12 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Behind White is 2022 seventh-round pick Skylar Thompson, who started three games as Tagovailoa's backup as a rookie, including in the Wild Card round. He struggled, though it's worth noting that even with a 40% completion rate, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions in the Wild Card round, the team only lost by a three-point margin to the Bills.
Dolphins RB Depth Chart
The Miami Dolphins have put together pieced together an interesting approach to the running back position, largely working as a committee between veterans Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr., who led the backfield in 2022. Mostert was the team's leading rusher last season, posing 1,093 scrimmage yards and five touchdowns on 212 total touches. Notably, Mostert and Wilson are listed as co-starters on the initial depth chart.
Coming up behind the veterans Mostert and Wilson is most notably rookie Devon Achane, selected in the third round out of Texas A&M. Though he's on the small side for a running back at just 5'9 and 188 pounds, his 4.32 speed fits the profile of a Miami Dolphin to a tee. Achane opened up the preseason as the RB5 on the team's unofficial depth chart, but don't be surprised if he doesn't work his way up the list sooner rather than later with his breakaway runs.
Dolphins WR Depth Chart
The Dolphins head into the 2023 season with one of the best 1-2 punches in the league at wide receiver, with the Dolphins wide receiver depth chart topped with Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Though Hill is typically considered the team's leading receiver, both have played a significant role in the offense.
Last year marked the first year they played together following the trade of Hill from the Chiefs to the Dolphins, and it was an incredibly productive one. Hill and Waddle combined for 49% of the team's targets and just under 68% of the Dolphins receiving yards.
Working behind Hill and Waddle are Cedrick Wilson Jr. (formerly of the Dallas Cowboys), Robbie Chosen (formerly known as Robby Anderson), Kendall Lamm, Isiah Wynn, and Braxton Berrios. The team lost Trent Sherfield in free agency, who ranked third in target share among the wide receivers in 2022, presenting an opportunity for one of these players to work toward the WR3 role. It might not mean much however, coming off a season where the Dolphins ranked dead last among teams in 11 personnel usage at 28%, usually opting for a second tight end rather than a third wide receiver.
Dolphins TE Depth Chart
After the crew of world-beaters Miami has assembled elsewhere in the offense, Dolphins tight end depth chart feels pretty lackluster. Heading up the room is TE Durham Smythe, who received a two-year, $7.75 million contract extension earlier this year. He is backed up by Tyler Kroft and Eric Saubert, comprising a room of tight ends without a single one of them having ever exceeded 450 receiving yards in a year. The Dolphins ran 12 personnel (1 running back, 2 tight ends) on 61% of plays in 2022, leaving plenty of questions about what personnel groupings we might see given their lack of depth here.
The team lost TE Mick Gesicki in free agency, who signed with the New England Patriots, having functioning as the team's primary receiving tight end since selected in the second round of the 2018 draft.
Dolphins Offensive Line Depth Chart
While the Dolphins' offensive line is generally considered average, Miami does have several playmakers worth noting. At left tackle, is starter Terron Armstead, backed up by Kendall Lamm and Geron Christian, while at left guard is starter Liam Eichenberg, backed up by Isiah Wynn and Kion Smith. Literally at the center of it all is center Connor Williams, backed up by Dan Feeney and Alama Uluave. At right guard is Robert Hunt, backed up by Robert Jones and Lester Cotton. Finally, at right tackle is Austin Jackson, backed up by Cedric Ogbuehi and Ryan Hayes.
Notably, Connor Williams was drafted by the Cowboys in the second round, working primarily as an offensive guard with the team prior to switching his position to center with the Dolphins, grading out as the PFF's 4th best center in the 2022 season. Now, he's seeking a longterm extension, having missed OTAs earlier this offseason while he negotiates his deal to become a well-paid, long-term anchor on the Dolphins offensive line depth chart.
Dolphins Defense Depth Chart 2023
While the Dolphins offense is the focal point of most of the team's analysis, their defense does have some playmakers worth noting. Here, we'll take a look at the Dolphins defensive depth chart.
Dolphins Defensive Line Depth Chart
Starting on the Dolphins' defensive line depth chart are DEs Christian Wilkins and Zach Sieler along with NT Raekwon Davis. Wilkins led all interior defensive linemen with 20 stuffed runs with 16 tackles for a loss, per Next Gen Stats. His defensive effort in 2022 leaves him as PFF's ninth-best interior defender in the league.
Dolphins Linebacker Depth Chart
Since the Dolphins deploy a 3-4 defense, they have four starting linebackers, including Bradley Chubb, David Long Jr., Jerome Baker, and Jaelan Phillips. Backing them up are Andrew Van Ginkel, Duke Riley, Channing Tindall, and Malik Reed, respectively. The team traded to acquire Chubb last offseason, sending the 2023 first-round pick acquired from the 49ers in the Trey Lance trade, among other assets. Miami subsequently signed him to a five-year, $110 million extension to make him the fourth-highest-paid OLB in the league (AAV).
Last year, it was Phillips that led the Dolphins with seven sacks and 25 quarterback hits, building on his 8.5 sack, 16 QB hit season as a rookie in 2021. His performance in 2022 earned the sixth-highest PFF grade among edge rushers.
Dolphins CB Depth Chart
Headlining the Dolphins cornerback depth chart is All-Pro and 4x Pro Bowl selection Xavien Howard, whose 28 career interceptions rank 8th most among active players in the league. Howard is entering his eighth NFL season after being selected 38th overall by the Miami Dolphins in the 2016 NFL Draft. The team hoped to get some depth in that cornerback room alongside him, trading a 2023 third round pick and TE Hunter Long to acquire 3x All-Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey — another star from the 2016 draft class. Unfortunately, Ramsey suffered a knee injury early in training camp and had to undergo surgery, not expected to make his return until December.
Behind Howard and Ramsey (when healthy) in the cornerbacks' room are recently-signed Eli Apple Nik Needham, Kader Kohou, Noah Igbinoghene, and Justin Bethel, a room generally lacking experience outside of Apple (who's struggled so far in his career) and Bethel, a 3x Pro Bowler entering his second season with the team who played the bulk of his snaps on special teams last year.
Dolphins Safeties Depth Chart
Starting at free safety for the Miami Dolphins is Jevon Holland, with Elijah Campbell and Verone McKinley III as backups. Holland led the Dolphins with 77 tackles in 2022, adding two interceptions and three pass breakups over the season. Meanwhile, Brandon Jones is starting at strong safety, with DeShon Elliott and Trill Williams listed as backups. PFF ranks both Holland and Jones 40th or lower among eligible starting safeties ahead of 2022.
Dolphins Special Teams
Making up the Dolphins special teams unit is long snapper Blake Ferguson, who has been with the team since being drafted in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, with Jason Sanders working as the Dolphins kicker. Sanders is coming off a 2022 outing where he ranked fifth in extra points made, ranked 20th in FG% among active kickers at 82.895%. Returning punts and kicks is WR Braxton Berrios. In 2022, the Dolphins ranked dead last among teams with a 58.3 special teams grade per PFF, a stat worth noting considering there hasn't been much turnover on the unit.
Miami Dolphins Coaches
The Miami Dolphins are led by Head Coach Mike McDaniel, who is entering his second season with the team in 2023. Prior to becoming the Dolphins head coach, McDaniel worked under Kyle Shanahan with the Atlanta Falcons and then San Francisco 49ers, eventually making his way up to become the team's offensive coordinator in 2021 and then being hired by the Dolphins.
Frank Smith was hired as the team's offensive coordinator once McDaniel was named as the team's head coach, with experience as an offensive line coach, tight ends coach, and run game coordinator. He's worked for several influential coaches, including Sean Payton, Jon Gruden, and John Fox prior to beginning his tenure with the Dolphins.
Leading the defense is defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who worked as a defensive consultant for the Eagles in 2022 after an unsuccessful tenure as the Broncos head coach. Fangio held a 19-30 record as a head coach in Denver but has led several top defenses in his work as a defensive coordinator, including years with the Bears, Panthers, and 49ers.
Miami Dolphins Coaching Staff
The Miami Dolphins coaching staff is led by head coach Mike McDaniel, entering his second season as the team's head coach.
- Head Coach: Mike McDaniel
- Offensive Coordinator: Frank Smith
- Offensive Line: Butch Barry
- Quarterbacks: Darrell Bevell
- Associate HC/Running backs: Eric Studesville
- Wide Receivers: Wes Welker
- Defensive Coordinator: Vic Fangio
- Linebackers: Anthony Campanile
- Defensive Line: Austin Clark
- Safeties: Joe Kasper
- Cornerbacks: Sam Madison
- Linebackers: Anthony Campanile
Miami Dolphins GM
Chris Grier has served as the Miami Dolphins general manager since 2016, though he's been with the team in some capacity for 24 seasons after initially starting as an area scout. Grier's tenure operating the team has been highlighted by several key moves, perhaps most notably, the trade of OT Laremy Tunsil, which yielded several key players, including Tyreel Hill (via trade) and Jaylen Waddle (via the draft).
The ripple effects of Grier's transactions are still being felt throughout the organization, with generally mixed reviews on his tenure. However, if the Dolphins have a successful season with the talent Grier has brought in-house, it could change the narrative of his career.
