Cam Smith, Devon Achane, Elijah Higgins, and Ryan Hayes were not the only players the Miami Dolphins added to their roster. After the draft, Miami signed a total of 21 players, including nine on offense, as undrafted rookie free agents.
Note: DJ Scaife was signed but has since been waived and is now on the Green Bay Packers roster.
Offensive Undrafted Free Agents: Miami Dolphins
James Blackman, Quarterback, 6′-5″, 190 pounds-Florida State/Arkansas State
James Blackman has the ideal height to be a successful quarterback but needs to increase his weight if he hopes to see extended playing time and be able to be a durable and reliable quarterback. Blackman will have his work cut out for him if he is to make the Dolphins roster. With sometime starter, Mike White, backing up Tua Tagovailoa and, last year’s seventh-round surprise, Skylar Thompson, seeing more than expected playing time last season, he has nowhere else to go but up the depth chart, eventually.
That leaves Blackman as the likely practice squad quarterback, which is not necessarily the worst thing in the world.
Chris Brooks, Running Back 6′-1″, 230 pounds-Brigham Young University
In a Dolphins backfield that is already overcrowded with primary back, Raheem Mostert and the number two man on the depth chart in Jeff Wilson Jr. most likely receiving the majority of hand-offs, where or if Chris Brooks will factor into the run game will remain to be seen. The third man on the depth chart is Myles Gaskin, who is mainly known for his pass-catching ability. Salvon Ahmed has seen success for the Dolphins as well, and, while he is not listed on the depth chart, he is likely in the fourth position in the backfield.
Factor in Achane and the rumors of Dalvin Cook coming to South Beach, by Hell or Highwater, and it looks like there may be at least three running back prospects on the outside looking in, including Brooks.
Chris Coleman, Wide Receiver, 5′-11″, 186 Pounds-Fresno State/Cal Poly
It is not every day that you hear of an NFL football player coming out of Cal Poly, but that is what Chris Coleman is attempting to do (albeit by way of Fresno State).
Much like Brooks, Coleman will have his work cut out for him with the Dolphins having a star-studded receiving corps, led by Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Factor in Cedrick Wilson Jr., Chosen Anderson (the former Robbie/Robby Anderson), Freddie Swain, River Cracraft, and speedster Braxton Berrios, and Coleman’s chances of making the roster look even bleaker. This is not even factoring in surprising rookie additions from last season Braylon Sanders and Erik Ezukanma.
Miami will have some big decisions to make and if Coleman is to bypass any of those receivers, he is going to have to show something extraordinary during training camp.
Daewood Davis, Wide Receiver, 6’2, 195 pounds-Oregon/Western Kentucky
If Daewood Davis is to make this Dolphins team, he may want to attempt to do so at cornerback, which he had experience playing while at Oregon. Again, much like Coleman, he will need to do something miraculous if he is going to make the Dolphins roster at wide receiver.
Julian Hill, Tight End, 6-4″, 250 pounds-Campbell University
With having to be more cautious when it comes to the health of Tagovailoa, the Dolphins, undoubtedly, will have to run the ball more. That is one reason there is a flooded backfield. The Dolphins will also need blocking to utilize the run game effectively, including utilizing blocking tight ends. Hill is definitely a blocking tight end.
He was, at one time, a quarterback who was converted to tight end. And, given his numbers at Campbell, he may not have the best hands. That said, Hill will try to earn a spot on the Dolphins depth chart, of which, he currently is not on. Ahead of him is a familiar face, Durham Smythe, the often injured, yet productive Tyler Kroft, veteran Eric Saubert, and the aforementioned Elijah Higgins. Of any undrafted free agents (who are not linemen) on the offensive side of the ball, Hill may have the best shot at making the Dolphins final roster, especially if they want a solid run-blocking tight end.
Jarret Horst, Tackle, 6′-6″, 300 Pounds-Arkansas State/Michigan State
Hypothetically speaking, it feels as though the Miami Dolphins could acquire five first-round draft picks, and use all five on linemen, creating a front line of some of the most talented college football offensive linemen, ever, and yet somehow, someway something would go wrong and despite being an all-pro college offensive line, it would still fail to gain the expected result.
That said, when it comes to the Dolphins, they simply cannot have enough linemen, period. Though the Dolphins have all eight of their offensive tackle spots filled on the depth chart, it would not be surprising to see Jarret Horst at some point this season, be it that he makes the roster due to injuries to other players or is placed on the practice squad. One thing is for certain, Jarret Horst will see action for the Miami Dolphins this coming season.
Alex Jensen, Offensive Lineman, 6′-7″, 290 pounds-South Dakota
Much like the argument in Horst’s case, depth is something the Dolphins cannot have enough of on the offensive line. That said, at only 290 pounds, Jensen is undersized for an NFL offensive lineman. The solution may be as simple as adding more weight. However, that may not be an ideal concept as Jensen is already wearing braces on both knees.
Putting more weight on already, potentially, shoddy knees is not a good thing. If he was fast, which, likely, he is not, he would be a helluva tight end prospect at 6′-7″, but with knee braces on both knees before even beginning training camp, it may be a signal that Jensen is already dealing with mobility issues. Despite the need for depth at linemen, Jensen likely will not make the final roster or the practice squad.
James Tunstall, Tackle, 6′-5″, 320 pounds-Stony Brook/Cincinnati
Again, the need for depth on the offensive line will likely see James Tunstall seeing action with the Dolphins at some point this season. Similarly, to Horst, he has the desired size for an offensive lineman. At the very least, expect Tunstall to make the practice squad roster and then be elevated to the active roster due to injury at some point during the 2023 season.
Alama Uluave, Offensive Lineman, 6′-2″, 305 pounds-San Diego State
Unlike Jensen, Alama Uluave is the right size especially if he is to be used as a center or pulling tight end, though he also appears to wear knee braces, like Jensen, he is doing so at 305 pounds and would be more likely at 6′-2″, to be used either as a pugnacious center or as a pulling guard. Much like Tunstall and Horst, expect to see Uluave seeing action for the Dolphins at some point this season.
Bonus: Special Teams
Michael Turk, Punter, 6′-0″, 231 pounds-Louisiana-Lafayette/Arizona State/Oklahoma
If the name sounds familiar, that is because it likely is to Dolphins fans. Michael Turk is the nephew of former NFL and Dolphin punter (2000-2001), Matt Turk. With the departure of Thomas Morstead to the New York Jets, Turk finds himself in competition with former New England Patriots punter, Jake Bailey for the starting job. Of note, Turk played safety during his high school years, leading to three ACL tears. Assuming none of those injuries have affected his punting ability (and all indications are they have not), then look for a dogfight between Turk and Bailey to be the Dolphins punter this season.
Takeaway
The Dolphins have a talented roster that will be tough for these undrafted free agents to break through. Though it is likely improbable these players can land on the depth chart, it is also not impossible, and that is what fans love about seeing these men get the chance to do just that in training camp and during the NFL preseason.
Watch for my next related article, Miami Dolphins Undrafted Defensive Free Agents.
Main Image: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
