The Miami Dolphins released their first depth chart ahead of the 2023 regular season.
A little after the release of the depth chart, head coach Mike McDaniel offered a funny comment.
Mike McDaniel: "Preseason depth charts are my nemesis."
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) August 8, 2023
There are several players in starting roles that were expected, such as quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and left tackle Terron Armstead.
On the defensive end, Brandon Jones and Jevon Holland are listed as the team’s starting safeties while Kader Kohou and Nik Needham are the top two cornerbacks behind Xavien Howard and Jalen Ramsey.
With Ramsey expected to be out until December, that means one of Kohou or Needham has the inside track to the starting spot opposite of Howard.
Dolphins fans will also love to see Bradley Chubb (who was acquired at the trade deadline last season) and Jaelan Phillips starting at the outside linebacker spots. The duo should wreak havoc against opposing quarterbacks in 2023.
There could be some interesting battles for starting roles at other positions.
Durham Smythe is listed as the team’s starting tight end, a position that will be important to look at with the departure of Mike Gesicki in free agency this offseason.
Last season for Miami, Smythe made 15 catches for 129 yards and one touchdown. He’s cleared 100 receiving yards in each of the last three seasons for Miami.
It’s also worth noting that rookie De’Von Achane is currently at the end of the depth chart at the running back position.
The team clearly believes in Achane since it drafted him in the third round, but Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr., Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed are all currently ahead of the rookie.
It makes sense since the other players have more experience in both the NFL and McDaniel’s system. It’s likely that Achane will rise the ranks as he gets more acclimated to the league.
The Dolphins’ depth chart could certainly change in the coming weeks as the 2023 regular season approaches, but this is a good starting point to see who is winning the position battles for the team.
Miami made the playoffs in the 2022 season, so the team is hoping to build on that performance in the second season with McDaniel as the head coach.
The team’s first preseason game is on Friday against the Atlanta Falcons.
