Dolphins preseason opener offers glimpse into brewing battles: What’s at stake

Friday’s Dolphins preseason opener at Hard Rock Stadium against the Atlanta Falcons (7 p.m., CBS-4) probably will not resolve more than a dozen competitive roster battles, but it should begin to offer clarity.

A look at what’s at stake, by position, over the next three weeks:

▪ Backup quarterback: One prominent agent who spoke to the Dolphins this past offseason said Miami was “smitten” with Mike White - who agreed to a deal in the first hour of free agency - and that Dolphins brass believed he had the ideal skill set and smarts to back up Tua Tagovailoa. Keep in mind that a team doesn’t sign a quarterback on the first day of free agency with the intent of making him a third-string QB.

But Skylar Thompson has made this a more competitive battle than the Dolphins probably could have envisioned.

White seemingly moved past Thompson in recent days by improving his performance from the first week of camp. It would be a surprise if White isn’t the No. 2 quarterback this season, and he’s listed that way on the depth chart.

But Thompson can give the Dolphins something to think about if he decisively outplays White in preseason. Mike McDaniel wouldn’t say if Tua Tagovailoa would play Friday but did say that the backup quarterback who appears in the game first on Friday isn’t necessarily No. 2.

McDaniel suggested that whichever backup quarterback doesn’t play first on Friday would play first (or first after Tagovailoa) in the second preseason game at Houston.

Incidentally, McDaniel didn’t play Tagovailoa in last year’s preseason opener.

▪ Wide receiver: Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Braxton Berrios and very likely Erik Ezukanma will be on the team.

Two unresolved issues that are still playing out: 1). Does Berrios hold off Cedrick Wilson Jr., Ezukanma and Robbie Chosen in the battle for the No. 3 receiver job? Two weeks into training camp, Berrios has made the most plays of those four players.

2) And presuming Wilson makes the 53-man roster - $5 million of his $7 million has been guaranteed - does Chosen beat out River Cracraft for the sixth job?

After a slow start to camp, Chosen has had an impressive past week. But without any money guaranteed, he needs to maintain that production to stick as a sixth receiver.

Wilson has struggled in recent days, including a drop on Wednesday.

Receivers coach Wes Welker mentioned Wilson’s “size and his hands and he’s a very smooth route runner. He presents problems for defensive backs because he’s the type of guy that’s never really covered, just because he has really good body control and he has really good hands.”

▪ Tight end: There’s no need to keep four tight ends; Durham Smythe will be the starter and even though Elijah Higgins has struggled somewhat in his transition to tight end, it would be mildly surprising if Miami cuts a rookie sixth-rounder.

That leaves Eric Saubert and Tyler Kroft likely battling for one job. Saubert had a touchdown catch in red zone drills on Wednesday, but aside from that, both Saubert and Kroft haven’t been a factor in the passing game during training camp.

Here’s how tight ends coach John Embree sized up the two veterans: “I remember both coming out. Eric was more of a pass catcher, flex tight end coming out. He’s done a good job making that transition to a traditional tight end we like to use at that level. He’s more the F move type and Tyler is more the traditional Y in line blocking pass protector type of skill set is what he has.

“Tyler is a bigger body in that room than what we’ve normally had. He’s familiar with our offense. His length and size are a bonus for us.”

▪ Backup offensive line positions: Kendall Lamm has emerged as the favorite over Cedric Ogbuehi for the No. 3 tackle job but needs to play well in preseason. Seventh-rounder Ryan Hayes has had some good moments and is firmly on the bubble.

The Liam Eichenberg/Isaiah Wynn battle at left guard is a dead heat, and preseason could determine that outcome.

The big question is whether guard Robert Jones or Hayes sticks as a ninth lineman, and fourth off the bench behind Dan Feeney; Lamm or another tackle; and the loser of the Eichenberg/Wynn battle.

▪ Backup defensive tackle: Southern Cal rookie Brandon Pili, who was given $100,000 guaranteed, has made several stops for short or no gains and applied pressure on the quarterback. But Da’Shawn Hand, signed last week, has more experience. This battle for one roster spot should extend for awhile.

▪ Backup edge players: If UM rookie Mitchell Agude can produce the type of pass rush in games as he has in practice, then it will be difficult to keep him off the 53. Cameron Goode, the 2022 seventh-round pick, also has a chance, albeit less than 50-50, it would appear.

If Agude or Goode makes the 53, the question then becomes whether veteran Malik Reid sticks, too; he needs a strong preseason to remove any doubts.

▪ Backup inside linebacker jobs: Jerome Baker, David Long, Duke Riley and inside/outside backer Andrew Van Ginkel will make it. It seems difficult to envision the Dolphins giving up on Channing Tindall just 17 months after drafting him in the third round, but his training camp play has left doubts.

“Channing is working every day to get better and get a better understanding of the defense,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “Once he gets a better understanding, I think his talent will flourish.”

Rookie Aubrey Miller, who has flashed at times in camp, would need to make a major move to have a chance to make the 53.

If Tindall and Agude and Reid all stick, that’s nine linebackers - one less spot for other positions.

▪ Defensive backfield: Therein lies the most difficult decisions on the roster.

Jalen Ramsey - out until at least November after knee surgery - must be on the initial 53-man roster, and then shifted to injured reserve after that, for the Dolphins to preserve the ability to activate him later in the season.

Even if Nik Needham begins the year on the PUP list (sidelining him for four games), placing Ramsey on the initial 53 means the Dolphins might initially keep seven corners on their 53: Ramsey, Xavien Howard, Eli Apple, Kader Kohou, Cam Smith, Noah Igbinoghene and Justin Bethel, with Trill Williams also pushing for a dual safety/cornerback role.

Bethel would be at risk in that scenario, even though he’s a skilled special teams player and has multiple interceptions in training camp.

The competition is just as intense at safety, where Elijah Campbell, Williams and Verone McKinley are competing for one or two jobs behind Jevon Holland, DeShon Elliott and Brandon Jones.

Keeping five safeties is a luxury, but Miami might do it, especially with Jones returning from last October’s ACL. That would mean potentially 12 defensive backs on the initial 53.

▪ Running back: If the Dolphins sign Dalvin Cook, then Salvon Ahmed and Myles Gaskin are both in serious jeopardy. If Cook doesn’t sign here, Miami likely will need to choose between Ahmed and Gaskin; Ahmed finished last season ahead of Gaskin.