Dolphins stock report: Who’s rising and falling after offseason workouts?

Before the Dolphins’ third and final mandatory minicamp practice, which signals the end of the offseason workout program, head coach Mike McDaniel painted a rosy picture of what his team has accomplished but still offered caution.

“I am super, super pumped about where we’re at in Phase 3 with one practice, really left, and that’s awesome,” he said Thursday. “Now, what does that mean? Again, it means check that box. Oh yeah, by the way, nothing. Because the players have to understand that this is the steppingstone.”

Over the last two months, the Dolphins continued to develop an offense that was one of the NFL’s best in 2022 and laid the building blocks for a new defensive scheme under coordinator Vic Fangio. Several veterans were sidelined from team activities as they ease into training camp, which will start in late July. Nonetheless, it was still a time for players to make an early case for roster spots and increased snaps.

Here’s a look at who is rising and falling after the offseason workout program.

RISING

WR Robbie Chosen

Chosen is one of several players vying for the No. 3 wide receiver role behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. And with both limited in team drills throughout OTAs and minicamp, Chosen stepped up as a reliable target and developed a rapport with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. The deep speed Chosen showcased during his time with the New York Jets, Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals is still there, but he also impressed by separating from defenders on short and intermediate routes.

“I feel like having another speed guy, it never can go wrong by adding another speed guy,” Hill said. “Him being 6-3 — I didn’t know he was that tall — so him being 6-3, lanky, being able to catch the ball with ease is definitely going to help us out in the red zone because he’s a taller guy that can run some routes that me and ‘J. Dub’ [Waddle] may not be able to run. So adding him is definitely going to be valuable.”

LB Mitchell Agude

Outside linebackers Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips were among the many veterans who practiced sparingly during team drills, which allowed Agude, an undrafted rookie, to get more snaps. And the University of Miami product by way of UCLA took advantage, giving Miami’s offensive linemen fits. Agude has great size for an outside linebacker at 6-4 and 242 pounds and frequently found his way into the backfield, whether it was using his speed to get past blockers or overwhelming them with his power. Things often change when pads are put on and physically ramps up, but Agude will be one to watch in training camp.

“You know it’s on tape, what you’ve been seeing, he’s a baller,” Phillips said. “He’s super twitchy, he’s super athletic.”

DB Bryce Thompson

The Dolphins signed Thompson from the XFL in the middle of the offseason workout program but he didn’t look behind, recording multiple interceptions in team drills, including a pair on the final day of minicamp. Thompson still faces an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster because of Miami’s depth in the secondary, particularly at cornerback, but he left a good first impression with his new team.

RB De’Von Achane

The first few practices open to media provided an early glimpse at how Achane, the team’s third-round pick, could be a contributor as a rookie. On one play, he would make himself open underneath as a checkdown option. On another, he was separating from a flatfooted defender along the sideline for a deep reception.

While Achane is the youngest member of a veteran running back room, offseason practices showed that the Dolphins will have a multitude of creative ways to get the ball in his hands.

“What we’re trying to do is to make him a complete back,” running backs coach Eric Studesville said. “It’s an intentional thing. We want to get him exposed to every part of our offense, so he is getting used to the whole offense.”

DB Justin Bethel

The 32-year-old veteran’s biggest contribution throughout his career has been as a special teams ace. But Bethel logged a significant amount of snaps in team drills over the last few weeks and held his own. It was reminiscent of the job he did after he was pressed into defensive snaps in 2022 amid a spate of injuries. If Bethel makes the 53-man roster, it will primarily be for his special-teams prowess. But his ability to play defense in a pinch also helps his prospects.

Falling

LB Channing Tindall

At the NFL Scouting Combine, McDaniel said he was “expecting a big offseason and a big jump in Year 2” for Tindall, the team’s third-round pick and top selection in the 2022 Draft. He played sparingly as a rookie and acknowledged the defensive playbook was tough to grasp at times.

But the five practices open to give gave no indication of the progression Tindall has made as he enters his second season. He did not participate in team drills for unknown reasons. Furthermore, McDaniel said that Andrew Van Ginkel, normally an outside linebacker, has been taking snaps at inside linebacker as Fangio seeks to find ways to get him on the field.

Jerome Baker and David Long Jr. are likely starters and Van Ginkel and Duke Riley offer veteran depth behind them. There is still time for Tindall but his lack of participation in offseason practices leaves the question open whether he’s ready to contribute in 2023.

QB Mike White

Though McDaniel said that there would be a competition for the backup role behind Tagovailoa, White was viewed as the early favorite over second-year Skylar Thompson player because of the contract he signed (two years, $8 million), his experience and familiarity with the offense.

However, in the practices open to the media, White did not distinguish himself as the clear No. 2 option. In fact, there were multiple practices in which Thompson looked more comfortable running the offense. Training camp, the team’s pair of joint practices and the three preseason games will play a major factor in who ultimately earns the role of the backup. But OTAs and minicamp showed that the competition remains wide open.