The Dolphins had the youngest initial 53-man roster in the league, but they have already made several changes to it.
The NFL released the list of waiver claims made in the wake of Sunday’s cuts and it shows that the Dolphins have added seven players that were discarded by other teams. The group includes quarterback Brady Cook.
Cook closed out last season as the Jets’ starting quarterback, but he failed to make the cut after going 0-4 in those starts. Cook was 88-of-153 for 739 yards, two touchdowns and seven interceptions in five overall appearances.
The Dolphins also claimed tight end Justin Joly, who failed to make the Broncos after being drafted in the fifth round this year.
Defensive back Marcellas Dial, offensive tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick, offensive tackle Jarrett Kingston, defensive back Reese Taylor, and defensive back Julius Wood are the other new Dolphins.
Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley said last week that the team’s success for the 2026 season won’t be measured by their place in the standings because “this year’s so much about developing who we are as a football team” as they move into the future.
The team’s initial 53-man roster reflects that focus. As Joe Schad of the Palm Beach Post points out, the Dolphins have the youngest roster in the NFL after cutdown day on Sunday.
Miami’s average player is 25.3 years old and the Browns are the only other team in the league with an average age of under 26. Schad also notes that 47 percent of the players on the initial roster are between 22 and 24.
All of that youth could make for some tough sledding for Hafley in his first season on the job, but the hope in Miami is that short-term pain results in a long-term foundation for success that can be measured more tangibly than what they’re pitching this season.
After announcing one wave of cuts on Saturday, the Dolphins have announced the rest of their moves to reduce their roster to 53 players on Sunday.
Miami waived offensive tackle Gottlieb Ayedze, cornerback Miles Battle, safety Major Burns, tight end Jeremiah Franklin, quarterback Mark Gronowski, running back Jarquez Hunter, receiver Donaven McCulley, edge rusher Rodney McGraw, cornerback Jai’Onte’ McMillan, quarterback Cam Miller, defensive lineman Fatorma Mulbah, linebacker Cam Riley, and running back Carlos Washington Jr.
The club released defensive lineman Matthew Butler, linebacker Tyrel Dodson, edge rusher Cameron Goode, offensive tackle Charlie Heck, safety Lonnie Johnson Jr., receiver Terrace Marshall Jr., edge rusher David Ojabo, receiver Jalen Reagor, and cornerback Marco Wilson.
The Dolphins moved cornerback Darrell Baker Jr. and Storm Duck to the reserve/physically unable to perform list. And the team placed defensive lineman Kenneth Grant and edge rusher/linebacker Trey Moore on injured reserve. Both Grant and Moore have been designated to return. All four players will be eligible to return to play after the fourth game of the season.
As of Saturday, Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley said he thinks it’s likely the team will keep two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster.
But it will be only one of the four quarterbacks who were on the roster 24 hours ago.
With Quinn Ewers traded to the Jaguars and Cam Miller waived, the Dolphins reportedly will also waive Mark Gronowski. And they’ll replace him with Kyle McCord.
The Dolphins have agreed to send a 2028 sixth-round pick to the Packers for McCord, who was signed to a futures contract by the Packers on January 20.
For Miami, which is now led by former Packers executive Jon-Eric Sullivan and former Packers defensive coordinator Hafley, the move taps into the Green Bay pipeline.
And it gives the Dolphins their apparent backup to Malik Willis — even though McCord is arriving with no practice or preseason reps in Miami. (However, as Mike Garafolo of NFL Network notes, the move reunites McCord with former Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, who is now the passing game coordinator in Miami.)
As to Gronowski, he’ll reportedly be added to the Miami practice squad, if/when he clears waivers.
The Dolphins are parting ways with veteran linebacker Tyrel Dodson.
Per multiple reports, Dodson will be released as the team set its initial 53-man roster for the 2026 season on Sunday. Dodson was in the final year of his contract and had no guaranteed money left on his deal.
Dodson started 16 games for the Dolphins last season and was listed as a co-starter with second-round pick Jacob Rodriguez on the team’s depth chart this summer. Releasing Dodson puts the rookie in line to start alongside Jordyn Brooks this season.
Dodson had 129 tackles, five sacks, an interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery last season. He’ll immediately become a free agent eligible to sign with any team once the move is official.
