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The Miami Dolphins will have plenty of position battles to look out for after making a slew of moves in the offseason.
They welcomed four rookies to their roster via the 2023 NFL Draft, including South Carolina cornerback Cam Smith and Texas A&M running back De'Von Achane. They traded for cornerback Jalen Ramsey in a blockbuster trade that sent a 2023 third-round pick and tight end Hunter Long to the Los Angeles Rams. They filled out the roster with the signings of a few free agents to one-year deals while bringing back some of their own on both sides of the ball.
What are some of the biggest training camp battles for the Miami Dolphins to look out for?
Safety
The Dolphins will have to find a solidified starter at the strong safety to run alongside safety Jevon Holland before the end of training camp.
Holland, a former second-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, has played in 33 games and started in 30 during his two years with the Dolphins. The former Oregon standout earned 96 tackles, seven pass deflections and two interceptions last season. He combined for 10 tackles, two pass deflections and 1.5 sacks during a 21-19 win over the Buffalo Bills in September.
The 23-year-old safety will work with newly-hired defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who agreed to terms with the Dolphins in late January.
“It's exciting to just learn from him,” Holland said of working under Fangio, via MiamiDolphins.com. “He's been in the league longer than I've been alive. So it's nice to hear him speak about football, and hear his perspective about defense and philosophy and scheme.
“I'm learning a lot from him. Just from the simplest thing to the most complex thing, he explains the game in a very knowledgeable manner. So I'm excited to learn and grow underneath him.”
Miami can work with safeties Brandon Jones and DeShon Elliott to pair with Holland in the defensive backfield. Miami signed Elliott from the Lions in March after he played in 14 games and started in 13 for Detroit in 2022. Jones, a third-year safety out of Texas, combined for 49 tackles last season.
Offensive line
Miami will have a few surefire starters on its offensive line heading into next season.
Offensive tackle Terron Armstead and guard Robert Hunt will return for the Dolphins in 2023. Robert Hunt played and started in 17 games for Miami last season, playing in 100% of the team's snaps on offense in every game but their Week 3 matchup with the Bills, according to Pro Football Reference. Armstead, a four-time Pro Bowler with the Dolphins and New Orleans Saints, could take the starting spot at the left tackle.
Center Connor Williams skipped the Dolphins' mandatory minicamp in June. He was the only current Dolphins player who was not expected to be at the team's mandatory minicamp. The competition at left guard between Liam Eichenberg, a younger option on the offensive line, and a few other players will be one to look out for as training camp goes on.
Backup quarterback
Miami will have to decide whether quarterbacks Mike White or Skylar Thompson will back up quarterback Tua Tagovailoa by the end of training camp.
White, formerly from the New York Jets, signed with the Dolphins as an unrestricted free agent in March. Thompson played in seven games and started in two for Miami last season after he was selected in the seventh round of the 2022 NFL Draft. Thompson's time in Miami may give him an advantage over White, but White's longer tenure in the NFL will make him a tough competitor for QB2.
