Miami Dolphins’ Ideal Waiver Wire Targets After Roster Cuts

Miami Dolphins’ Ideal Waiver Wire Targets After Roster Cuts

The Miami Dolphins have set their initial 53-man roster ahead of the 2026 season. There are still many moves to be made, as players on waivers and free agents may be deemed upgrades over valued competition by the front office. This article will discuss the weakest positions on the team and ideal waiver-wire targets in response to those weaknesses.

Surprisingly, Miami decided to waive running back Jarquez Hunter after trading for him last week. He did not receive any playing time during the final preseason game. This leaves Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon behind De’Von Achane, which is not ideal. Wright has struggled, and many thought he could be on the move after the acquisition of Hunter.

Luckily, there is a plentiful amount of running backs with talent on the waiver wire. Former Dallas Cowboys back Jaydon Blue was waived after playing in just 5 games as a rookie. In those 5 games, he notched a touchdown and played 25% of offensive snaps. His final year at Texas was amazing, as he notched 14 touchdowns and showed versatility as a receiving back. He would be a great complement to Achane, as he is expected to tote the rock a lot.

The edge room has been a weakness for a while. After the trade of Jaelan Phillips and the release of Bradley Chubb, the Dolphins were backed into a corner. They did not make any major move in free agency or the draft, and currently carry 5 edge rushers on the initial 53-man roster. They have an opportunity to target young, raw talent on the waiver wire. Former Buccaneers 2nd-round selection Chris Braswell was a major disappointment for the team that took him in the draft.

The Alabama alum has 2 career sacks and has never been a starter, but was active for all 34 games he was eligible for. Braswell’s ability may have been magnified playing opposite Will Anderson, but his film was still full of great play at Alabama. He was waived by Tampa Bay, but may be able to turn things around in a Jeff Hafley-style defense.

Another target may be BJ Ojulari, a former LSU standout whose NFL career was hampered by a torn ACL in his second season. He has 5 sacks in 25 games, but has never started. His ability to rush the passer may be needed by Miami, which can help them rotate edge rushers on run downs.

Though some may consider Kyle Louis as a safety, the Dolphins still opted to only keep 3 on the roster. Dante Trader, Zayne Anderson, and rookie Michael Taaffe will have all of the work at the safety position, but it is an underwhelming corps. The Buffalo Bills recently released veteran Geno Stone, who was coming off a poor preseason.

Though it may not sit well with Dolphins fans to pick up a Buffalo reject, Stone has done plenty of good work in the league. He has recorded 14 interceptions in his last 5 seasons, and notched a career-high 104 tackles in 2025 with the Bengals. Stone may be a valuable veteran piece for a youthful Dolphins secondary, with the safeties only starting a handful of career games combined.

Miami opted to keep 10 offensive linemen, 7 receivers, a fullback, and 4 tight ends on the initial 53-man roster. If the team opts to make waiver claims, look for one of the excess players at those positions to be released in counter.