Reducing Preseason games is one thing, reducing the roster is whole other story
The Miami Dolphins are scheduled to have 11 drafted and 10 undrafted rookies participate in the 2020 Training Camp. That’s a whopping 21 players total that Brian Flores wants to take a long look to see if they’ll improve his roster.
This reduction of the preseason roster by 15 players from 90 to 80-75 is a trim of 11-17%. The Dolphins currently have 87 players on the roster now, so if this roster trim goes through, Flores would have to make 7-12 cuts before camp opens in less than two weeks.
In the best case for Miami, the entire UDFA class worth of players could get the ax. In the worst-case scenario, the Phins would release all their UDFAs and even cut one more to ‘make weight’. It might even force Miami to release a late-round draft pick.
Back end picks and FAs count
I don’t undervalue UDFAs… not a drop, and neither should Phins fans. You can bet with the best pay per head sites that the NFL front offices love their UDFAs. Just last season Miami found Shaq Calhoun, Nik Needham, Patrick Laird, and Preston Williams amid the UDFAs. Imagine if that class was hacked off last year’s roster? I’d say Miami might have gone 0-16 as the ‘tankers’ were expecting.
This meansFlores may have to roll the dice some and cut vets or late-round draft picks to make way for UDFAs.
This team is built on the philosophy of competition and dragging a big net on talent to find a few gems. Whatever way you slice it, a move this severe has the potential to negatively affect both these aims and the team trajectory… at least a little bit. Certainly, this adds more difficulty to make this season a good one because as with the decision to limit preseason games, the NFL is again punishing the young teams and give an advantage to veteran rosters in 2020.
It’s not all bad if they go forward with this roster trim
The ‘good news’ is if this move happens, the league wants to increase the Practice Squad roster as an offset. This means that though the Dolphins will go into camp with fewer players, they’ll come out with more. If Flores and Co. are on point and already have 7-11 bodies they know will get cut, then this could actually end up a better deal for Miami!
Well, it’s all in the air now… And I guess that pretty much with everything these days. Maybe it works out for the best despite the extra adversity?! Go Phins!!!
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