Most teams wish they had the Miami Dolphins‘ problems. Mike McDaniel has more good players than he can fit on the field at any given time. That dynamic sets up what should be a charged-up Dolphins training camp, which begins in two weeks.
Here are the five best Miami Dolphins position battles of 2024.
Top 5 Miami Dolphins Position Battles
Raheem Mostert vs. De’Von Achane
Raheem Mostert nearly doubled up De’Von Achane’s snap count in 2023, but we expect that gap to close significantly this fall, particularly if Achane has better injury luck than he did as a rookie.
Achane bulked up in the offseason and should be able to handle a heftier workload in Year 2. Don’t be surprised if he ultimately has more yards from scrimmage in 2024 than Mostert, who made his first Pro Bowl in 2023 after breaking the franchise record in rushing touchdowns (18) and total touchdowns (21).
Cam Smith vs. Kader Kohou
The Dolphins’ top two cornerbacks — Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller — are, on paper, a top-tier tandem. But after that, there are some real question marks.
Kader Kohou struggled considerably in Vic Fangio’s system, and Cam Smith didn’t fit at all into the former Dolphins DC’s plans as a rookie.
Under Anthony Weaver, Miami needs at least one of them to step up in a big way.
Jordan Poyer vs. Marcus Maye
While we cannot divulge team strategy from practices closed to fans, it’s fair to say Jordan Poyer was the clear frontrunner to be the Dolphins’ starting strong safety during spring ball. However, Miami either didn’t love what it saw in those non-padded practices or was worried that Poyer at age 33 might not be able to make it through a full season.
MORE: Pro Football Network’s Top 100 Players of 2024
Enter Marcus Maye, who signed a one-year, $1.4 million contract last month (which, notably, is less than what the Dolphins gave Poyer). Maye heads into camp as the frontrunner to win the starting job despite not yet logging a single practice snap for Miami.
Liam Eichenberg vs. Everyone
Only Austin Jackson (989) logged more offensive line snaps for the Dolphins in 2023 than Liam Eichenberg (815). So no matter what the fan base thinks of him, the Dolphins hold Eichenberg in high regard.
But inject Butch Barry with truth serum, and he’ll probably tell you that he hopes two other guards win the starting jobs from a group that includes Isaiah Wynn, Robert Jones, Jack Driscoll, and Lester Cotton.
Mike White vs. Skylar Thompson
The Dolphins carried three quarterbacks on their active roster all last season. But after Tua Tagovailoa logged all but 53 snaps, they will almost certainly drop that figure by one in 2024.
The NFL has instituted a helpful rule change that allows teams to elevate emergency quarterbacks from the practice squad, so whoever loses the battle for QB2 will either be traded or (more likely) cut.