Expectations could hardly be higher for the Miami Dolphins as veterans report Tuesday for the franchise’s 59th training camp.
Anything less than the Dolphins’ first playoff win in nearly a quarter-century would mean it’s been a failed season. But winning at the highest levels is really, really hard.
A lot of things need to go right for even the most talented teams to capture the Lombardi. Here are the five Dolphins players who are the biggest wild cards entering camp.
5 Miami Dolphins Training Camp Wild Cards
EDGE Chop Robinson
The news last week that Shaquil Barrett is retiring and that neither Bradley Chubb nor Jaelan Phillips has been cleared to practice after season-ending injuries in 2023 was a double-whammy for the Dolphins.
They’re of course kicking the tires on the fourth-tier edge defender free agents still available, but what they really need is production from their first-round pick Chop Robinson right away.
The original plan for Robinson presumably was to use him as a situational player as a rookie, but that’s no longer tenable. He will get starter’s reps during camp, the preseason, and — if all goes well — the regular season as well.
CB Cam Smith
Cam Smith in 2023 got the redshirt year that the Dolphins probably can’t afford to give Robinson.
But the internship is over. The Dolphins need their 2023 second-round pick to be a significant contributor in 2024.
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Smith will compete with Kader Kohou and others for the CB3 job behind Jalen Ramsey and Kendall Fuller. He had a couple of rough moments during spring practices open to reporters, and the scrutiny will only ramp up beginning Wednesday.
OG Isaiah Wynn
It’s been nine months since Isaiah Wynn suffered a mysterious season-ending quad injury, and he’s still not ready to practice.
Barring an unexpected reversal in the coming hours, Wynn will begin training camp on the physically unable to perform list.
That’s less than ideal for a Dolphins team that will conduct open competitions for at least two interior offensive line spots (our belief is that the coaching staff has already decided on Aaron Brewer as their starting center).
For Wynn to contribute to the team early in the season, he’s going to need to get healthy and win the job.
RB Jaylen Wright
The Dolphins traded a 2024 third-round pick to ensure they have Jaylen Wright on their roster in 2023, and our guess is they have a role for him this year.
What will that role be? Depends on how favorably Wright compares to Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane this preseason.
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If Wright picks up the playbook, is dependable in pass protection, and shows the same explosiveness he had in college, the Dolphins’ two-headed running back monster will sprout a third dome.
DL Calais Campbell
Barrett’s retirement made the Calais Campbell signing look even better in retrospect.
Campbell doesn’t want to play in a two-point stance, so we doubt the Dolphins will use the 38-year-old as an EDGE. But he proved last year that he can still get after the quarterback and stop the run — even late into his 30s.
Will Campbell’s skills diminish in NFL Year 17? We’ll get an early indication this summer.
