The 2024 NFL preseason is complete, with the regular season set to kick off in 10 days. Under league rules, teams must reduce their 90-man preseason rosters to the 53-man regular season limit by 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, August 27. The Miami Dolphins have already started making their personnel moves ahead of that deadline, starting the work needed to trim the roster.

Throughout the offseason and preseason, I have predicted the team’s 53-man roster after Tuesday’s deadline. This roster prediction is based on the initial 53-man roster - there will likely be moves made by Wednesday, with players added to injured reserve or players waived by other teams claimed by Miami. The league tweaked its roster rules this year. Previously, a player who could be returned to the active roster had to make the initial 53-man roster, then be moved to IR. This season, the league will allow teams to identify two players who will be placed on injured reserve as part of the final roster cuts while maintaining the ability to return. If the team hopes to return more than two players who were injured during the summer, the additional players will have to make the initial 53-man roster, like under the original rule.

Teams will be allowed to start building their practice squads on Wednesday, adding additional players whose primary role is to assist the team during the week’s preparations. NFL rules limit the size of the practice squad to 16 players (plus an additional position for an International Pathway Program player), and the league allows for practice squad players may be elevated to the game-day roster on a limited basis.

Here is my final prediction of what the Dolphins may do with their initial 53-man roster:

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Quarterbacks (2)

Tua TagovailoaSkylar Thompson

Cut: Mike White

White was the first player the Dolphins released on Sunday, making this prediction pretty straight forward. Miami likely looks to add someone, potentially even White, to their practice squad on Wednesday to provide depth behind Tagovailoa and Thompson, allowing the team to designate a player as the emergency quarterback on game day.

Running Backs (5)

De’Von AchaneChris BrooksRaheem MostertJeff Wilson, Jr.Jaylen Wright (R)

Cut: Zander Horvath, Anthony McFarland, Jordan Colbert (R)

Keeping five running backs, six when you add in the fullback position, is a big commitment for a limited roster size, but the Dolphins have a ton of talent at the position. Brooks and Wilson are the bubble players in the group, but for now, we have all five making the roster.

Fullback (1)

Alec Ingold

This is easy and obvious. The Dolphins like having a fullback, and they have a Pro Bowl player in Ingold. No chance he is cut.

Tight Ends (3)

Julian HillJonnu SmithDurham Smythe

Cut: Tanner Conner, Jody Fortson, Jr., Hayden Rucci (R)

Fortson was cut by the Dolphins on Sunday, trimming the roster down to five tight ends. Rucci feels like a bubble player who could make the roster, especially after his five-reception, 44-yards, and a touchdown performance on Friday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I have him off the roster here, mostly because the numbers do not work in his favor. If he clears waivers, he is a practice squad player, with Conner and Fortson both options to make the practice squad as well.

Wide Receivers (5)

Braxton BerriosErik EzukanmaTyreek HillJaylen WaddleMalik Washington (R)

IR: Braylon Sanders, Anthony Schwartz, River Cracraft (return designation), Willie Snead IV, Tahj Washington (R)

PUP: Odell Beckham, Jr.

Cut: Je’Quan Burton (R), Mike Harley, Jr., Jadon Janke (R), Kyric McGowan

The Dolphins moved Schwartz to injured reserve on Sunday, ending his season after the receiver tore a ligament in his knee during the game against the Buccaneers. Cracraft’s injury is expected to keep him off the field for an extended period, but the Dolphins could use one of their two IR/return options in making the 53-man roster to keep him eligible for later in the season. Beckham has yet to be cleared to practice and likely would need time to get up to speed; keeping him on the physically unable-to-perform list would sideline him for the first four games.

At one point, this position group seemed to have more players than Miami could keep. Now, it feels like the team is struggling to keep players available. I probably would add Sanders to the roster as the sixth player in the group if he were healthy, but instead, I used the roster spot elsewhere. Beckham and Cracraft returning may be critical down the stretch for the team.

Offensive Linemen (9)

Terron ArmsteadAaron BrewerLester CottonJack DriscollLiam EichenbergAustin JacksonRobert JonesKendall LammPatrick Paul (R)

PUP: Isaiah Wynn

IR: Sean Harlow, Kion Smith

Cut: Ryan Hayes, Chasen Hines, Matthew Jones (R), Bayron Matos (R), Andrew Meyer (R)

The practice squad will likely be deep here, especially after Miami went through 12 different offensive line combinations last year. Wynn has not practiced this summer and seems likely to start the year on the PUP. The nine players making the roster fall into place fairly easily. Armstead, Jones, Brewer, Eichenberg, and Jackson are the ideal starting line, from left to right. However, Brewer may not be ready, moving Eichenberg into the starting center position and shaking up the line to start the year. Driscoll struggled at center on Friday, but he was also facing off against Vita Vea and the starting Buccaneers’ offensive line in Driscoll’s first-ever game at any level playing center. He will be fine as a depth tackle/guard option. Cotton was a bubble player, but the Dolphins need him on the roster if Wynn is not available for at least four weeks.

Defensive Tackles (5)

Calais CampbellDa’Shawn HandBenito JonesBrandon PiliZach Sieler

Cut: Neville Gallimore, Jonathan Harris, Isaiah Mack, Leonard Payne (R)

Given Jones’s injury concerns, I debated Gallimore’s inclusion on the roster. The numbers do not work, however, because I have deep position groups elsewhere. Pili moves into the starting nose tackle position instead of Jones, with Hand working behind him. Campbell and Sieler start on the ends. Mack should be a practice squad player if he clears.

Linebackers (9)

Quinton BellJordyn BrooksMohamed Kamara (R)David Long, Jr.Emmanuel OgbahJalean PhillipsDuke RileyChop Robinson (R)Channing Tindall

PUP: Bradley Chubb, Cameron Goode

IR: Cam Brown, Grayson Murphy (R)

Cut: David Anenih, Curtis Bolton, Dequan Jackson, Wyatt Ray, Anthony Walker, Jr.

Walker is the question mark here. How seriously is he injured? Could he be headed to injured reserve? Obviously the team will be waiting for Chubb to get back and up to speed, but they are built to withstand his landing on the reserve/PUP list.

Cornerbacks (7)

Ethan BonnerKendall FullerKader KohouSiran NealNik NeedhamJalen RamseyCam Smith

Cut: Storm Duck (R), Isaiah Johnson (R), Jason Maitre (R)

The Dolphins would likely bring back as many of the rookies as possible to the practice squad, but there is just no room for them on the roster right now. Carrying seven cornerbacks is tough, but Bonner has earned his position, Neal provides special teams play the team needs, Needham provides nickel cornerback and safety depth, and Smith is a second-year player who seems to be growing into a role in Miami’s new defense. Somehow, keeping seven cornerbacks seems like a must.

Safeties (4)

Elijah CampbellJevon HollandMarcus MayeJordan Poyer

Cut: Patrick McMorris (R), Mark Perry (R)

An injury and the numbers game force Miami to cut the drafted McMorris and the undrafted Perry. Both could make the roster if the Dolphins are willing to lose some depth elsewhere. If they clear waivers, expect both to be signed to the practice squad.

Long Snapper

Blake Ferguson

Kicker

Jason Sanders

Punter

Jake Bailey

No real analysis needs to be done here. The Dolphins need three specialists and they have three specialists.