Ethan Bonner's Untapped Speed Is The Dolphins' Biggest Unanswered Question Right Now

Alright, football fanatics, get ready! We're talking about some serious roster shake-ups down in Miami, and honestly, what's happening with the Dolphins right now is WILD. They're gearing up for training camp at the end of July with a roster that's so drastically different from how they ended 2025, it's like a whole new team emerged from the Emerald City fog. After an offseason overhaul that saw a ton of veterans walk and a wave of new faces, both fresh-faced rookies and seasoned vets, roll in, the Fins are sitting at a whopping 91 players on their roster. Yeah, you heard that right, ninety-one! Add in Seydou Traore, the England-born rookie tight end with an International Player Pathway Program exemption, and you've got a full house. It's a complete rebuilding project, guided by new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and Head Coach Jeff Hafley, and they're just getting started.

The Great Miami Roster Reset: Who Even ARE These Guys?

This isn't just a few tweaks, folks, this is a full-blown reconstruction. They've been making moves left and right, even snagging former UFL tackle Gottlieb Ayedze. But let's be real, not every player on a 91-man roster is created equal. The whole point of this massive churn is to find the guys who are truly important, not just for their raw ability, but for the role they're expected to play and their significance to the organization's progress. That's why these early rankings, even for the "back-end" guys, are so telling. It’s all about who’s going to step up when it counts for a team trying to find its new identity.

The Intriguing Sleepers Fighting for a Shot

So, who are some of these guys at the lower end of the "importance" scale who could actually make some noise? Let's dive into spots 36-40. At number 40, y

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ou've got safety Michael Taaffe, a rookie fifth-round pick from Texas. He's probably making the 53-man roster, but don't expect him to be a major defensive force just yet. Then there's number 39, cornerback Ethan Bonner. THIS is the guy. His speed gets praised by teammates all the time, right? But he still hasn't broken through to snag a big role on defense. There’s nothing stopping him this summer, but man, he's got to *do* it. Can you imagine that blazing speed finally unleashed? Number 38 is tight end Ben Sims. He was a free agent signing, but then they drafted Will Kacmarek and Seydou Traore, which looked like it pushed him way back. But Sims showed in the spring that he’s a viable option and shouldn’t be dismissed. Keep an eye on him. Next up, number 37, edge defender David Ojabo, a former second-round pick. There are definitely chances for edge rushers to grab playing time, and this guy really looked the part in the spring. Finally, at number 36, safety Lonnie Johnson Jr., another former second-round pick from the Houston Texans. He's on a mission to revive his career and get back to being a starter. The opportunity is there, for sure, if he can have a strong training camp. But let's be clear: with all these newcomers, a roster spot isn't even guaranteed for him. That's a high-stakes battle right there. So what's next? Well, training camp is just around the corner at the end of July. Every one of these players, especially the guys ranked 36-40, is fighting for their NFL future. Can Bonner finally translate that praise for his speed into a legitimate defensive role? Will Lonnie Johnson Jr. prove he still belongs? The Dolphins are building something new, and how these guys perform in camp will tell us everything about the kind of team Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley are trying to put together. You know we'll be watching every snap!

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.