Eight O-Linemen Left: Miami's Depth Chart Is a SCARY Puzzle Right Now
Woah, did you guys see what went down in Miami on Monday? The Dolphins just made some huge moves that are shaking up their offensive line, and frankly, it looks like a real head-scratcher. They officially cut ties with offensive linemen Kion Smith and Carter Warren, and when you dig into what that means for their depth, it feels like they might have opened up a can of worms down there.
Kion Smith's Rollercoaster Ride Ends
Kion Smith has been with the Dolphins since 2021, though a lot of that time was spent on the practice squad. The dude played in 23 games over five years, with two starts last season at right guard after James Daniels got hurt in the opener against the Indianapolis Colts. But here’s the kicker: he got yanked from the lineup in Week 3 against the Buffalo Bills, and then only played nine offensive line snaps for the rest of the season. Most of his action was on special teams. Remember 2024? Smith missed that whole year with a torn ACL from preseason, and their then-GM Chris Grier even admitted he'd fielded trade calls for him. And from what the media saw in practices, he was struggling with pass protection. It's a tough break, but when you look at that history, it's not entirely surprising he's moving on.
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So, with Smith and Warren out, the Dolphins are down to just eight players listed as tackles or guard/tackles. EIGHT! You gotta wonder how they're gonna handle those crucial backup roles. Their projected starting line up looks like this: Patrick Paul and Austin Jackson at tackle, first-round pick Kadyn Proctor and Jonah Savaiinaea at guard, and the newly extended Aaron Brewer at center. That sounds okay on paper for the starters, but peel back the layers, and things get dicey.
The remaining guys listed at tackle or guard/tackle are veteran newcomers Jamaree Salyer and Charlie Heck, plus three young players: Josh Priebe, Marques Cox, and Kevin Cline. Want to know what those last three have in common? Zero NFL regular season experience. Yep, you heard that right. That leaves Salyer and Heck as their only solid backup options at tackle, especially if they really want Proctor to stay at left guard for his rookie year. And here's the kicker: Salyer could even slide into a starting right guard spot if Savaiinaea doesn't pan out. If that happens, Heck would be the *only* proven backup. Are you kidding me? Talk about having all your eggs in one basket!
This early in the season, you want to be building stability, not creating question marks. The Dolphins have some serious decisions to make over the summer about their O-line depth. This isn't just a couple of guys getting waived; it's a huge potential vulnerability for their entire offense if they can't shore up those backup spots.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.