One Miami Offensive Line Move Could Leave Them With ZERO Proven Backup Tackles

Did you catch the news out of Miami on Monday? Their offensive line situation just got *wild*. They officially sent two linemen packing, Kion Smith and Carter Warren, right after bringing in UFL All-Star safety Major Burns. Look, getting a UFL All-Star is neat, but jettisoning two big boys up front? That's the real story here, folks. This ain't some minor shake-up, this is the kind of move that could leave a team absolutely *exposed* upfront, and you *know* what happens when your quarterback is running for his life every snap!

Kion Smith: From Starter to Out the Door in 9 Snaps

Let's break down Kion Smith first. The guy had been with the Dolphins since 2021, mostly chilling on the practice squad. In five years, he only played in 23 games, with just two starts, both last year. Remember that James Daniels injury in the opener against the Indianapolis Colts? Smith stepped in at right guard. But get this, by Week 3, against the Buffalo Bills, he was pulled from the lineup for Daniel Brunskill! After that, he saw only nine offensive snaps in the last 14 games. NINE! Most of his time was on special teams. Oh, and he missed all of 2024 with a torn ACL. Even *then-GM Chris Grier* was looking to trade him! And get this, he was reportedly struggling in pass protection during practices open to the media. So, yeah, waived. Carter Warren? He was waived-injured and hasn't even been spotted in practices open to the media because of some undisclosed issue. Not exactly confidence-inspiring, huh?

Miami's O-Line Depth Chart: One Decision Away From Chaos

So, after these guys got the boot, Miami's left with just eight players listed as tackles or guard/tackles. EIGHT! And the big question everyone's asking: how are they gonna handle those backup roles? Their projected starting line has Patrick Paul and Austin Jackson at tackle, with first-round pick Kadyn Proctor and Jonah Savaiinaea at guard, and Aaron Brewer at center, who just got his extension. Sounds okay, right? Until you dig deeper. The *other* guys on the roster for tackle or guard/tackle spots are veteran newcomers Jamaree Salyer and Charlie Heck, plus young guns Josh Priebe, Marques Cox, and Kevin Cline. Guess how much NFL regular season experience those last three have? ZERO. Zilch. Nada. That leaves Salyer and Heck as their *only solid backup options* at tackle, and that's *only* if Kadyn Proctor stays put at left guard for his rookie season. But here's where it gets truly dicey: Salyer could totally slide into a starting right guard spot if Savaiinaea doesn't cut it. If that happens, my friend, Charlie Heck becomes their *sole proven option* at tackle. Think about that for a second. *One guy.* One injury, one bad snap, and this offensive line could be staring down a full-blown crisis. It's a huge gamble, and it's happening right now. This isn't about some obscure offseason move. This is about protecting the most important player on the field! With so much riding on a thin offensive line, the Dolphins are putting themselves in a seriously precarious spot. Every snap, every practice rep for these remaining linemen just got ten times more important. You gotta wonder if they're already sweating bullets trying to figure out how to keep their QB off the turf. Keep your eyes peeled, because how this tackle situation shakes out could define their entire season, even before the real games even kick off. This is far from over, folks, and I'm not convinced Miami has all the answers just yet.

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