Jalen Tolbert Could Be a Starter, And Nobody In Miami Is Ready For It

Alright, Emerald City, listen up! You won't believe what's brewing down in Miami, and it’s a situation that has me scratching my head from up here in the PNW! The Dolphins are heading into training camp at the end of July, and get this: their roster is *totally different* from the one that limped out of 2025. We're talking a full-blown offseason overhaul, shedding significant veterans and bringing in a whole new crew, young and old. New GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and Head Coach Jeff Hafley are knee-deep in a massive rebuilding project, and honestly, the early ranks of their 'most important' players are already dropping some serious red flags.

A Roster Rebuild, Or Just A Lot Of Questions?

After all their roster moves, including snagging former UFL tackle Gottlieb Ayedze, Miami’s got 91 players, plus Seydou Traore from the International Player Pathway Program. That’s a lot of names, but like we all know, not every player is created equal in this league. They’re ranking these guys 31-35 in terms of importance, and when you look at who they’re calling 'important' for their success, you gotta wonder what kind of foundation they’re laying. It’s supposed to be about ability, expected role, and significance to the organization's progress, but the details here are kinda wild.

Uncertainty at the Edges and The Wideout Woes

Take Zayne Anderson, a safety that Sullivan and Hafley personally brought over from Green Bay. The big question for 2026? Is this dude mostly a special-teamer, or does he actually become a factor at safety? Given his primary role with the Packers was special teams, that’s probably the

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safe assumption here for the Dolphins too. Not exactly screaming 'impact player' at number 35 on your importance list, right? Then there's Josh Uche, an edge rusher who's supposed to be the 'veteran' of their edge group. A former second-round pick from 2020, you’d think he'd be a lock for a starting spot. But get this: Uche has only made seven starts in six NFL seasons. SEVEN! We definitely shouldn't be exaggerating his anticipated impact, which tells you everything you need to know about the current state of their defensive line depth. And don't even get me started on the wide receiver situation. Jalen Tolbert, who spent four seasons as mostly a backup for the Dallas Cowboys, is suddenly looking like a potential starter in Miami come September. Why? Because the Dolphins just don't have playmakers like CeeDee Lamb or George Pickens at the top of their depth chart. Tolbert *could* be a starter, but the article even says he could easily get leapfrogged by one of their younger guys with more upside. That’s not a ringing endorsement for a Week 1 starter, if you ask me! So, when Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley talk 'rebuilding project,' these early player rankings for guys 31-35 sure paint a picture of just how much work lies ahead. With Trey Moore, a versatile fourth-round edge/linebacker, also on this list, it’s clear they're looking for diamonds in the rough. This is just the start of their player ranking series, leading right up to training camp. If these are the *important* pieces, you gotta wonder what kind of season this totally different Dolphins roster is in for. We’ll be watching to see if this big overhaul actually pays off, or if it’s just more questions down in South Beach.

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