Ethan Bonner's Speed Is Stunning Teammates and Miami Has No Answer For His Missing Role
Alright, so we're all about our Seahawks and Mariners here in the Emerald City, you know the drill, but sometimes you gotta peek around the league and see what other teams are cooking up. And let me tell you, what's happening down in Miami with the Dolphins right now is WILD. Seriously, their whole roster? It's totally different from how they wrapped up the 2025 season. We're talking a full-blown offseason overhaul, a ton of vets out the door and a bunch of new blood, young and old, rolling in. They just brought in former UFL tackle Gottlieb Ayedze, which means they're sitting at 91 players, plus they've got that special exemption for England-born tight end Seydou Traore from the International Player Pathway Program. This team is straight up in rebuild mode after bringing in GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley.
Who's Stepping Up When Everything's Up For Grabs?
When a team blows things up like this, it opens the door for a ton of guys to make a name for themselves. We're talking about players who are ranked in the bottom tier of importance right now, numbers 36 through 40, but who could absolutely change their trajectory for the 2026 season. It's not just about raw talent, but their expected role and how much they matter to the organization's progress. Rookie fifth-round pick safety Michael Taaffe from Texas, for example. The guy is almost a lock to make the 53-man roster, which is huge for a rookie, but honestly, it's hard to see him snagging a major defensive role right now. Still, being on the squad is a win!
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The Guys With Something to Prove
Now, let's talk about the real intriguing ones. Cornerback Ethan Bonner, at number 39, is the name you gotta watch. His speed? Teammates have consistently raved about it. Seriously, they're buzzing. But here's the kicker: despite all that praise, he still hasn't busted through and locked down a big role on defense. This is his chance, man. There's nothing stopping him from doing it, but he just has to go out there and get it done. Then you got tight end Ben Sims, who they signed as a free agent. Miami went and drafted Will Kacmarek and Seydou Traore after him, which looked like it'd push Sims way down the depth chart. But he showed out in recent workouts, proving he shouldn't be written off as a legit option at tight end. Don't count him out!
And what about the defensive side? Edge rusher David Ojabo, a former second-round pick, looked the part recently. There are plenty of opportunities for guys at his position to fight for playing time and a spot on defense. The competition is gonna be fierce. Then there's safety Lonnie Johnson Jr., another former second-round pick, this time from the Houston Texans. He's literally trying to breathe new life into his career and get back to being a starter. The opportunity is there, no doubt, but with all the new faces, he's not even guaranteed a roster spot unless he comes up with a monster training camp. Talk about high stakes!
This whole situation in Miami is a true rebuilding saga. It's gonna be wild to see which of these guys actually steps up and grabs a significant role in the upcoming season. Every single snap in training camp will matter for these dudes fighting for their careers. Who knows, maybe one of these lower-ranked guys ends up being the secret weapon that helps turn things around for them. We'll be watching!
This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.