The Miami Dolphins announced 11 roster cuts Saturday with the most recognizable names being wide receiver Matt Hazel, the 2014 sixth-round pick, and cornerback Brandon Harris, the former University of Miami standout.
The roster now stands at 78, meaning three more players must be cut before the 4 p.m. Tuesday deadline.
Among the other cuts were linebacker Akil Blount, center/guard Ruben Carter, wide receiver A.J. Cruz, long snapper Ryan DiSalvo, tight end Gabe Hughes, kicker Marshall Koehn, cornerback Al Louis-Jean, guard Vinston Painter and wide receiver Brandon Shippen.
The Dolphins have decisions to make at a few positions by the Tuesday afternoon deadline, and among the toughest is running back.
Arian Foster and Jay Ajayi are safe because they’ll likely be the workhorse backs this season. Kenyan Drake, this year’s third-round pick from Alabama, missed much of training camp due to a hamstring injury but he’s likely safe because he was a relatively high draft pick.
That leaves Isaiah Pead, Damien Williams and Daniel Thomas to fight over what could be one more spot depending on whether the Dolphins choose to keep four running backs or five.
A similar scenario could play out at wide receiver where DeVante Parker, Jarvis Landry and Kenny Stills are safe. Jakeem Grant, the 2016 sixth-round pick from Texas Tech, will likely be the kickoff/punt returner. And this year’s third-round pick Leonte Carroo is a relatively high selection, so his inclusion puts the Dolphins at five wide receivers.
That could mean either veteran Griff Whalen and/or Rashawn Scott, the former UM standout, gets caught in a numbers game depending on how many wide receivers the Dolphins choose to keep.
On the offensive line there could be another interesting scenario. The five projected starters – center Mike Pouncey, left guard Laremy Tunsil, right guard Jermon Bushrod, left tackle Branden Albert and right tackle Ja’Wuan James – are safe.
Behind them are guard Dallas Thomas, guard/tackle Billy Turner, center Anthony Steen and tackle Sam Young. They could be considered the favorites for the 53-man regular-season roster, which doesn’t have to be decided untilSept. 3.
But there’s also center/guard Jamil Douglas, the 2014 fourth-round pick, veteran center-guard Kraig Urbik and veteran tackle Ulrick John.
Hazel, who was mostly a special teams player, never gained traction from scrimmage where he totaled five appearances, with one start, but no receptions. Hazel, who attended Coastal Carolina, was a member of what became known as the “small school draft” because it included himself, safety Walt Aikens (Liberty), linebacker Jordan Tripp (Montana) and defensive end Terrence Fede (Marist).
Harris, a 2011 second-round pick by Houston, missed last season with Tennessee while recovering from a knee injury. He was squeezed out of the picture at the nickel/slot position by starter Michael Thomas and backup Bobby McCain.
