In the high-stakes world of the National Football League, financial commitments often serve as the most telling indicators of a player’s standing and their likelihood of securing a coveted roster spot. For the Miami Dolphins, navigating a rebuilt offensive line, the ‘almighty dollar’ is providing crucial clues about which backup players possess the inside track to cracking the formidable 2025 roster.
Every NFL franchise approaches its 53-man roster distribution with a unique philosophy. While some teams prioritize positional flexibility, feeling that eight linemen are “enough” to weather a demanding season, others adopt a more conservative approach, believing there’s no such thing as excessive depth along the offensive front, often retaining up to ten players once training camp concludes.
Miami’s current situation is particularly intriguing. Historically plagued by offensive line injuries, the unit has undergone a significant overhaul, now featuring an influx of new faces and promising young talent. The critical question for the coaching staff and front office revolves around whether the renewed hope for improved durability will allow them to carry a lighter contingent of linemen, especially given the versatility of some key players.
However, unless the Dolphins commit to keeping a full complement of ten offensive linemen, a challenging series of cuts awaits them as the preseason culminates. The financial fine print within some of Miami’s offseason player contracts offers invaluable insights into how these pivotal roster battles might ultimately unfold, making the guaranteed money a primary differentiator.
Players like veteran Daniel Brunskill, Kion Smith, and Andrew Meyer are primary contenders for offensive line roster spots, yet their respective contracts contain no guaranteed money. This stark reality establishes a clear, tiered pecking order within the Dolphins’ locker room, with financial security playing a decisive role in who ultimately makes the team and who faces an uncertain future.
While the Dolphins theoretically could release players like Liam Eichenberg or Larry Borom in favor of others, the prospect of paying out a fully guaranteed salary exceeding $2 million for either player is a significant deterrent. Essentially, such a move would require the team to write a substantial check for a player to simply depart, a scenario that Miami has only infrequently undertaken in the past.
Assuming a trade market for financially-committed players does not materialize, Eichenberg and Borom are effectively handed an inside track to a roster spot. This leaves Smith, Meyer, and Brunskill to intensely compete for any remaining positions, which could range from a single opening to, in an ideal scenario, all three securing a place. The scarcity of tackle-eligible options, however, could give Kion Smith a potential edge for an eighth offensive line slot, while Andrew Meyer’s multi-year cost control as an undrafted free agent strengthens his case.
Ultimately, the financial guarantees woven into player contracts serve as the strongest indicator of the Dolphins’ strategic decisions for their offensive line. When faced with difficult choices and limited roster spots, the adage ‘follow the money’ proves particularly relevant, offering substantial hints about the eventual composition of Miami’s offensive line come September.
