Dolphins Finalize 53-Man Roster with Seven Waiver Claims, Adding Cook and Joly

Key points

• The Dolphins claimed seven players off waivers, including QB Brady Cook, TE Justin Joly, DB Marcellas Dial, T Chukwuebuka Godrick, T Jarrett Kingston, DB Reese Taylor, and DB Julius Wood.
• Brady Cook joins a quarterback room featuring starter Malik Willis and recent acquisition Kyle McCord, with McCord expected to be the primary backup.
• Justin Joly, a fifth-round pick from the Broncos, joins a tight end group that includes Greg Dulcich and rookie Will Kacmarek.
• The roster is notably young, with only one player aged 30 or older, reflecting a 'draft-and-develop' strategy.
• The team also signed defensive end Malik Herring as a free agent and released veteran edge rusher Clelin Ferrell.

Background

The Dolphins are in a rebuild phase, having recently hired GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley. Previous archive articles highlighted the team's need for affordable, high-upside veterans to bolster a young roster. The 2026 draft class, including first-round picks Kadyn Proctor and Chris Johnson, is seen as a foundation for this rebuild. The team's strategy emphasizes physicality, run game, and defensive strength, aligning with recent NFL trends.

How outlets are covering it

NBC Sports and The Phinsider focus on the specific waiver claims and roster updates, detailing the additions of Cook and Joly. Sports Illustrated highlights winners and losers, noting DJ Herman's success as a fullback and the release of Tyrel Dodson due to cap constraints. The Sun-Sentinel offers a broader analysis, praising the run game and physicality but criticizing the lack of veteran experience and concerns at quarterback, wide receiver, and edge rusher positions. While all sources agree on the roster changes, The Sun-Sentinel is more critical of the team's youth and inexperience, whereas NBC Sports and The Phinsider provide a more neutral, factual account of the moves.

Why it matters

The Dolphins' roster decisions signal a commitment to a long-term rebuild, prioritizing youth and development over veteran experience. The addition of Cook and Joly provides depth and potential, but the lack of veteran leadership and experience in key positions may pose challenges in the short term. The team's success will depend on the development of its young players and the effectiveness of its physical, run-based offense.

What to watch

The Dolphins will begin the regular season with a young roster, facing challenges at quarterback and other key positions. The team's performance will be closely watched as an indicator of the success of its rebuild strategy. Future roster moves may include further additions or releases as the team adjusts to the regular season.