2024 Week 3 NFL Follow Squad Energy Rankings: Subsequent steps for the distinctive Dolphins

The Dolphins are constructed from idiosyncrasies. When each membership tasks developing the roster by the draft as its core philosophy, Miami has largely traded for its stars or signed them in free company — Tyreek Hill, Terron Armstead, Jalen Ramsey, Raheem Mostert and Bradley Chubb. 

They’ve probably the most eccentric coach in soccer, Mike McDaniel, who performed receiver at Yale, and is among the most devoted disciples of the Kyle Shanahan offensive soccer faith.

They’ve a uniquely expert, left-handed beginning quarterback who’s now shelved for a time interval unbeknownst to everybody outdoors of the Tagovailoa household at this juncture. 

In 2022 and 2023 mixed, the Dolphins made a grand whole of eight draft choices, solely six stay with the crew, two are at the moment on IR, one simply so occurs to be the brand new starter at quarterback and one other is No. 1 in Week 3’s Follow Squad Energy Rankings. 

I am highlighting the Dolphins not solely for his or her idiosyncrasies. It is a membership, even with out Tua, that may stay within the AFC playoff image. As a result of what it lacks in pure depth it boasts in star energy and, sure, even with some drafted, homegrown expertise like Jaylen Waddle, Jevon Holland and Jaelan Phillips.

However I’ve some solutions. For as a lot as I cherished rookie receiver Malik Washington, who’s been injured and will make his NFL debut this weekend, that room wants a jolt. There’s solely a lot Hill and Waddle can do to anchor the passing offense, particularly with a great deal of defensive consideration on each snap. 

Which is the place 2022 fourth-round choice Erik Ezukanma steps in. We noticed the influence Miami’s missing receiver depth can have on the offense at giant the primary two weeks. Heck, Robbie Chosen is already gone. 

Ezukanma is not essentially some secret weapon ready within the wings. However at this level, it is price it for the powers that be with the Dolphins to provide him a possibility. In three preseasons, he has 23 receptions for 275 yards and compelled 4 missed tackles. And that final level is crucial. In school, at Texas Tech, Ezukanma was dynamic after the catch, with 34 profession compelled missed tackles on 175 receptions. 

In fact, the Huge 12 is not the NFL. However we at the least know Ezukanma has that speciality in his bag. And if you happen to thought the Dolphins offense was gimmicky earlier than, wait till you see the advanced scheming McDaniel goes to prepare dinner up with Thompson — or Tyler Huntley — at quarterback from right here on out. YAC has by no means earlier than been so essential to what the Dolphins wish to do offensively. 

One final thing earlier than I get to this week’s rankings too — Miami’s protection additionally wants a spark. The Payments did no matter they wished on the bottom in Week 2’s blowout win, and to start the season, the Jaguars ran for practically 130 yards at virtually 4.9 yards per pop. 

Which is why I am suggesting a wide-bodied, run-stuffing stalwart to be elevated at defensive sort out, Naquan Jones. The 6-foot-3, 313-pound Jones was such a stud halting the opposition’s floor recreation at Michigan State, and in Arizona this summer time, pieced collectively a powerful, three-down preseason. He wants his probability to. Regardless that Calais Campbell is roaming round down there, with out Christian Wilkins, Miami wants extra run-game pluggers up entrance. 

I am pledging to raise my recreation every week in what’s now YEAR 6 (!) of the Follow Squad Energy Rankings. I am in one of the best form of my life. I am prepared for a breakout season. I can really feel it approaching.

In Week 2, 4 (!) Follow Squad Energy Rating gamers (PSPRs) have been elevated to the 53-man roster for recreation day — Chargers security Tony Jefferson, Lions WR Tim Patrick, Steelers WR Ben Skowronek, and Broncos WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey. That brings The Name Up Tracker (CUT) to 6 after the pair of elevations in Week 1. Oh, and, earlier than we even get to Saturday, when these elevations happen, Huntley was poached off the Ravens observe squad to the Dolphins 53-man roster within the wake of the Tua Tagovailoa IR state of affairs. So Week 3’s CUT is already at one. Here is to the The CUT eclipsing 26 elevations from final season or the 32 from the 2022 marketing campaign. Ship any/all PSPR tricks to me @ChrisTrapasso on X or Twitter or no matter you name it as of late. 

Now, for some essential reminders: The 16-man observe squads are about the one good factor to return out of the pandemic, and so they’re right here to remain within the NFL. Due to this, I run the Follow Squad Energy Rankings parallel to the league and write about 16 people each Friday, 10 formally within the rankings and 6 honorable mentions.

Whereas the creation of the PSPR was supposed to spotlight underrated younger gamers, with the league now permitting six veterans on each membership’s observe squad, that is the method I am going to take. Largely first, second, and third-year gamers. A couple of veterans sprinkled in. 

Let’s have one of the best season but on the Follow Squad Energy Rankings and glide on cloud 9 into every soccer weekend this autumn.

Vilain has lengthy been certainly one of my favorites for the PSPR, as a result of he was a late look ahead to me just a few years in the past earlier than the draft, and I cherished his slippery pass-rush means at Michigan. He flashed in every of the final two preseasons with the Vikings, and generated eight pressures on 44 pass-rushing snaps in Carolina earlier than the Browns signed him earlier than the season. 

King has confirmed himself to be one of many extra sturdy, do-everything slot defenders in soccer, now in his eighth season. He is a kind of essentially sound, reliable former Iowa Hawkeyes defensive backs who’re scattered throughout the league. Heck, in 2023, on the Steelers and Texans, he defended two passes, had a sack, 47 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and didn’t enable a landing in his protection space. He is bought somewhat left within the tank. 

I had a giant draft crush on Heyward out of Duke just a few years in the past. Lengthy, rangy, athletic, plus protection instincts. He went undrafted in 2023 and all he is completed in two preseasons since is proved to everybody he ought to’ve been picked and might undeniably play on this league. He was excellent this previous August with 12 whole tackles, three pressures, a move breakup, and he did not miss a sort out. 

Cincinnati boasts one of many higher, moderately younger linebacker tandems within the AFC, but if both battle an damage, Heyward is a three-down plug-and-play insurance coverage possibility. 

Did you witness the Tony Jefferson Recreation, which to some could have been the Trey Lance 5 Interception Recreation? In it, Jefferson got here off the sofa to register double-digit tackles, pressure a fumble and snag two picks within the Chargers’ exhibition outing towards the Cowboys. 

In 2023, Jefferson was a scouting intern for the Ravens. Now he is ready patiently for an additional alternative nicely into his 30s on a Chargers protection that already boasts Derwin James. 

I am unable to stop Carter. Again in 2021, he basically matched Aidan Hutchinson in pass-rushing effectivity whereas at Military. Within the 2022 season, he noticed nothing however double groups and that effectivity dipped — from 20.1% pressure-creation to 14.1% — which led to Carter going undrafted. That, and a lowly mix efficiency. 

However Minnesota scooped him up on the undrafted free agent market, and he is rocked the previous two preseasons. This previous August, Carter generated 9 quarterback pressures on a mere 49 pass-rushing alternatives. Danielle Hunter is gone, however the Vikings added Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel in free company earlier than drafting Dallas Turner in Spherical 1. Not a lot alternative for Carter. He is prepared and ready, although. 

Gore is totally able to working as an environment friendly complementary again in Buffalo’s high-powered offense. He will not get the possibility to be that kind straight away, nonetheless, with James Cook, Ty Johnson and fourth-round rookie Ray Davis forward of him on the depth chart. 

But what Gore lacks in dimension and pure pace, he counters together with his dad-like imaginative and prescient, slicing ability and steadiness by contact. Within the preseason, because the clear exhibition workhorse for the Payments, Gore averaged 4.9 yards per pop en path to main the NFL with 163 dashing yards. And his common of three.09 yards after contact per rush was spectacular, too. 

Coker is a win-through-physical boundary wideout with misleading deep-ball capabilities due to his robust palms, terribly leaping abilities, and physique management on the catch level. 

I do know there’s Xavier Legette on this offense. They wish to begin incorporating him after buying and selling as much as choose him. But it surely completely would not harm to have extra offensive weaponry to assist get this offense out of the magnificently giant gap it is at the moment in. And Coker is one other wideout who represents the longer term on the place in Carolina. 

3. Naquan Jones, DT, Dolphins

At Michigan State, Jones registered a whopping 43 stops — tackles that represent a “loss” for the offense primarily based on down and distance — on 78 profession tackles. Insane. In brief, he was routinely making influence tackles close to the road of scrimmage. That is exactly what the Dolphins protection wants now. 

Patrick being lower by the Broncos was one of many surprises of the summer time within the NFL. He battled again from two before-the-season accidents — to his ACL in 2022 and Achilles in 2023 — and legitimately seemed like one of many higher depth choices at receiver this preseason. 

He caught 5 passes for 44 yards within the preseason earlier than the discharge, and the Lions have been sensible to grab him instantly. Positive, Patrick hasn’t caught a move in a regular-season recreation since 2021. That yr, although? He went for over 700 yards for second-straight season. He is the kind of possession goal on the boundary Detroit may use … proper now!

1. Erik Ezukanma, WR, Dolphins

Is Ezukanma the savior of the Dolphins offense? Most likely not. However may he spring a fast display or shallow cross for 20-plus, breaking a sort out or two alongside the way in which? Completely. With defenses probably converging on Hill and Waddle, the Dolphins must unfold across the soccer beginning in Week 3. 

Honorable Point out 

Lil’Jordan Humphrey, WR, Broncos

Humphrey has at all times been a contested-catch winner, courting to his time on the College of Texas. He could not separate vertically usually. That is high-quality. His vertical and pure ball abilities have stored him within the league for some time now after going undrafted. 

Parris Campbell, WR, Eagles 

The Eagles could get A.J. Brown again this week, which in fact could be a monstrous enhance to the offense that struggled to maneuver the ball by the air when it mattered most towards the Falcons. I nonetheless assume they want a vertical seam-stretcher or somebody who can flip on the jets and go after a schemed-up toss beneath. Campbell at the least gives severe, low 4.3 pace. 

Joe Giles-Harris, LB, Patriots

Giles-Harris will not be fairly athletic sufficient to fulfill what NFL coaches need when it comes to vary from their linebackers as we speak. He makes up for stated lack of bodily items with instincts and reliability on three downs. He had 10 tackles and an interception for the Patriots this preseason.

Jowon Briggs, DT, Browns

Briggs seems like an outsized linebacker at defensive sort out and has the kind of upfield juice to threaten the quarterback. Just one strain within the preseason from the Cincinnati alum, but loads of close to misses primarily based on his burst and surprisingly highly effective jolt on the level of assault for a sub-300 pounder. 

Chigozie Anusiem, CB, Commanders

Anusiem is a gifted athlete, who ran 4.40 with a 37.5-inch vertical at his professional day after not being invited to the mix, a growth I am nonetheless stunned did not occur after his two seasons at Colorado State. Mixed, he had 93 tackles, 11 move breakups, 3.5 tackles for loss and one interception. He is 6-1 and 200 kilos with 32.5-inch arms too. With Emmanuel Forbes coping with an damage, Anusiem could be a smart elevation in Washington. 

Matt Landers, WR, Panthers

Landers generally is a clearing-route, go-ball specialist on this common season. In any case, the dude is a 6-foot-4, 200-pounder with 4.37 pace. He rocked at Toledo after which Arkansas, averaging a mixed 21.1 yards per catch. In minimal alternatives over the previous two preseasons, Landers made six grabs for 86 yards with a landing. 

Is he probably the most squeaky clear route-runner in soccer? In fact not. However “explosives” are every little thing in as we speak’s NFL, and Landers completely can present these to an offense, notably one just like the Patriots with out many established pass-catching choices at receiver.