As the Dolphins continued to add at running back under Mike McDaniel, Salvon Ahmed kept waging successful battles to keep his roster spot. But the Brian Flores-era acquisition received word Monday he would be released.
During a busy day for Dolphins transactions, the team cut the fifth-year running back. Ahmed re-signed in March, staying in Miami on a one-year deal worth $1.29MM. The Dolphins did not guarantee Ahmed anything upon bringing him back, and the team made another key move at running back weeks after keeping the enduring former UDFA.
Mentioned as a release candidate before the trade addition of Jeff Wilson back in 2022, Ahmed managed to stick around despite the subsequent De’Von Achane draft choice. This year, however, the Dolphins traded up for Tennessee speedster Jaylen Wright. With ex-McDaniel 49ers charges Wilson and Raheem Mostert still around, Ahmed did not seem to have a realistic path to the team’s active roster. The team also rosters Chris Brooks, who arrived as a UDFA under McDaniel.
It would seemingly not be out of the question Ahmed — a Dolphin since 2020 — resurfaced on the team’s practice squad, but this early release would give him a shot at landing somewhere else. Most teams are not as deep as Miami in the backfield, pointing to Ahmed having another chance. Though, he does not exactly play a position on the right end of the supply-and-demand spectrum. A Washington alum, Ahmed rushed for 319 yards as a rookie but has not surpassed 150 in a season since.
The Dolphins are also adding at running back, signing former Steeler Anthony McFarland Jr. The 2020 fourth-rounder spent the past four seasons with the Steelers, working in a reserve role. McFarland, 26, has only topped 30 rushing yards in one season (2020, when he amassed 113). The Steelers used one of their eight allotted IR activations on the third-string RB last season but waived him later in the year.
Miami also signed fullback Zander Horvath along with linebacker Dequan Jackson and wide receiver Jadon Janke. The team placed Willie Snead and offensive lineman Sean Harlow on IR and waived linebacker Ezekiel Vandenburgh with an injury designation. Snead caught on with the Dolphins in late July, joining a team that placed Odell Beckham Jr. on the active/PUP list.
It does not sound like OBJ will come off the list especially soon, McDaniel said (via the Miami Herald’s Barry Jackson). Beckham will not practice this week, per McDaniel. Teams to not have to disclose the nature of injuries before injury reports return ahead of Week 1, so Beckham’s issue remains a bit of a mystery.
While it does not sound like the Dolphins are overly concerned, Beckham certainly has dealt with a number of injuries. Health issues led to his tumble off the superstar tier, but the veteran wideout has remained a viable contributor. The Dolphins gave OBJ a one-year, $3MM deal ($3MM guaranteed) to be their No. 3 wideout.
Well, it finally happened. Ahmed won’t have trouble getting signed, though. He’s always played well as a platoon back, and showed a few years ago that he can be a spot starter. Any team that needs an agility depth back could easily make a cheap addition with good game experience that will help solidify a rotation.
Yeah, I don’t think he’s any great shakes, but for a team like Dallas or Tampa that might just need a rotational back with a pulse, you could do worse.
Meanwhile, if Miami’s top three shakes out to Mostert, Achane, and Wright, that would mean their top three backs have 40 yard dash times of 4.34, 4.32, and 4.36. Pretty incredible.
I agree. I would say that, though, it puts a lot if pressure on their linemen to open up clean holes. None of those guys are going to run through a ton of contact. I see a lot of boom or bust plays, but that’s part of the style. The Shanahan/McDaniel style zone run offense doesn’t really use power backs, and likes shiftier guys that are typically smaller. That really leans on good linemen to clear up clean space for them to burst through, and hopefully get to the second level quickly. I think that, for all of Miami’s firepower passing, the quality of their run blocking with their new starters is going to be the key to picking up where they left off.
Speed doesn’t hurt.
It makes sense that there’s been talk of Achane being used out of the slot. Manufacturing quick passes to guys who are dangerous with the ball in their hands makes sense when straight-up run blocking might be an issue.
100% agree. Manufacturing short yardage through the air is a great way to get around the line. Not to mention that, with his speed, there’s always a chase that Achane can break off a big play-and it can get him and another back on the field at the same time.
What are the adjusted dash times for when these players are sprinting to the bank with a sack of money on their back?
It might be even faster, you never know.