DKphin
Active Roster
Tailback Jay Ajayi was a breakout star for the Miami Dolphins in 2016. But Ajayi carried the ball more than 20 times in four games last year, including a 32-carry effort in a pivotal Week 16 game against the Bills.
That was as much due to necessity as design. There just isn't much behind Ajayi on the depth chart, and Miami eschewed the backfield in free agency and the 2017 draft.
The team did, however, add a back in rookie free agency who might be able to take a bit of the load off. Michigan's De'Veon Smith isn't a home run hitter. He isn't going to juke any defenders out of their shoes. But at 223 pounds, the downhill bruiser could take a bit of the pounding away from Ajayi in 2017.
If Smith was the offense's most welcome addition where UDFAs are concerned, wide receiver Damore'ea Stringfellow was probably the most surprising.
It has nothing to do with talent. Stringfellow is a sure-handed, big-bodied receiver who topped 700 yards on 46 catches last year at Ole Miss.
But Stringfellow has no margin for error in a wide receiver club that's standing room only.
Neither will Miami's Malcolm Lewis. Nor Drew Morgan of Arkansas. Nor Francis Owusu of Stanford.
That's four UDFA receivers added to a team that was already deep at that spot.
GRADE: B