Mike McDaniel opens up on where Dolphins' running back room stands

When you think of the Dolphins offense, it’s all about speed and deep passes from Tua Tagovailoa to Tyreek Hill. Those are the stars of a Miami highlight reel.

But look past the passing and take note of the running. The Dolphins are deep at that position, so long as everyone stays healthy. Raheem Mostert is the starter, with De’Von Achane as a homerun change of pace. Then Miami selected Tennessee’s Jaylen Wright in the fourth round of April’s NFL Draft.

Earlier this month, as the Dolphins were going through mandatory minicamp, reporters asked coach Mike McDaniel to assess the running back position. Let’s just say McDaniel said the competition for playing time will be a training camp highlight.

“I think we are very fortunate to have a group of running backs that really from across the board,” McDaniel said. “It’s hard to even say top to bottom because there’s such great competition and you wouldn’t be doing justice to the entire group if you were trying to crown this person or that person. But the whole group, pretty much led by Raheem (Mostert), it is of quality and depth as good as I’ve been around. And (I’ve) been around a lot of good groups.”

McDaniel added: “I think that I have literally spent zero time trying to forecast that (running back) room because I recognize supreme competition when I see it. And the great news is instead of saying what I believe or forecast, I get to just watch and allow the players determine all that for us. … All of those guys really, really lean into the fact of we want everyone to do their best and that’s where I want to succeed, not because somebody else fails.”

The Dolphins led the NFL last season, with an average of 5.1 yards per rush. The team, collectively, ran the ball 456 times, which ranked in the middle of NFL offenses. However, the Dolphins sported the No. 1 overall offense in the league, averaging 401.3 yards per game.

Mostert was the workhorse, rushing for 1,012 yards. That ranked 10th in the NFL and he was one of 12 running backs to surpass 1,000. Meanwhile, Achane rushed 103 times for 800 yards. That’s 7.8 a carry. Then they added Wright, a second-team All-SEC pick from 2023. He gained 1,013 yards his final season in Knoxville.

All will be vying for on-field reps when the Dolphins reconvene July 23 for training camp. The running back drills might be the most fun to watch.

“I think that for your team, it’s a big deal when you have competition that’s healthy,” McDaniel said. “Because you get the best versions of people and it manifests itself across a lot of positions, I think.”