ESPN.com’s Miami Dolphins page continues to rank the team’s top 40 players.
Next up we have Nos. 25-28.
No. 28: Derrick Shelby
Position: Defensive end
2014 stats: 26 tackles, three sacks, one interception
Analysis: Shelby is a player who continues to hang around and be a valuable contributor for the Dolphins. He’s the third defensive end in the rotation and often gets high grades from the coaching staff. Shelby’s steady play is one of the reasons former No. 3 overall pick Dion Jordan doesn’t get many reps in the base defense. Despite less physical talent, Shelby understands leverage and technique and has earned the trust of the coaching staff. Shelby did run into some off-the-field trouble last season that is still being resolved. He was briefly suspended and then reinstated.
No. 27: Jimmy Wilson
Position: Safety/nickel cornerback
2014 stats: 59 tackles, one interception
Analysis: Wilson’s versatility came in handy this season. He started a career-high 13 games for Miami due to various circumstances. Dolphins starting safety Reshad Jones was suspended for the first four games of the season and fellow starting safety Louis Delmas missed the final three games of the season. Wilson also played nickel cornerback and earned six additional starts when Miami began the game with that defensive alignment. Wilson is a jack-of-all-trades player who has some value. He finished fifth on the team in tackles and is set to become an unrestricted free agent in March.
No. 26: Knowshon Moreno
Position: Running back
2014 stats: 148 yards, one touchdown
Analysis: Moreno is a difficult player to rank. He would have been much higher had multiple injuries to his elbow and knee not derailed his season. But durability and production are big parts of this equation. So Moreno comes in at No. 26 after playing parts of just three games with the Dolphins. He was dominant in Week 1 against the New England Patriots with 134 rushing yards and one touchdown, which showed promise for a big season. But injuries forced him to miss 13 games and he’s about to hit free agency.
No. 25: Cortland Finnegan
Position: Cornerback
2014 stats: 44 tackles, zero interceptions
Analysis: Finnegan had an up-and-down season for the Dolphins. There were positive flashes, such as his performance against the Chicago Bears. But there also were poor performances, such as his game against the Green Bay Packers. Finnegan’s biggest contribution was his steady influence and professionalism on younger cornerbacks Jamar Taylor and Will Davis. The Dolphins may ask Finnegan to take a pay cut or release him in the final year of his contract this offseason.