The Miami Dolphins added 13 new players through the NFL Draft last week, but it's an undrafted rookie who's already turning heads as a potential roster surprise. According to Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox, pass rusher Mason Reiger has the best shot among the team's undrafted free agents to secure a spot on the initial 53-man roster.
"The Miami Dolphins made a whopping 13 selections over draft weekend, which would normally make it difficult for any undrafted free agent to stick," Knox noted. "However, Miami is in the middle of a complete roster overhaul, so a player like Wisconsin's Mason Reiger should get a legitimate shot."
The Dolphins' edge-defender depth took a major hit after trading Jaelan Phillips and releasing Bradley Chubb. While the team has added veterans like Josh Uche and David Ojabo, and used a fourth-round pick on Trey Moore, there's still room for a hungry young pass rusher to carve out a role. Reiger, an outside linebacker/edge from Wisconsin, went undrafted in the 2026 NFL Draft but was quickly scooped up by Miami in the rookie free agent market.
What makes Reiger such an intriguing prospect? For starters, he brings a rare combination of size and athleticism. At the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine, he ranked third among all linebackers in athleticism score. Standing at 6-foot-4 with a 40-inch vertical leap, he boasts a Relative Athletic Score of 9.53—impressive numbers that draw comparisons to a familiar face for Dolphins fans.
That face is Andrew Van Ginkel, the former Wisconsin standout and Dolphins fan favorite who went on to become a Pro Bowl player with the Minnesota Vikings. Like Reiger, Van Ginkel was a high-motor pass rusher with a knack for getting to the quarterback. Their athletic profiles are strikingly similar: Van Ginkel posted a 9.26 Relative Athletic Score and a 38-inch vertical at the 2019 combine. Both players share the same 6-foot-4 frame and a relentless style of play that coaches love.
With Miami's pass-rushing group currently thin on proven depth, Reiger has a golden opportunity to follow in Van Ginkel's footsteps. If he can bring that same energy and determination to training camp, don't be surprised to see his name on the Dolphins' final roster this fall.