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Pass rusher named favorite UDFA to make Dolphins roster out of camp
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- Pass rusher named favorite UDFA to make Dolphins roster out of camp
In addition to the Miami Dolphins drafting 13 players last week, they signed several undrafted free agents, and Bleacher Report's Kristopher Knox believes that pass rusher Mason Reiger has the best chance at making their initial 53-man roster. He was also predicted to make the cut in Dolphins Wire's initial 53-man projection .
"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 wrote. "However, Miami is in the middle of a complete roster overhaul, so a player like Wisconsin's Mason Reiger should get a legitimate shot after signing.
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The Dolphins needed edge-defender help in a big way after trading Jaelan Phillips and cutting Bradley Chubb . While they signed the likes of Josh Uche and David Ojabo before using a fourth-round pick in Trey Moore, they might find room for Reiger in the rotation."
The outside linebacker/edge from Wisconsin didn't hear his name during the 2026 NFL draft but was an immediate signing in the rookie free agent market by the Dolphins. Miami has a very thin past rusher group, and Reiger has a great opportunity to sneak his way onto the roster.
Having a solid combination of height and athletic ability, Reiger ranked third amongst linebackers in athleticism score at the 2026 NFL scouting combine. Coincidentally, he shares a very similar size and athletic profile to former badger and ex-Dolphins fan favorite Andrew Van Ginkel, who signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2024 and became a Pro Bowl player.
Van Ginkel was the fourth-ranked linebacker in athleticism score during his scouting process in 2019. The two also compare in their style of play with their high motor style, passion for the game and determination in getting to the quarterback.
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Both standing at 6-foot-4, they also have similar measurables. Reiger has a Relative Athletic Score of 9.53 while Van Ginkel's was 9.26. Reiger's vertical leap was 40 inches, and Van Ginkel was 38 inches. Van Ginkel was a bit faster with a 4.50-second 40-yard dash, while Reiger ran a 4.78. In terms of arm length, Reiger's is 32.6, and Van Ginkel's is 32.5.
Continuing the comparison, each transferred to Wisconsin. Reiger started out at Louisville for three seasons and finished there with eight sacks and 16.5 tackles for loss. In his lone season with the Badgers, Reiger had five sacks along with six tackles for loss and a pass defensed in 2025.
Also, like Van Ginkel, Reiger enters the league as a situational pass-rusher with high upside and could develop into a very solid pro, as he has a great chance at cracking the Dolphins roster. Van Ginkel was a rookie in a previous "rebuilding" season in 2019 as a fifth-round pick, and Reiger was projected as a Day-3 player, but curiously was not selected. Miami is in another clear rebuild, where several rookies can be thrown into the mix immediately, as well as multiple undrafted free agents having a chance to make the team over veterans.
The Dolphins could have a steal another diamond in the rough player, and Reiger's timing and destination could not be better for a rookie free agent looking to make his mark during training camp in the summer.
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This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Pass rusher named favorite UDFA to make Dolphins roster out of camp
