Dolphins turn up the volume on waiver wire, claiming seven including QB Brady Cook and TE Justin Joly

The Miami Dolphins have reportedly converted a busy waiver-wire day into seven new additions, according to the league’s waiver report. The names highlighted in the report include quarterback Brady Cook and tight end Justin Joly, both of whom were among the players other teams designated for waiver eligibility before landing in Miami’s claim pile.

Joly’s case stands out because the waiver movement ties to the Denver Broncos. Pro Football Rumors reported that the Broncos made a surprising roster decision by waiving Joly months after trading up to select him in the fifth round. The implication is straightforward for roster construction: Denver elected not to keep a player acquired specifically through trade-up capital, opening the door for another team to take over his early-career development.

Cook’s appearance in Miami’s haul also speaks to how teams evaluate depth and practice-squad readiness. Pro Football Rumors listed Cook among the Dolphins’ seven waiver claims, placing him in the quarterback room as an option for the back half of the roster, where preseason reps and next-step clarity often determine whether a player can carve out a role.

Beyond those two, the waiver report referenced additional Dolphins claims, including tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick and a defensive back whose name was shown only partially in the available description. Those included names reinforce the broader point of the transaction type itself: waiver claims are frequently used to address specific gaps created by injuries, performance grading, or simply roster math, especially during periods when teams are still settling their final depth charts.

For Miami, the waiver-wire approach can be a low-cost way to add talent, but it also creates immediate evaluation work. Each claimed player must be fit into team schematics, practice habits, and roster limits, and the Dolphins then have to decide who merits consistent work versus who remains a high-upside bet at the edges of the lineup.

For Denver, losing Joly is notable in that it undercuts expectations tied to draft positioning. Trade-up selections in the middle rounds are often treated as developmental projects, but being waived months later suggests the fit or trajectory did not match what the Broncos wanted when they acquired him.

What to watch next is whether Miami’s claimed players see any increase in practice reps or depth-chart opportunities as the team finalizes its rotation. On Denver’s side, the question becomes whether the Broncos fill the tight end and tackle depth issues through further transactions, or whether this waiver outcome is part of a broader reshaping of their roster priorities. Until confirmed by additional league or team reporting, the details remain best characterized as a waiver-report development rather than a fully established final roster plan.