Dolphins Make Seven Waiver Claims; QB Brady Cook, TE Justin Joly Among Them

The Broncos made a surprising decision Sunday, waiving Justin Joly months after trading up to land him in the fifth round. The rookie tight end will be headed elsewhere as a result.

A seven-waiver claim haul from the rebuilding Dolphins includes Joly, according to the waiver report. Tackle Chukwuebuka Godrick, Brady Cook, defensive back Marcellas Dial, tackle Jarrett Kingston, cornerback Reese Taylor and defensive back Julius Wood round out Miami’s Monday septet.

In a significant roster overhaul following cutdown day, Miami is also signing edge rusher Malik Herring (per insider Jordan Schultz). Miami’s quarterback shuffle will continue on the practice squad as well. Mark Gronowski is returning on a P-squad deal, NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo tweets. Miami’s rearranged QB room now consists of Malik Willis, Kyle McCord, Cook and Gronowski.

Joly divided his four-year college career between Connecticut and North Carolina State, and he was productive at both schools. After breaking out during a 58-catch, 578-yard campaign with the Huskies in 2023, he played a pair of seasons at NC State and combined for 92 receptions, 1,150 yards and 11 touchdowns.

On the heels of a first-team All-ACC showing last year, the Broncos flew in Joly for a pre-draft visit. The meeting temporarily sold Denver on Joly, whom it traded up 18 spots for in the fifth round. The Broncos surrendered picks 170 and 182 to draft Joly at 152. Joly went on to catch five passes for 105 yards and a TD (including an 88-yard score) in three preseason games, but the Broncos deemed him expendable on cutdown day. They did keep one rookie tight end – seventh-rounder Dallen Bentley – who is part of a depth chart that also includes Evan Engram, Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins.

Former Bronco Greg Dulcich leads the Dolphins’ tight end group. Dulich caught a modest 26 passes for 335 yards and a score in 10 games last year, his first in Miami, but the new regime of general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley prioritized re-signing him. He’s only under contract for a year, while the Dolphins have three 2026 draftees – Joly, third-rounder Will Kacmarek and fifth-rounder Seydou Traore – as potential long-term options.

Cook, whom the AFC East rival Jets cut on Sunday, struggled as an undrafted rookie in 2025. Making four late-season starts (all losses) as Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor battled injuries, the Missouri product completed 57.5% of attempts, threw two scores against seven picks, and put up a 55.4 rating. He returned this summer to complete 13 of 23 preseason attempts for 165 yards and a score, which was not enough to earn a roster spot on a New York team carrying Geno Smith and fourth-round rookie Cade Klubnik.

Sam Robinson contributed to this post.

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