Here’s why Raheem Mostert is No. 9 on our Dolphins’ Top 20 players
(Part of a series counting down to the start of 2024 Dolphins training camp.)
One of the more intriguing subplots to the Dolphins’ 2024 season will be how they choose to deploy their running backs.
The Dolphins have two promising young backs in De’Von Achane and rookie Jaylen Wright.
They also have their dependable leader from 2023, Raheem Mostert. So who gets the bulk of the carries? Is it divided evenly? Do they have specific roles based on down and distance?
Why Raheem Mostert is No. 9
However it plays out, Mostert will be looking for an encore to the best season of his career. He broke the 1,000-yard barrier for the first time in 2023, finishing with 1,012, and led the NFL with 18 rushing touchdowns.
He may be 32 years old, but he’s showing no signs of slowing down. He can still get outside, which helps explain his 4.8 average in 2023. Plus, he's a valuable mentor to Achane and Wright.
Telling stat
When Mostert says he’s young for age 32, when he says there’s plenty of tread left on his tires, it’s not just talk.
Mostert has 674 career rushing attempts even though he entered the league back in 2015.
Now compare that to two other veterans.
Derrick Henry, who entered the NFL a year after Mostert, has 2,030 rushing attempts.
Saquon Barkley, who started in 2018, has 1,201.
How is it possible Mostert still has such fresh legs? At the start of the 2019 season, he had only 43 career carries.
How we see Mostert’s future
Mostert just signed an extension that covers him with the Dolphins for 2024 and ’25 at a team-friendly total of $7.4 million, which could mean he’ll finish his career in MIami.
Dolphins reporter Hal Habib can be reached at hhabib@pbpost.com. Follow him on social media @gunnerhal. Click here to subscribe.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins 2024: Our Top 20 player countdown rolls on with Raheem Mostertl
