The Miami Dolphins cut veteran backup quarterback Josh Freeman on Friday. The fact that Freeman was let go was hardly surprising. That it happened before the Dolphins played even one exhibition game was indeed shocking. It is now evident that Miami will keep just two quarterbacks on its roster in 2015.

Miami signed the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ first-round draft pick in April after he spent the entire 2014 season out of football. Freeman was certainly not brought in to challenge solid starter Ryan Tannehill, but he was someone who was supposed to light a little fire under second-stringer Matt Moore. The Dolphins did the same thing a season ago with Brady Quinn.

Once minicamp started it became clear that Freeman was going to be set free at sometime. He was erratic in both the OTAs and minicamps making Moore’s spot on the roster as secure as Tannehill’s. There were times this offseason when free agent McLeod Bethel-Thompson outperformed Freeman. Bethel-Thompson is the longest of longshots to earn a roster spot this summer.

Since Freeman threw 25 touchdowns and just six interceptions for the Bucs in 2010, he has been a shadow of himself. Miami general manager Dennis Hickey was a part of the Tampa Bay front office when Freeman was drafted out of Kansas State. When Hickey hooked up with the quarterback again in April it had the feeling of a “charity signing” by the Dolphins. At the very least, Freeman would show other squads desperate for signal callers that he had something left in his very large tank. That tank came to Miami about a quarter full.

This move by Miami was done out of necessity because the space on the roster is valuable. On offense, the Dolphins may need to keep an extra lineman if the merry-go-round at starting guard continues. Another wide receiver may also make the team if rookie DeVante Parker is not healthy enough to play in the season opener, but not injured enough to be placed on the PUP list. It is likely that the Dolphins only keep two tight ends on the first roster in order to have more room.

Miami has a glut of defensive linemen so it may be helpful to have an open spot to hold onto another tackle or end on defense. The linebacker corps is also unsettled and there is a good chance that one or two rookie free agents may fill out that part of the depth chart. This may also be the year Miami uses two different players to handle kick and punt return duties. That will also suck up space on the roster.

Freeman never had any preconceived notions when he signed with the Dolphins. It will be amazing if he gets another chance with an NFL club, especially since he sat out all of last season. If something happens to Moore, or heaven forbid Tannehill, this August then Freeman may get another call from his old friend Hickey. In a time of crisis, he would be a lot easier to watch in aqua and orange than Bethel-Thompson.

Nik Zirounis is an NFL/Dolphins writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @realnikz and like him on Facebook.