Grading the Dolphins’ Massive 13-Pick Overhaul in the 2026 NFL Draft
What a difference a year makes in South Florida. We watched the Miami Dolphins completely dismantle their high-flying, finesse offense this offseason—releasing Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill, and trading away Jaylen Waddle. They hit the reset button hard, and General Manager Jon-Eric Sullivan brought a totally different philosophy into the 2026 NFL Draft.
Armed with a whopping 13 draft picks—the most this franchise has had in the 2000s—the mission was clear: get bigger, get tougher, and get meaner.
So, how did Miami do in their franchise-altering 2026 draft? Let’s break down the picks and hand out a final grade.
First-Round Fortitude
The rebuilding process started where it always should: in the trenches.
Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama (Pick No. 12): Proctor is a mountain of a man and a proven SEC mauler. If you want to establish a physical identity, you draft a guy who co-won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy. He will anchor this new-look offensive line for years.
Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State (Pick No. 27): Using the pick acquired from the 49ers, Miami grabbed a lockdown defender. He’s a smart, physical corner who will be heavily relied upon to stabilize a transitioning secondary.
The Day 2 Grinders
Sullivan clearly had a "type" on Day 2, and it wasn't track stars. It was about pure violence.
Will Kacmarek, TE, Ohio State (Pick No. 87): This pick perfectly encapsulates the new Dolphins ethos. Sullivan literally called Kacmarek a “grimy, dirty, bite-your-face-off type of dude.” He was an elite point-of-attack blocker for the Buckeyes and is exactly what you need to establish a heavy play-action scheme.
Jacob Rodriguez, ILB, Texas Tech: A tackling machine who brings leadership and grit to the middle of the defense.
The Receivers: Miami also restocked a totally depleted receivers room by adding Chris Bell (Louisville) and Caleb Douglas (Texas Tech). Both bring desperately needed young legs to an offense that just lost its two biggest stars.
Day 3 Dart Throws and Depth
When you have this many picks, Day 3 is about taking swings and building the back half of your 53-man roster. The Dolphins loaded up heavily:
DJ Campbell, G, Texas (Pick No. 200): An absolute steal in the sixth round. He shares that same road-grading, people-moving mentality as Proctor.
Seydou Traore, TE, Mississippi State: An incredibly athletic former soccer player with raw upside as a pass-catcher.
Kevin Coleman Jr., WR, Mississippi State: Gives Miami another versatile target to evaluate as they look for long-term answers on the perimeter.
Defensive Reinforcements: They drafted for heavy rotational depth, bringing in LB Trey Moore, LB Kyle Louis, S Michael Taaffe, and closed out their draft with edge rusher Max Llewellyn (Pick 238) out of Iowa.
The Final Verdict
Look, losing Tua, Tyreek, and Waddle in one offseason is a bitter pill for the fanbase to swallow. The track-meet offense is officially dead. But if you're going to tear down the house, this is how you pour a new foundation.
Sullivan recognized that the era of relying solely on speed was over and drafted pure, unadulterated physicality. Bringing in 13 rookies is a massive influx of youth, and while realistically fitting them all on the roster will be a brutal training camp battle, the sheer volume gives Miami incredible flexibility. They didn't reach, they established a clear team identity, and they armed themselves with trench warriors.
Overall Draft Grade: B+
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