Malik Willis ran for a touchdown in his first start for the Dolphins.

Pressure Point: Dolphins need more production from Willis for breakthrough win

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There was a brief moment Sunday when the impossible seemed almost within reach for the Miami Dolphins.

Chop Robinson’s long-awaited first sack of the season late in the third quarter set up the Dolphins offense for its most productive drive of the game—one of its best of the season.
Malik Willis had two 17-yard completions to the other Malik, Washington, and Ollie Gordon II ran the final 12 yards of a four-play, 55-yard touchdown drive.

After being stifled up until then by Brian Flores’ blitz-happy defense, the Dolphins trailed the unbeaten Vikings by a mere 12-10.

Willis’ first real chance to lead a comeback win in the fourth quarter turned into an epic fail. Willis and the offense went three-and-out on their only possession of the fourth quarter.

Veteran Kyler Murray, trying to gain footing as the Vikings starter was unable to produce a touchdown all day. But he led Minnesota to its fifth field goal and had some key completions, mostly to tight end T.J. Hockenson, to play keep-away throughout the fourth quarter and seal a 15-10 win against the not-ready-for-prime-time Dolphins.

Rookie’s toe on sideline negates long touchdown

Imagine if rookie Chris Bell had managed to avoid stepping in the sideline— barely, but that’s all it takes — to negate what should have been a 68-yard touchdown reception from Willis in the first half.
Certainly, Willis’ stats would have looked a lot better than he ended up with: 9 for 17 for 85 yards and a 67.0 passer rating.

In what figures to be a season-long quest to determine whether Willis can be the future at quarterback for the Dolphins, so far the case in his favor is rather flimsy.

His biggest asset is mobility. It’s a good thing because he spends much of his time running for his life. He has yet to show prowess as a passer to suggest he is a long-term solution.

This was a difficult game to assess Willis because the offensive line was overmatched by the Vikings’ pass rush. Defenders who weren’t chasing Willis around the pocket were blanketing his receivers downfield.

One of these weeks, Willis going to have to find a rhythm in the passing game, hit some throws down field and put some points on the board.

I’m not writing Willis off, but not sold on him either.

This rebuilding team is still at the stage of looking for progress and determining who has a future in the Jeff Hafley era. That they got to the fourth quarter Sunday with a genuine chance to win was a credit to improvement by the defense.

Dolphins record first four sacks of season

A unit with no sacks in the first three games, recorded three in the first half. Zach Sieler broke the spell on the first offensive play of the game and added another in the final minute of the half. Josh Uche also put Kyler Murray on the ground.

Robinson’s was the team’s fourth of the day. He did it in impressive fashion driving tackle Brian O’Neill back into Murray. Robinson had three hits on Murray in his best performance of the season.

Meanwhile, rookie defenders continue to make a strong case, led by Jacob Rodriguez with a game-high 18 tackles, nine of them solo. Safety Michael Taaffe had five tackles, including a solid run stop in the open field on a sweep. Cornerback Chris Johnson is showing improvement.

If only the defense had found a way to cover Hockenson, who caught all 13 passes thrown to him for 119 yards.

Overall, a good day for the defense. The Vikings, though, are having their own struggles on offense and were missing their top receiver.

Much of the game seemed tailored to those who delight in watching officials throw yellow flags and identifying miscreants for rules infractions.

The two teams combined for 20 penalties — 11 for 85 yards for the Vikings; nine for 55 yards for the Dolphins.

Left tackle Patrick Paul got flagged for holding three times in the first half.

Best showing by the Miami offense was tailback Gordon with nine carries for 100 yards, including a 53-yarder. Another potential long-gainer was stopped on a down-by-contact call that was not apparent on replay.

Similarly, a roughing the punter penalty was overturned by a ruling that the rusher deflected the ball which also defied the naked eye.

Between those two calls and Bell’s toe brushing the sideline, the message to the Dolphins was: closer but you’re not yet ready for the win column.

They showed enough to suggest that the breakthrough will come one of these weeks. They will need more from Willis and the offense than we’ve seen so far to make it happen.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for more than four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.

Chop Robinson's hit on Patrick Mahomes brought a controversial roughing penalty on the Dolphins pass rusher.

Pressure Point: Injury to Achane sours encouraging performance by Dolphins

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As if the rebuilding Miami Dolphins weren’t burdened with enough adversity. Five plays into Sunday’s home opener against Kansas City they lost their best player.

After offering scant resistance on back-to-back touchdown drives by the Chiefs, it looked like another rollover for the overmatched Dolphins.

But then for the first time in three games, the NFL’s youngest team showed a backbone and made a game of it until the final minutes.

Unfortunately, star running back De’Von Achane exited with a knee injury on their opening possession. Coach Jeff Hafley delivered a grim prognosis afterward: “To be very honest with you, it does not sound very optimistic at this moment.”

The outcome never seemed in doubt, but the 24-10 final score is somewhat misleading. It was a one-score game with six minutes remaining when the Dolphins failed to convert on fourth-and-5 and turned the ball over near midfield.

It was the first time in three games the outcome remained in question in the fourth quarter.

Young Dolphins show progress in loss

In some ways, the rookie-laden Dolphins outplayed one of the top teams in the league.

Miami had a sizable advantage in time of possession, 34:21 to 25: 39, ran 18 more plays and had an edge in first downs, 19-18. Total yards were nearly even, 334 to 329 in favor of Kansas City; the Chiefs dominated in yards per play, 6.8 to 4.9.

Notably, the Dolphins were competitive and showed measurable growth.

Granted, it is a small step. Like when the temperature in South Florida stays below 90 for the first time in months, but still mid-80s.

For the Dolphins, there were positive signs to build on. They made some big plays on offense and defense.

“There was a lot of improvement today as opposed to last week,” Hafley said. “A lot of our guys are starting to believe.”

Rookies make impact for Dolphins

Among the rookies, standouts were linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and wide receiver Chris Bell.

Rodriguez had a diving interception off a deflection and also planted Kenneth Walker, the NFL’s leading rusher, for a loss.

Bell had his best day as a pro with four receptions for 67 yards, including a 44-yard catch and run off a short in-route.

Left guard Kadyn Proctor had a key block on Ollie Gordon II’s 3-yard touchdown run, and gave the running back a push across the goal line.

That capped a 91-yard drive which spanned 17 plays and consumed 9 ½ minutes. They converted three third downs on the drive.

In what may have been the most impactful moment of the season for the defense so far, they stuffed Walker on third- and fourth-and-1 to stall a Chiefs drive at the Miami 11.

Those were significant positives. But they were tempered by inconsistency—costly penalties and mistakes, both mental and physical.

The game film will be a fertile field for teaching moments. There is so much that needs improvement.

Pass coverage continued to be abysmal. Patrick Mahomes completed 20 of 24 passes with an average of 10.3 yards per pass.

The defense still has not recorded a sack this season. Jordyn Brooks had one in the second quarter, but it was negated by an illegal contact call on rookie safety Michael Taaffe. The penalty gifted the Chiefs a first down at the Miami 9 and a touchdown two plays later.

Chop Robinson finally got to a quarterback, but his hit on Mahomes brought a controversial roughing-the-passer penalty. It sparked outrage from a Dolphins point of view. Especially considering Robinson tried to cushion the landing with his hands.

Meanwhile, there was no penalty called on Chiefs safety Alohi Gilman, who grabbed Achane’s helmet and spun him to the ground on the play that put the Dolphins star’s season in jeopardy.

QB Willis remains inconsistent

After Achane averaged 5.7 yards on three carries, Gordon managed only 2.4 yards on 17 attempts. Run blocking remains in need of improvement.

The Dolphins outgained the Chiefs on the ground. But scrambles by quarterback Malik Willis accounted for 56 of their 119 yards rushing.

As a passer, Willis continues to be erratic. He hit some key third-down throws, as the Dolphins converted eight of 16 third downs.

His touch on deep throws was mostly off, except for a 42-yard completion to Greg Dulcich between two safeties.

Willis completed 20 of 35 for 210 yards and a 61.1 passer rating. It should be noted that his receivers are struggling to get open, unlike the opposition against the Dolphins defense.

Ultimately, the net result was a predictable loss with encouraging signs that one of these weeks this Dolphins team will find a way to win one.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for more than four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.

 

Chop Robinson's hit on Patrick Mahomes brought a controversial roughing penalty on the Dolphins pass rusher.

Pressure Point: Injury to Achane sours encouraging performance by Dolphins

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As if the rebuilding Miami Dolphins weren’t burdened with enough adversity. Five plays into Sunday’s home opener against Kansas City they lost their best player.

After offering scant resistance on back-to-back touchdown drives by the Chiefs, it looked like another rollover for the overmatched Dolphins.

But then for the first time in three games, the NFL’s youngest team showed a backbone and made a game of it until the final minutes.

Unfortunately, star running back De’Von Achane exited with a knee injury on their opening possession. Coach Jeff Hafley delivered a grim prognosis afterward: “To be very honest with you, it does not sound very optimistic at this moment.”

The outcome never seemed in doubt, but the 24-10 final score is somewhat misleading. It was a one-score game with six minutes remaining when the Dolphins failed to convert on fourth-and-5 and turned the ball over near midfield.

It was the first time in three games the outcome remained in question in the fourth quarter.

Young Dolphins show progress in loss

In some ways, the rookie-laden Dolphins outplayed one of the top teams in the league.

Miami had a sizable advantage in time of possession, 34:21 to 25: 39, ran 18 more plays and had an edge in first downs, 19-18. Total yards were nearly even, 334 to 329 in favor of Kansas City; the Chiefs dominated in yards per play, 6.8 to 4.9.

Notably, the Dolphins were competitive and showed measurable growth.

Granted, it is a small step. Like when the temperature in South Florida stays below 90 for the first time in months.

For the Dolphins, there were positive signs to build on. They made some big plays on offense and defense.

“There was a lot of improvement today as opposed to last week,” Hafley said. “A lot of our guys are starting to believe.”

Rookies make impact for Dolphins

Among the rookies, standouts were linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and wide receiver Chris Bell.

Rodriguez had a diving interception off a deflection and also planted Kenneth Walker, the NFL’s leading rusher, for a loss.

Bell had his best day as a pro with four receptions for 67 yards, including a 44-yard catch and run off a short in route.

Left guard Kadyn Proctor had a key block on Ollie Gordon II’s 3-yard touchdown run, and gave the running back a push across the goal line.

That capped a 91-yard drive which spanned 17 plays and consumed 9 ½ minutes. They converted three third downs on the drive.

In what may have been the most impactful moment of the season for the defense so far, they stuffed Walker on third- and fourth-and-1 to stall a Chiefs drive at the Miami 11.

Those were significant positives. But they were tempered by inconsistency—costly penalties and mistakes, both mental and physical.

The game film will be a fertile field for teaching moments. There is so much that needs improvement.

Pass coverage continued to be abysmal. Patrick Mahomes completed 20 of 24 passes with an average of 10.3 yards per pass.

The defense still has not recorded a sack this season. Jordyn Brooks had one in the second quarter, but it was negated by an illegal contact call on rookie safety Michael Taaffe. The penalty gifted the Chiefs a first down at the Miami 9 and a touchdown two plays later.

Chop Robinson finally got to a quarterback, but his hit on Mahomes brought a controversial roughing-the-passer penalty. It sparked outrage from a Dolphins point of view. Especially considering Robinson tried to cushion the landing with his hands.

Meanwhile, there was no penalty called on Chiefs safety Alohi Gilman, who grabbed Achane’s helmet and spun him to the ground on the play that put the Dolphins star’s season in jeopardy.

QB Willis remains inconsistent

After Achane averaged 5.7 yards on three carries, Gordon managed only 2.4 yards on 17 attempts. Run blocking remains in need of improvement.

The Dolphins outgained the Chiefs on the ground. But scrambles by quarterback Malik Willis accounted for 56 of their 119 yards rushing.

As a passer, Willis continues to be erratic. He hit some key third-down throws, as the Dolphins converted eight of 16 third downs.

His touch on deep throws was mostly off, except for a 42-yard completion to Greg Dulcich between two safeties.

Willis completed 20 of 35 for 210 yards and a 61.1 passer rating. It should be noted that his receivers are struggling to get open, unlike the opposition against the Dolphins defense.

Ultimately, the net result was a predictable loss with encouraging signs that one of these weeks this Dolphins team will find a way to win one.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for more than four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.

Jeff Hafley discusses Dolphins' 35-13 defeat against the 49ers.

Pressure Point: Hafley faces steep challenge to overhaul Dolphins’ porous defense

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The first reaction to the Miami Dolphins’ first two games: What are the odds on a NFL team going through an entire season without ever leading in a game?

After seeing them outscored 62-26 in two blowouts on the West Coast, no one would hire their defense as crossing guards.

These guys can’t stop anyone.

They couldn’t and didn’t Sunday in a 35-13 shellacking by the 49ers. Brock Purdy led the Niners to touchdowns on five consecutive possessions.

Of course, it is salt in the wound to recall that former Dolphins general manager Chris Grier somehow thought it was a better idea to pick Skylar Thompson in the seventh round of the 2022 draft than Purdy, who went from Mr. Irrelevant to a standout pro quarterback.

That was but one of many bad choice by the previous regime that led the Dolphins to the current mess. To begin to swing momentum in the opposite direction, these Dolphins must find a way to stop an opponent from advancing and scoring at will.

Purdy, 49ers overwhelm Dolphins defense

First-year coach Jeff Hafley’s specialty is defense. So far his methods are having no positive effect.

For the second week in a row, his defense didn’t record a sack and didn’t force a punt until the fourth quarter.

They barely got a hand on Purdy all day.

“We’ve tried a lot of different things. We rushed four, we rushed six, we rushed five, we zero pressured them,” Hafley said in his postgame media session. “So as we go and take a look, we’ve got to figure out ways to do that.”

Sunday, the Dolphins were without Chop Robinson (concussion), who is touted to be their best pass rusher.

Robinson was Grier’s first selection in the 2022 draft, 21st overall. So far, he has produced 10 sacks in 33 games. Which to this point in his career screams underachiever.

He is a prime example of the questions surrounding the Dolphins defense as a whole. How many of these guys are legitimate building blocks?

Linebacker Jordyn Brooks, first-team All-Pro in 2025, is the real deal. But at 28, he’s getting long in the tooth for a long-term rebuilding project.

Dolphins rookies Taaffe, Rodriguez show potential

Defensive tackle Zach Sieler, the highest-paid player currently on the active roster with a cap hit of $11.4 million, had little impact in the first two games. He’s 31.

Defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, first-round pick in Grier’s final draft, had an undistinguished rookie season and is currently on injured reserve.

Among the first rookie crop under Hafley and new GM Jon-Erik Sullivan, linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and safety Michael Taaffe look like keepers.

Taaffe had an interception in the opener and led the Dolphins with nine tackles (five solo). It’s not a good sign for a defense, though, when a safety is the leading tackler.

So far cornerback Chris Johnson, the second of two first-round picks in Sullivan’s first draft, is notable for being fined $17,911 by the league for unnecessary roughness on a sideline tackle in the opener.

That is not to write off Johnson, who according to Hafley played better in his first game against the Raiders than generally perceived.

Dolphins face long, painful trek to respectability

The stark reality of the very ugly beginning to the Hafley-Sullivan era is that this rebuild is going to be more painstaking and drawn out than even anticipated.

The premise of building through the draft makes absolute sense. But this nightmare is tough to endure for a long-suffering fan base.

For now, any sign of progress would be welcomed. It needs to start with Hafley’s defense finding a way to make an actual stop.

It doesn’t get easier with the Chiefs coming to Hard Rock Stadium next week.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for more than four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.

Malik Willis ran for a touchdown in his first start for the Dolphins.

Pressure Point: Rebuilding Dolphins stumble in opener, face rough road to respectability

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This Miami Dolphins season of low expectations, which began with a 27-13 defeat Sunday at Las Vegas, is somewhat of a misnomer.

Certainly, it applies to matters of wins and any talk of playoff potential. Neither on the radar.

But there is every reason to begin looking for indications this woebegone franchise may have finally gotten it right with the latest general manager, coach and quarterback after so many swings and misses.

Sunday provided the first real opportunity to assess the approach of GM Jon-Erik Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley for turning this mess around. Specifically, regarding initial decisions on quarterback and the draft.

To seize on a positive, third-round wide receiver Caleb Douglas impressed the most with five catches for 94 yards. He had receptions of 25 and 30 yards to set up two field goals in the first half.

On defense, inside linebacker Jacob Rodriguez led the team with 14 tackles, five solo including an emphatic rodeo-style takedown.

Malik Willis’ debut brings mixed results

In his first start, Malik Willis showed mobility that has been lacking in Dolphins quarterbacks on a 14-yard touchdown scramble that cut the deficit to 17-13 early in the third quarter.

As a passer, Willis was pedestrian: 15 of 27 for 220 yards and a 66.9 passer rating. He was sacked five times, some of them due to inability to find an open receiver.

Willis’ touchdown run cashed in a turnover after rookie safety Michael Taaffe intercepted Kirk Cousins on the first possession of the second half.

It took only five plays following a 50-yard kickoff return for the Raiders to respond and push the lead to 24-13.

Willis was then intercepted on an overthrow, and hope for a competitive second half quickly vanished.

That sequence showcased major shortcomings of the NFL’s youngest team, which has 13 rookies.

Most concerning was abysmal run defense and the absence of a pass rush. Raiders backs were getting to the second level untouched. The recurring image was white Dolphins jerseys being pushed backward.

Las Vegas had an advantage in rushing yards of 130 to 74. Ashton Jeanty had 102 yards for Las Vegas.

The physicality that coach Jeff Hafley has stressed was conspicuously lacking.

Top pass-rusher Chop Robinson was a nonfactor as Miami failed to record a sack.

In addition, Miami’s kick coverage was awful, repeatedly giving the Raiders favorable field position to begin possessions.

Dolphins dominated at line of scrimmage

The Raiders’ dominance in every phase of the game was stunning, considering the Raiders are another rebuilding team with a new coach that is coming off a league-worst 3-14 season.

This was one of very few apparently winnable games for a young, rebuilding Miami team saddled with the second-toughest schedule based on last year’s records.

The road ahead is inhabited by far scarier beasts. The young Dolphins made the Raiders look like Super Bowl contenders.

Miami’s veterans didn’t distinguish themselves either. The three most experienced offensive linemen, Aaron Brewer, Austin Jackson and Patrick Paul, were each flagged for a major penalty.

Jaylen Wright provided a bright moment for Dolphins special teams with a 79-yard kickoff return. Hope for a rally vanished quickly in discouraging fashion. De’Von Achane was held to two short gains, Willis took a sack, and Riley Patterson missed a 41-yard field goal attempt.

Achane finds little running room

I started out focusing on the offensive line, specifically the guards: No. 1 draft pick Kadyn Proctor on the left and second-year Jonah Savaiinaea back at his college position on the right.

Beefing up the offensive line to lead a run-first offense was the offseason objective. There wasn’t much running room for Achane, who averaged 3.3 yards on 11 carries.

Safety Dante Trader Jr. also had a pick in the second half. Safety has been regarded as a trouble spot. So good work by Taffee and Trader.

Rookie cornerback Chris Johnson, second of two Dolphins 2026 first-round picks, was beaten for two touchdowns, though.

Overall, it was tough to find much encouraging from the debut of the Hafley-Sullivan era.

I am grateful for change, though. I couldn’t have watched another season of the Mike McDaniel, Chris Grier, Tua Tagovailoa triumvirate. They never failed to disappoint.

The obvious conclusion is growth for the new regime is going to be slow and painful. Unfortunately, it figures to be difficult to watch.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for more than four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.

Defining a Successful 2026 Season For the Miami Dolphins

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For the Miami Dolphins, defining a successful 2026 season is not as simple as looking at the win-loss record. Miami is entering a new era under Jeff Hafley, and the biggest question facing the franchise goes far beyond whether it can compete on Sundays.

The only true answer is whether the Dolphins finally figure out the most important position in sports: quarterback.

Everything else comes after that.

Is QB1 in Miami?

The biggest objective for Miami in 2026 should be determining whether it has its long-term answer at quarterback. If the Dolphins can confidently walk away from this season believing they have QB1, the year should be considered a success regardless of the final record.

Ideally, Miami finds that answer while still landing a top-five pick. That would give the franchise an opportunity to evaluate its quarterback situation without sacrificing the chance to add another elite prospect to the roster.

If Miami does not have its quarterback, the 2027 offseason becomes about finding one, in which case they would likely draft one with this selection.

Who Becomes Part of the Hafley Build?

Jeff Hafley is tasked with establishing a new identity in Miami, one built on accountability, toughness, and discipline. 2026 should provide the first real look at which players fit that vision.

Not every player currently on the roster will be part of the long-term plan. Some will emerge as foundational pieces, while others will prove they are better suited as short-term contributors.

The Dolphins need to identify those building blocks.

That includes finding players who can become leaders in the locker room. Miami has lacked stability and consistency for far too long, and this season should reveal who is willing to take ownership of the team and become the faces of the Hafley era.

Perhaps the biggest non-quarterback question is whether Miami can finally establish a foundation along the offensive line.

For years, the Dolphins have struggled to create consistency up front. A successful 2026 season should provide evidence that the team is finally building an offensive line capable of protecting its quarterback and creating opportunities in the run game. Miami already has one stable long term piece in Aaron Brewer, Patrick Paul’s rookie year looked promising, and Kaydyn Proctor and Jonah Savaiinea have has a good camp. Austin Jackson is potentially the odd man out at right tackle.

The offense does not need to become one of the league’s best overnight. It needs to become structurally sound.

Two receivers emerging as legitimate long-term pieces would also be a major win for the offense and give Willis a foundation to work with, enabling his full development.

Defensive Players Emerging

On defense, Miami needs at least three players to emerge as legitimate pieces of the future. They already have two key pieces in Jordyn Brooks and Zach Sieler, but them alone is simply not enough.

The Dolphins will need some young talent to begin separating themselves from the rest, and preferably across each room. Miami has two rookies who look to make an impact right away in Chris Johnson and Jacob Rodriguez, while players like Chop Robinson, Kenneth Grant, and more need to take that next step.

That is ultimately what this 2026 season should be about, finding out who belongs.

If Miami can identify its quarterback, build a competent offensive line, develop two receivers, establish leaders and see at least three defensive players emerge, then 2026 can be viewed as a successful season.

The wins will matter, but the real success will be knowing exactly what Miami has and what it still needs heading into 2027.

Miami Dolphins 2026 Mock Draft

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The Miami Dolphins are under new management for their 2026/2027 campaign. They will be under the guidance of Jon-Eric Sullivan (General Manager) and Jeff Hafley (Head Coach). The change comes after the Dolphins missed the playoffs for the second year in a row under Mike McDaniel and under new jurisdiction the Dolphins have already made multiple moves.

  • Tyreek Hill was released.
  • Tua Tagovailoa was released.
  • Bradley Chubb was released.
  • Minkah Fitzpatrick was traded to the Jets
  • Jaylen Waddle was traded to Denver for a first round pick.
  • Malik Willis was signed with the hopes of being the team’s future quarterback.

Beyond many other moves and small free agent signings and have 7 picks in the top 100 of this year’s NFL Draft which takes place in just a few days.

So, with that said, I did my one and only mock addressing the Dolphins needs with an explanation for each.

11. Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

Spencer Fano is one of the most athletic offensive tackles in the 2026 class. At 6’5½”, 311 pounds, he brings elite movement skills, loose hips, quick feet, and outstanding balance/recovery ability that allow him to mirror speed rushers and climb to the second level in the run game. He started extensively on both left and right tackle at Utah (including a standout 2025 season with zero sacks allowed and minimal pressures), showing the versatility to play either side immediately. His explosiveness in space, rangy pass protection, and ability to sustain blocks make him a natural fit for zone-heavy or movement schemes.

For the Dolphins, Fano is a premium early pick that could anchor the offensive line for years. He projects as a high-floor, high-ceiling Day 1 starter with first-round pedigree, excellent value at No. 11 to address a key area of need with immediate impact potential.

Fano could be an Austin Jackson replacement, and it could also be a way for Jackson to slide back to guard.

30. Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

Colton Hood is a physical, confident corner with ideal press-man traits and the toughness of a box safety. He plays with aggression, strong hands to jam and suffocate releases, and excellent positioning in the catch point while showing discipline in zone coverage. His athleticism and frame allow him to match up against bigger receivers, and he brings plus run support and tackling ability. Hood has shut down top college wideouts and produced interceptions/PBUs while playing with tenacity and football IQ.

Landing Hood in the second round gives Miami a tough, scheme-versatile corner who can contribute right away in man or zone looks. He bolsters the secondary with competitive physicality and starter upside, outstanding value at No. 30 for a player who profiles as a potential long-term boundary or slot option.

43. Emmanuel Pregnon, OG, Oregon

Emmanuel Pregnon is a prototypical power guard at 6’4¼”, 314 pounds with long arms, massive hands, and elite lower-body strength. A multi-year, ultra-durable starter, he excels as a downhill mauler who resets the line of scrimmage in the run game, generates displacement on angle blocks, and anchors effectively against bull rushes in pass protection. He picks up stunts well and plays with violent hands and a finishing mentality, though he is an older prospect (turning 25 as a rookie).

This pick strengthens the Dolphins’ interior offensive line with a reliable, plug-and-play run blocker who fits both power and zone concepts. At No. 43, Pregnon offers strong mid-round value as a potential immediate starter or high-level rotational piece with plus physical tools.

Pregnon would ensure that last year’s second round pick Jonah Savaiinea has adequate competition.

75. Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State

Bryce Lance (brother of former NFL QB Trey Lance) is an explosive, big-play wide receiver with outstanding size (around 6’3″, 204 pounds), elite athletic testing, and dynamic vertical ability. He tracks the ball exceptionally well downfield, wins contested catches, and creates separation with speed and route savvy. Despite coming from the FCS level, his production, ball skills, and after-the-catch potential translate well, giving him X-receiver traits and red-zone threat upside.

For Miami, Lance adds much-needed vertical speed and big-play ability to the receiving corps at a great spot in the third round. He would immediately be the first big body downfield threat receiver the Dolphins have had since DeVante Parker and poses great upside. He averaged over 20 yards per catch this past season and ran a 4.34, while showcasing good hands, and elite athleticism.

87. Jalon Kilgore, S, South Carolina

Jalon Kilgore is a versatile, big-bodied defensive back (6’1″, 210 pounds) with long arms, explosive athleticism, and experience playing outside corner, nickel/slot, and safety. He brings strong ball production (8 interceptions), physical tackling in run support, and the ability to match tight ends or bigger slots in man coverage. His size, range, and football intelligence make him a plug-and-play option in multiple defensive schemes.

Drafted late in Day 2, Kilgore adds valuable depth and positional flexibility to the Dolphins’ secondary. He has the traits to become a plus starter or do-it-all contributor in sub packages, a smart selection at No. 87 for a player with high athletic upside and scheme versatility.

90. Joshua Josephs, EDGE, Tennessee

Another Tennessee kid, Joshua Josephs brings rare length and athleticism to the edge at 6’3″, 242 pounds with an impressive wingspan. He uses his arms to disrupt runs, create pressure with burst and closing speed, and shows effort in pursuit. While his pass-rush plan can be refined and he needs to add functional strength against the run, he has produced TFLs and sacks with developmental tools that point to rotational upside.

At No. 90, this pick gives the Dolphins athletic edge depth and pass-rush potential to rotate with their front. Josephs fits as a high-motor contributor who can play on all three downs. With Chop Robinson needing to prove himself this year, Josephs can come in right away to help a weakened Dolphins pass rush.

94. Justin Joly, TE, NC State

Justin Joly is a reliable, well-rounded tight end (6’3½”, 241 pounds) with strong hands, a solid catch radius, and route-running awareness. A productive player who posted career-best numbers in recent seasons, he excels as a security blanket in the short-to-intermediate game and adds value as a blocker and after-catch mover. His workmanlike approach and versatility (including H-back alignments) make him a dependable piece.

While Miami resigned Greg Dulchich (a great move) drafting a young, second tight end who can develop as Miami starts this new era, will be huge in their future success. Joly’s QB’s posted a 102.5 passer rating when targeting him.

Joly also had a top-30 visit with Miami.

130. Charlie Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin

Charlie Demmings is a lengthy, athletic corner from the FCS ranks (6’1″, 193 pounds) with strong production, including all-conference honors, interceptions, and pass breakups. He offers ideal frame and movement skills for boundary work and tested well pre-draft, giving him developmental upside as a small-school prospect with special-teams potential.

At No. 130, Demmings is a classic Day 3 flier who brings lottery-ticket athleticism and depth to Miami’s secondary. He could carve out a roster spot through coverage ability and Miami’s overall lack of talent at the position.

Longer, more physical corners are liked by new head coach Jeff Hafley.

Demmings was ranked fifth at the combine in Athleticism Score at 81.

151. Matt Gulbin, OC, Michigan State

Matt Gulbin is a tough, experienced interior offensive lineman/center (around 6’3⅝”, 305 pounds) with starting reps at guard and center. He wins with power, leg drive in the run game, combo blocking to the second level, and solid anchoring in pass protection. While his length and lateral quickness are average, his strength, football IQ, and reliability make him a dependable depth option.

This pick bolsters the Dolphins’ offensive line depth at center/guard with a gritty, scheme-versatile veteran presence.

Gulbin is an old school offensive linemen who would provide great depth and leadership, he was the team captain at Michigan State, even though he was only there for one year.

He earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors and was graded by PFF as the No. 2 center in the FBS, with the top run-blocking grade at the position nationally.

227. Jaden Dugger, LB, Louisiana

Jaden Dugger is an oversized, athletic linebacker (nearly 6’5″, 242–250 pounds) with exceptional arm length and testing numbers from the Ragin’ Cajuns. A productive tackler with sideline-to-sideline range and untapped pass-rush potential, he brings rare physical tools and high developmental upside as a late-round sleeper who can also help on special teams.

In the seventh round, Dugger is a high-upside flier for Miami’s linebacker group. His size and athleticism give him the chance to grow into a contributor, intriguing value at No. 227 for a raw but physically gifted prospect.

Dugger was voted the top player at the East vs West Shrin Bowl and recorded 125 tackles last season. A player who has great instincts for tackling would get to learn from Jordyn Brooks, a great tackler in himself.

2025: First-team All-Sun Belt Conference. Led team with 125 tackles. Started all 13 games (13 TFLs with 4 sacks, INT, 3 PBUs, FF).

238. CJ Daniels, WR, Miami (FL)

CJ Daniels is a steady 6’2″, 202-pound outside receiver who transferred to Miami after stops at Liberty and LSU. He wins with good size, reliable ball skills in contested situations, and a willing blocking mentality. While not the most explosive, he serves as a dependable chain-mover and adds special-teams versatility.

As the final pick at No. 238, Daniels brings local familiarity and competition to the Dolphins’ wide receiver room. He profiles as a depth piece with roster potential, solid late-round value to round out the class.

I chose not to go with a quarterback as the Dolphins will likely be busy in the UDFA market, the options at each pick also weren’t the best.

Miami Dolphins Top 30 visits:

  • Denzel Boston
  • Makai Lemon
  • Mansoor DeLane
  • Ty Simpson
  • AJ Haulcy
  • Kaelon Black
  • Christen Miller
  • R Mason Thomas
  • Justin Joly
  • Zion Young
  • Kayden McDonald
  • KC Concepcion
  • Jordan Hudson
  • Hezekiah Masses
  • Treydan Stukes
  • Ted Hurst
  • Taylen Green
  • Le’Veon Moss
  • Charles Demmings
  • Travis Burke
  • Several Canes and former SoFlo HS prospects counted as Local Visits

Other Notes and Opinions

  • Miami should consider trading down with either first round pick, especially if they receive an offer they can’t pass up.
  • I am really high on Ted Hurst
  • Is there any chance Bain or Styles fall to 11?
  • Will they stay true to “building from the inside-out”

 

The Mike McDaniel Firing Points to a Dolphins Head Coach Decision

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After another losing season, Mike McDaniel has been fired by the Miami Dolphins, ending a Dolphins era filled with what ifs, and what could have beens.

Stephen Ross and Mike McDaniel released the following statements:

Statement from Dolphins Chairman and Owner Stephen M. Ross:

“After careful evaluation and extensive discussions since the season ended, I have made the decision that our organization is in need of comprehensive change. I informed Mike McDaniel this morning that he has been relieved of his duties as head coach. I love Mike and want to thank him for his hard work, commitment, and the energy he brought to our organization. Mike is an incredibly creative football mind whose passion for the game and his players was evident every day. I wish him and his family the best moving forward.”

Statement from Mike McDaniel:

“Coaching this team and being a part of this great franchise has been the honor of a lifetime. When I took this job, I had a vision of a team that was bonded together and played with passion and energy on the path to winning championships. I gave everything I had for that goal. I am disappointed, especially for the fans, that we did not have better results on the field, but I am grateful for every coach, player, and staff member who poured themselves into that vision alongside me.

I’m grateful to Stephen Ross for the opportunity he gave me, a little known coach at the time when he hired me. Most of all I’m thankful to my wife Katie and daughter Ayla for their unending love and support. I love this game, the people and relationships that are a part of it, and I will forever cherish my time in Miami.”

So why fire McDaniel, well, there are some high value, proven head coaches on the market now.

I had called for McDaniel’s firing in a recent article, here Mike McDaniel Should Not Return as the Dolphins Head Coach – Five Reasons Sports Network. Discussing the late season fallouts, no more half measures, the inability to win without Tua, and many other reasons. But I understood a world where you kept McDaniel for another year, to prove himself, rather than turning to a rookie head coach.

Well now the story is different, with two high profile head coaching candidates available; John Harbaugh and Kevin Stefanski.

Stefanski is a two time coach of the year, and a culture builder, while Harbaugh is a coach of the year, and Super Bowl Champion.

McDaniel’s job appeared safe, at least a few days ago when McDaniel stated he would be back in 2026:

“My understanding is I’m the coach of the Miami Dolphins until told otherwise… the job itself is enough to worry about, so worrying about whether it’s yours, that’s not part of the formula. I think all of us in the Miami Dolphins organization, especially with ownership, are not happy with the results. They’re not up to the standard. So my sole focus each hour you can reach me in the foreseeable mini hours is correcting and improving something that’s not good enough right now.”

But now that’s not the case, and Stephen Ross must go all in on one of these two candidates, to build a new culture in Miami, to put Miami back on the map.

I expect a coaching decision to potentially be made a little later –most importantly after a General Manger is hired– as there are potentially other jobs that could open, including Miami’s Division rival Buffalo Bills.

Harbaugh is my choice in Miami, and I don’t think Ross would have fired McDaniel if the Dolphins weren’t at least going after a top coaching candidate.

Nonetheless, an era is closed in Miami, and it’s time to bring in a coach to end this playoff –and Super Bowl– win drought.

Special Teams, Special History: Jake Bailey and Riley Patterson Rewrite Dolphins Records

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After Jake Bailey disappointed in his first season and Jason Sanders went down, it appeared the Dolphins special team’s unit had taken a hit, but it actually ended in historical fashion for the Miami Dolphins. Although the Dolphins season didn’t go the way they wanted, their special teams’ leaders Jake Bailey and Riley Patterson made the most of their opportunities.

Riley Patterson’s Success and Next Years Question

Riley Patterson finished 2025 with a mark of 27/29, good for 93.1 percent, the most accurate field goal kicking season in Dolphin’s history. Patterson was signed early in the year when Jason Sanders went down and filled the All-Pro kickers shoes quite nicely.

Patterson missed only two kicks, and tops Dolphin’s kickers Dan Carpenter, Olindo Mare, and Pete Stoyanovich for the best kicking season in Dolphin’s history.

So, after a great year, who do the Dolphins bring back for 2026, their All-Pro kicker, or Riley Patterson who had the best year of his career and in Dolphin’s history. Patterson has his range issues — career long of 54 and struggles from distance– but his accuracy can’t be debated.

The Dolphins should bring back whoever is the cheaper contract and certainly has a good problem on their hands in the kicking department.

Jake Bailey Sets Another Record

Jake Bailey finished the Dolphins season with a net punting average of 42.6 yards, the best punting season in Dolphin’s history. Bailey was a former All-Pro and found his footing after an average first year in Miami. Bailey broke the Miami Dolphins record for net punting average, surpassing Brandon Fields. Bailey only had three touchbacks and certainly should be considered as the teams 2026 punter.

Both are unrestricted free agents this season and have forever marked themselves in Dolphins’ history. If the Dolphins move on from Sanders, Patterson should certainly be the first option, and Miami should no doubt bring Jake Bailey, the former All-Pro back.

 

Miami had a lot of problems this season; Bailey and Patterson being the furthest from them.

The Dolphins are 35-35 in four seasons under Mike McDaniel, including 0-2 in playoffs.

Pressure Point: Dolphins should hire GM before deciding on McDaniel

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Now that another Miami Dolphins season has been flushed and soon to be forgotten, attention turns to a momentous offseason.

First, the postmortem: A season prefaced by owner Steve Ross as no excuse for failure, ended Sunday as it began with a one-sided defeat on the road, 38-10 to the playoff-bound Patriots.

The final tally was 7-10 — a second consecutive season without a trip to the playoffs and 25 years since their last playoff win.

Where does this woebegone franchise go from here, regarding coach Mike McDaniel and hiring of the next general manager?

An indication could come quickly, depending on what Ross says — or doesn’t say — in the next few days.

Insider reports mostly point to McDaniel returning, an opinion not supported by many long-suffering Dolphins fans. Others suggest it’s a coin flip, which seems about right with this team’s record of decision making.

In my view, the season was an embarrassment and starting fresh with a new general manager and coaching staff is warranted.

Ross has failed Dolphins in leadership hiring

Ross, 85, has repeatedly screwed the pooch in steering the Dolphins since taking over controlling interest from H. Wayne Huizenga in 2009.

His expertise is in real estate and development, and he has excelled in expanding facilities in and around Hard Rock Stadium and bringing marquee events to South Florida. As steward of an NFL team, his instincts have been misplaced and he has steered the Dolphins franchise farther into the weeds that it was when he took over.

On the surface, Ross’ hiring of Hall of Fame quarterback and ESPN broadcaster Troy Aikman as a consultant in the process of hiring a general manager seems encouraging.

Yes, bring in perspective from outside the organization. Aikman is well connected in the NFL.

Seems like a good idea, but Ross has used consultants before, Bill Parcells and Mike Tannenbaum among them. Yet he has never gotten the leadership of the football operation right, in the front office or on the field.

But, sure, utilizing Aikman’s knowledge and relationships inside the league makes sense, might help.

What doesn’t make sense is the backdoor approach of seeking a general manager with a coach already in place. Logically, an experienced executive coming from outside the organization would want to, and likely insist on, choosing the coach. Unless that individual has previously worked with McDaniel and favors keeping him, which is possible.

Dolphins’ next GM should be involved in decision on coach

Ross has followed this dubious course before. In 2014, he hired Dennis Hickey to his first and only GM post to work with coach Joe Philbin and then-executive vice president Dawn Aponte. Two other candidates the Dolphins sought turned down the job, reportedly questioning the team’s power structure, and a third declined a final interview.

How did that work out? Philbin was fired early in 2015 and Hickey was out at the end of that season.

Fast forward a decade, and Ross is again looking for a GM who may have to work with another coach of dubious achievement.

That is to the dismay of Dolphins fans, who look at McDaniel’s record and question where he has taken the team that his failed predecessors this century haven’t.

In four seasons under McDaniel, the Dolphins are 35-35, including first-round playoff losses in the first two and no postseason appearances in the past two.

As for year 4, a run of five wins in six games doesn’t make up for losing six of the first seven, which doomed the season from the start.

Ross fired GM Chris Grier at midseason. Certainly, it was time to part ways with Grier, who succeeded Hickey in 2016 and will be remembered notoriously for selecting Tua Tagovailoa over Justin Herbert with the fifth overall pick in the 2020 draft.

Not to overlook the ridiculous contract Grier awarded (with Ross’ blessing) Tagovailoa, which will severely limit the next general manager’s maneuverability under the salary cap.

Nonetheless, a case could be made that Grier’s work over the past 12 months was more positive than McDaniel’s.

All eight of Grier’s 2025 draft picks are on the roster and contributed to varying degrees as rookies: quarterback Quinn Ewers (a seventh-round pick), defensive tackles Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers, guard Jonah Savaiinaea, cornerback Jason Marshall Jr., safety Dante Trader Jr. and running back Ollie Gordon II. The overall quality and future of the group is debatable, though; Savaiinaea has been one of the worst starters at any position in the NFL this season.

Dolphins treading water under McDaniel

Ross extended McDaniel’s contract through 2028 and is reportedly still enamored with the quirky coach.

McDaniel has been hailed as an offensive visionary, particularly during his first two seasons with the Dolphins. The past two, not so much, though the reputation has generally stuck with him.

I think his main strength is with the run game, though he never solved the Dolphins’ woes in short-yardage situations.

He coaxed two strong seasons out of Tagovailoa, whose perplexing decline this season led to his benching with three games to go and has likely ended his tenure with Miami.

However, Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner’s video breakdown of the pass plays in Tagovailoa’s final start in a 28-15 loss to the Steelers are insightful.

Most interesting were Warner’s comments about the design of the pass patterns that receivers ran. On many of the plays the routes weren’t, in his opinion, structured in a way to put stress on the defense and provide Tua with an open receiver to throw to.

Warner explained how those plays could have been designed to achieve that objective.

Warner’s conclusions were more of an indictment of McDaniel’s play design than Tua’s play as quarterback.

Veteran coaches may become available

One argument for retaining McDaniel is to see what he can do with a different quarterback. The three-week experiment with Ewers yielded some positive but was not decisive. A top priority for the new GM will be upgrading that position.

Whoever gets the job should also be involved in the decision on the head coach.

There’s no reason to make a quick jump to that conclusion. Especially before seeing who may become available. The list of available coaches could be lengthy and includes some intriguing names.

On Sunday, NFL insider Adam Schefter identified three prominent coaches who might get the ax: Raiders’ Pete Carroll, longtime Ravens coach John Harbaugh and the Browns’ Kevin Stefanski.

The next Dolphins general manager should have a voice in determining whether McDaniel should also be on that list.

Craig Davis has covered South Florida sports and teams, including the Dolphins, for more than four decades. Follow him on the site formerly known as Twitter @CraigDavisRuns.