Move to 1B Working Out for Marlins’ Connor Norby

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MIAMI — Miami Marlins first baseman Connor Norby has been a jack of all trades ever since he turned pro. He was considered one of the premier second-base prospects in the Baltimore Orioles organization but also played numerous games in the outfield. 

The Marlins acquired the 25-year-old along with Kyle Stowers in a trade for Trevor Rogers in 2024 and were immediately shifted to third base, a transition he said was “not easy.”

“Learning going from second to third was extremely difficult,” Norby said. “I felt like I made a lot of good strides compared to the first month, six weeks that I had over there at the end of 2024.”

Norby posted a .924 fielding percentage during 30 games at third base in 2024 and improved to .954 through 82 games last year. He said he “worked really hard at third this spring,” knowing that he is competing for a full-time spot with a recipient of a Gold Glove as a utility fielder. He welcomed adding first base to his list of positions because the true goal is to “be in the lineup every day and putting up consistent at-bats and having my bat in the lineup.”

“I feel pretty good over there,” Norby said. “I almost treat it pretty much like second base. I just have to cover the base, and I think that’s really helped me a lot. Obviously, we have a really good second baseman, so that helps me even more. He covers a lot of ground, and the transition has been, honestly, not as bad, not as tough as I thought it would be.”

At a new position, 2026 has shaped up to be Norby’s best with a glove, turning in a .985 fielding percentage with two errors in 18 games at first base. It’s the first year that he has a positive run value (1). Norby said it’s about “being comfortable with your feet around the base,” and “knowing how our guys throw.”

“That’s more so the thing that I’m working through the most and getting as comfortable as I can,” Norby said. “But overall, I feel great.”

 The Marlins (15-16) return home for a 10-game homestand, starting with a four-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Dealing with physicality is a problem for the Cleveland Cavaliers

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The Cleveland Cavaliers haven’t advanced to a Conference Finals and Finals since 2018, which was LeBron James’ last year with them.

 

They are tied with the Toronto Raptors and Game 5 is in Cleveland on Wednesday. The stakes couldn’t be higher for the Cavs in year four of the Donovan Mitchell experience. Coach Kenny Atkinson says his most important role is making sure his players don’t get too high or too low.

 

In this series, defense and physicality have been the story. The Raptors are a long, fast and athletic team, and while the Cavs are more talented, they are smaller at times and some of their big guys are not significantly powerful, despite their skills.

 

No team has lost at home yet. If that trend continues, the Raptors won’t make it out of the first round, but they’ve tested the Wine and Gold in ways that don’t make it encouraging for their prospects against the Orlando Magic or Detroit Pistons. They’ve had trouble guarding Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Collin Murray-Boyles, and they are shooting between 52.3 and 65.9 percent against Cleveland. They are not a super trio but it’s a bad matchup for the Cavs. At some instances it looks like the Cavs are a team of super middleweights competing against light heavyweights. 

 

The Magic are now dealing with Franz Wagner’s calf injury, but they still have Paolo Banchero and Desmond Bane, two strong, dynamic scorers. The Pistons are down 3-1 in that series and while it looks bleak, it’s not over. If they manage to beat the Magic, they’ll be affected by not having a high-level shot creator next to Cunningham, but the way he, Ausar Thompson, Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart can pressure opponents should not be underestimated.  They’ve been the biggest reasons why the Magic are shooting 38.7 percent in the series.

 

Notably, every winner of Game 1 in the first round of the 2025 playoffs won their series. The only team that won Game 1 in this year’s postseason that is behind is the Denver Nuggets, down 3-2 to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Yet most importantly, since 1984, the winner of a Game 5 when a series is tied a 2-2 advances 81.5 percent of the time, per the NBA’s Facts and Figures.

 

Quick note on the San Antonio Spurs 

 

The Spurs finished off the Portland Trail Blazers in five games. Keep in mind that they missed Victor Wembanyama from early in Game 2’s loss because of a nasty concussion, and won the next one without him on the road, coming back from down 15 points with 17 minutes left in Game 3. They couldn’t be stopped when Wemby came back and now they are sitting pretty, waiting for the winners of the Denver- Minnesota series. 

 

The Nuggets have the mighty Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray, but the team struggles to defend the perimeter, and their coverages are even more compromised with Aaron Gordon’s calf injury. And the Timberwolves lost Donte DiVincenzo to a torn Achilles tendon, and it’s unclear when Anthony Edwards will be back after hyperextending his left knee. Edwards was already dealing with knee trouble on the right side. 

 

Regardless of who the Spurs see, they will have the edge.

 



Liam Hicks Emerging as Marlins Breakout Candidate

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Liam Hicks has quickly turned into the Miami Marlins’ next breakout candidate.

The second-year catcher hit his sixth home run of the season in the Marlins 5-4 road loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. He hit six home runs through 119 games as a rookie last year.

Interestingly enough, the most home runs Hicks has hit in a season as a minor leaguer was also six.

“Liam is physically a different individual,” Marlins manager Clayton McCullough said. “He’s hitting the ball much more.”

Hicks has collected base hits in 11 of his last 13 games. With a .311 batting average so far this season (28-for-90), Hicks is tied with Atlanta Braves catcher Drake Baldwin for the highest average among qualified catchers in baseball.

With 27 RBI this season, Hicks leads the Marlins in the category and is second in the big leagues, behind only Cincinnati Reds rookie first baseman and Miami native Sal Stewart (29).

“Liam’s a good hitter,” McCullough said. “He has all the ingredients, the ability to control the strike zone, make a ton of contact, and use the whole field.”

Hicks entered Monday leading MLB in whiff percentage (6.4), in addition to ranking second in strikeout percentage (6.3), and third in squared-up swing percentage (40.3), per Baseball Savant.

Hicks was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the ninth round out of Arkansas State in 2021. He was part of a 2024 midseason trade with the Detroit Tigers for veteran catcher Carson Kelly. He was selected by the Marlins in the Rule 5 Draft that year and made the Opening Day Roster last year for his MLB Debut.

“Getting hits in the big leagues is hard,” McCullough said. “It’s probably never been harder just to get a base hit than it is right now. For us, it’s an important thing. You make a lot of contact.”

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Orlando Magic are close to making history as they have the Detroit Pistons on the ropes

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The Orlando Magic are on the verge of becoming the seventh team in NBA history to beat the first seed as the eighth. Game 4 easily became one of the most important in franchise history considering the stakes and how they handled the rough times that could have flipped the edge like a light switch. 

 

Both defenses were implacable, and as a result, 3-point makes dropped few and far between, and each felt like body shots. 

 

It was obvious the game was headed for classic territory when the Pistons shook off five straight turnovers and quickly climbed out of a 12-point ditch. Franz Wagner and Desmond Bane carried the Magic to a two-point lead at halftime, but the former only played close to seven more minutes because of a calf issue. The third period was also like a mud-wrestling match with bodies bumping and coverages yielding close to nothing. 

 

Wagner’s absence forced Jamal Cain, who had his contract converted to a standard from a two-way on March 20, to step up big-time by playing 17 second-half minutes. He jammed the dunk of the playoffs (so far) by coming up court, viciously baptizing Jalen Duren, and had a mean putback late in the game that were emotional plays that lifted the team.

 

His pressure on-ball and as a helper made him more reliable than Anthony Black and Tristan da Silva, who are not bad defenders but lack Cain’s extra level of physicality. 

 

 Bane had missed his first four shots of the fourth quarter, but redeemed himself and rescued the team, dropping a 29-foot bank-triple on a screen-roll over Isaiah Stewart. Only 76 seconds remained and the Magic held on to their six-point lead to take a gripping 3-1 advantage.

 

The series now returns to Detroit. Keep in mind that the Pistons won 15 more regular-season games yet they tied 2-2 against each other before the playoffs. Notably, Banchero missed one win and Wagner missed the other, but the Pistons did not have Cade Cunningham for the April 6 game because he was recovering from a collapsed lung.

 

The Magic had a turbulent regular season, but turned into the team they were expected to be at the right time. They had belief in themselves and a lot credit goes to coach Jamahl Mosley, whose seat has been boiling since November. He texted a friend of his before Game 1 that they were going to take it, not steal it, and that’s exactly what they did. They then atoned for getting smacked around in the second half of Game 2 by delivering the two most important wins of the season.

 

The Pistons haven’t been able to rattle the Magic because the latter can match their brutishness. That should terrify Detroit that it was true even with Wagner out. His status is in question for the remainder of the series, but the other side has a glaring issue, too: There is not enough shot creation next to Cunningham, forcing him to do too much. Eight of his team’s 20 turnovers were his.

 

The other eighth seeds to upstage the first were the 1994 Denver Nuggets, 1999 New York Knicks, 2007 Golden State Warriors, 2011 Memphis Grizzlies, 2012 Philadelphia 76ers and 2023 Miami Heat. Notably, the Magic are doing it without the favorites facing a significant injury to their best player. 

 

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Nuggets got humbled on tour and are close to flatlining

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The Nuggets’ road trip to Minnesota was a failure, and they fell 3-1, on the verge of an early vacation, at the fangs of the Timberwolves. Keep in mind that Donte DiVicenzo tore his Achilles tendon a few minutes into the game, and Anthony Edwards couldn’t proceed in the second half after grotesquely hyperextending his left knee.

 

The Nuggets had Aaron Gordon, who missed Game 3, back wounded with a calf injury. He played 23 minutes and it was 23 minutes too long because he rarely showed any burst to pressure the ball or had lift on his legs to attack. 

 

Ayo Dosunmu gutted the Nuggets with 43 bench points on 76.5 percent shooting and was the main story of the game, and Rudy Gobert did another fine job of slowing down Nikola Jokić.

 

Yet, late-game foolishness is partially overshadowing the outcome: Jokić didn’t like that their gracious hosts were going to run up the score, so he charged at Jaden McDaniels by the sideline, getting in his personal space and forcing him to put his hands up to shove. Naturally, the Timberwolves’ bench being steps away was not pleased, coming forward, which is a violation that causes a suspension. Yet the NBA has not always enforced it.

 

Complaining about the score is soft, especially when the king of drop coverage hurts his team, being such a poor and unwilling pick-and-roll defender. Keep in mind that he’s also been way below standards on offense, too, making only 39.1 percent of attempts, being uncareful and not the same volume of playmaker, in part because of how hounding the Wolves have been on his teammates.

 

It’s unclear how the new head of NBA discipline James Jones will rule, but he should suspend Jokić. If someone did what he did to another on the sidewalk or in another public place in front of law-enforcement, good chance they’re getting booked with battery.  Athletes shouldn’t get away with doing things normal people can’t for the sake of entertainment or somehow them being special. 

 

One could even interpret the situation as him trying to be a martyr by causing a reaction from Minnesota’s bench. Still, the potential for making things worse in that regard should be weighted against him in the verdict. 

 

Jokić’s behavior was unbecoming of a champion, especially one of his status. 

 

Coach David Adelman thinks “it’s hilarious that the narrative is offense doesn’t matter. If you shoot 24 percent in the second half, it’s hard to win.” Of course it matters, but he should more worried about how his team knew they couldn’t hang with the Wolves.

 

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: First round notes of the West playoffs

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Pity those who are missing the action because the playoffs have been terrific, as usual. And respect to those who are sacrificing sleep to not miss a moment.

The playoffs reveal who teams really are, and for many fans, it’s a gratifying or humbling experience.

Let’s review what has stood out on the West side.

Thunder v. Suns

 

Oklahoma City has enough horsepower to get by the Phoenix Suns, but they’ll sweat a bit more in the upcoming games now that Jalen Williams is out with a left hamstring injury. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will take on more playmaking duties, but they’ll need to find some relief ball-handling in Alex Caruso or Ajax Mitchell by the time next round starts.

The Thunder have averaged 24 more points per game than Phoenix through the first two outings.

 

The Spurs’ depth is being tested without Wembanyama

 

Victor Wembanyama crash-landed through the lane with his face absorbing the worst of the contact in the Spurs’ Game 2 loss at home to the Portland Trail Blazers. Aside from it being a surprise the fall didn’t knock him out, he somehow kept his teeth. He was concussed and his status going forward is unclear.

 

The game developed into a track meet, and the Spurs dropped a 14-point lead in the fourth quarter because of an inability to cover the 3-point line. Without Wemby, the Trail Blazers have no fear of going into the lane for the bucket or kick-out pass. Luke Kornet and rookie Carter Bryant will have to survive big minutes as the big men when they are less potent than whoever Portland deploys.

 

And Wemby’s absence creates a need for more scoring. De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle will be expected to carry most of the load.

 

Keep in mind that former Spur, Tiago Splitter, is the coach on the other side. And Scoot Henderson, the third pick in the 2023 draft is turning into the player many expected him to be. He averaged 14.2 points on 41.8 percent shooting in 30 regular-season games and those numbers have jumped to 24.5 points per game on 64.3 percent accuracy as the series is tied at 1-1. Of course, maintaining that level is not possible, but no player has raised their stock more than him so far in the early action.

 

Nuggets are in danger against the Timberwolves

 

Calf and hamstring injuries have plagued Aaron Gordon over the last two years, and the former is bothering him again, which caused him to miss Game 3 in Minnesota. The team was soft on the inside without him because they got ravaged by drive-bys. It doesn’t help them that the Wolves can target Nikola Jokić when they want through screen rolls, either.

 

The Nuggets started Spencer Jones in Gordon’s place, but he lacks the two-way punch. Meanwhile, the team isn’t getting enough from Christian Braun and Cam Johnson, placing more weight on Jamal Murray and Jokić’s shoulders.

 

The Timberwolves’ defense reaches a higher level, and when their ball movement is working like it has over the last two games, they are the superior team.

 

Lakers v. Rockets

 

For those who enjoy fine wine, this is the series for them because LeBron James is averaging nearly a triple-double, in his 23rd season, as the Los Angeles Lakers have taken a 2-0 lead over the Houston Rockets. Luka Dončić (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (strained oblique), the team’s first and third best players, haven’t played since April 2. Reaves is questionable to return for Game 3 in Houston on Friday.

 

One wonders how potent the Lakers can be if they manage to get Dončić, Reaves and James all together for this postseason.

 

Kevin Durant missed the series opener for the Rockets with a knee injury, and is questionable for Game 3 with an ankle sprain.

 

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Jaden McDaniels sends a message to the Nuggets after Minnesota’s Game 2 win

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Remember when Michael Jordan, via propagandadized Last Dance tapes, said the sign of a good man is when he can talk trash when they are tied or down?

 

Well, Jaden McDaniels coldly taunted the Nuggets after the Minnesota Timberwolves’ epic road comeback that tied round one (1-1). He has no respect for their defense, and he called players out by name when answering questions in the locker room.

 

“Go at  [Nikola] Jokić, Jamal [Murray], all the bad defenders. Tim Hardaway [Jr.], Cam Johnson, Aaron Gordon, their whole team.”

 

Woah — if that’s not the wake up call the Nuggets need, then they’ll find themselves as a pile of bones in the Wolves’ den.

 

Jokić was hunted, and the team didn’t pressure enough catches behind the 3-point line. It would be one thing if McDaniels’ comments came from someone who didn’t have too much experience playing Denver in the playoffs. But he was already a big factor on a team that beat them in 2024. He didn’t play in their first-round series in 2023, which Denver won, because he foolishly broke his hand by punching a wall before the playoffs started. Rest assured he knows exactly what the Nuggets are made of.

 

So far, McDaniels has been Minnesota’s fourth best player in the series plus third-leading scorer (15 points on 44.8 percent shooting), and he’s been better than every opponent not named Jokić and Murray. It doesn’t help Denver either that Peyton Watson, who hasn’t played since April 1 after re-triggering his hamstring injury, hasn’t been available to chase McDaniels around or make him backpedal.

 

Circumstances like Watson’s, Jonas Valančiūnas not being a dependable backup, and Spencer Jones being caught in too many mismatches, have turned coach David Adelman into Michael Malone since he doesn’t trust the bench. As a result, Murray and Jokić are leading the series in minutes at 41.1 and 40.2. 

 

 

As the series shifts to Minnesota, the Nuggets need more scoring out of Gordon, even if it means he’s a release valve, waiting for the kick-out pass. On top of that, Jokić has only made 18.8 percent of attempts outside of the lane through two games. Plenty of those are great looks, and he needs to be sharper if he wants to lead this team to the next round because they can’t afford for his offense to be below standard with how much of a liability he is on the other side.

 

Keep in mind that Anthony Edwards is also shooting 21.4 percent on shots outside of the paint for Minnesota. The Nuggets will be in even bigger trouble if he snaps out of it before Jokić.



Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards Emerging as Marlins Next Great Middle Infield Duo

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It’s ironic that while the Miami Marlins are bringing back the uniforms and colors of a glorified past, they are sporting the next iconic middle infield duo.

Like Luis Castillo-Alex Gonzalez and Dan Uggla-Hanley Ramirez before them, Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards are emerging from low-key acquisitions as key parts of the Marlins lineup.

Lopez came to the Marlins in 2024 as a waiver claim. Just as the Marlins were slowly trading away pieces of their most recent playoff team, Lopez emerged as an intriguing rookie with a .270 batting average, 20 stolen bases, and elite defense at second base.

His bat has taken the next step this year, batting .337 with a .945 OPS through 22 games. He was a double shy of a cycle last Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Marlins manager Clayton McCullough says Lopez is taking “less empty at-bats,” which is leading to better results.

“He’s a physically strong guy,” McCullough said of Lopez. “Maybe it doesn’t appear that way. It’s a really compact body. He’s strong. He’s got strong hands. There’s speed in his bat. So I think it’s not, to me, that completely shocking, that we’re seeing some of this.”

Around the same time, Edwards was also emerging alongside Lopez, batting .328 with 31 stolen bases in 70 games. Edwards didn’t replicate those numbers through the course of a full season in 2025 but his start to this season (.341/.423/.482) is signaling a return to his breakout season.

Edwards said during an interview with Five Reasons contributor Tyler Boronski that he has “been swinging at good pitches for the most part” and doesn’t feel the need to enter new seasons with statistical goals.

“I did that in years past and it’s kind of put pressure on myself to feel like I need to hit certain numbers,” Edwards said. “My goal this year is to play my game do my best every day and at the end of the year, I’ll look up and be happy with what I got.”

Unlike middle infield duos of the Marlins’ past, Edwards and Lopez switched positions and benefited from the adjustment.

“Otto has a bigger arm than me,” Edwards said. “We’re both really good defenders and pretty athletic so it’s a treat to play infield with him for parts of three years.”

Edwards came to Miami in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays leading up to the 2023 season. He was part of the Marlins’ fourth postseason appearance in franchise history (second since 2020) but became a key part of the rapid rebuild.

“We had a bit of an older team in 23 and now we’re one of the younger teams in the league,” Edwards said. “We made the playoffs that year and we got a good team this year, so looking to do the same this year. It’s been a lot of turnover but it’s a great group that we have here. It’s been a treat to come to the field with these guys and to suit up with them and spend time in the clubhouse. We got a great group.”

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Nuggets dropped Game 2 as Jokić and Murray went cold in the fourth quarter

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It didn’t take long for Nuggets versus Timberwolves to become a special series. This is the third meeting in the last four years, which has built up animosity and on-court respect, and Game 2 should be remembered as a classic.

 

The Wolves took a bit longer to join the party at Ball Arena, going down 19 points in the first half as Jamal Murray pieced them up from short, middle and long range, plus they fouled three 3-point shots. They followed up cranking up their pressure and ball movement, which put snipers in rhythm, while Anthony Edwards and Julius Randle broke past defenders to the cup. 

 

It was a stalemate at intermission, and Nikola Jokić, who had a dormant first half, was the Terminator in the third quarter, making hooks, layups and a 3-pointer while carving up schemes with his passing. Such activities usually avert a crisis, but the Wolves kept hanging around because that was the Nuggets’ best shot of the game. 

 

Jokić and Murray subsequently went colder than blizzard as the outcome hung in the balance. Rudy Gobert, the four-time Defensive Player of the Year, deserves tons of props for slowing down Jokić to one of eight attempts, and he jammed a mean putback over him with two minutes left. On top of that, Naz Reid, Jaden McDaniels and Donte DiVincenzo’s offensive labor crushed Denver’s spirit. 

 

It gets worse. The Nuggets were down three points after Randle buried two freebies with 19 seconds left. Murray then ran a screen-roll with Jokić, but the Wolves were well prepared covering the arc, and he pulled up inside it, bricking it, which turned into DiVincenzo’s fastbreak dunk to close the curtains. 

 

The Nuggets lost 119-114 after seven ties and 15 lead changes. They got massacred in the trenches, as the Wolves scored 20 second-chance points to their three. Additionally, it didn’t help them that they stopped trusting Aaron Gordon. He’s one of the NBA’s most macho players, being irrepressible at close range so he should have got more touches. 

 

There’s no doubt, either, the epic comeback brought back memories to Nuggets players and supporters of when the Timberwolves came back from down 20 points to eliminate them in Game 7 two years ago in round two. One wonders how psychologically damaging it’ll be for the Nuggets that this team stays on them like a shadow. 

 

They now find themselves in the danger zone with home court flipping to Minnesota since Edwards can be much better from 3-point range, and the Wolves are not typically bad enough to blank 11 free throws, too (63.3 percent). Since coach David Adelman is not relying on the bench outside of Tim Hardaway Jr., and Bruce Brown, more weight is on the shoulders of the team’s top three to deliver.



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”