With Dolphins’ rookie minicamp approaching, here are notable position battles
It’s the moment that coach Jeff Hafley has waited for quite some time.
“I’m just excited to get around these guys and coach these guys,” Hafley said, later adding that “it gets lonely in the office after a while when there’s not many players walking around and this is what we do, and this is what I love is to be around these guys and connect with these players.”
When the Dolphins’ rookie minicamp begins Friday, some of the biggest questions surrounding the franchise will begin to be answered. What ultimately matters, however, is how many of these guys will be starters.
“We’ve got a lot of guys here that are going to help us, that are going to surprise some people, if you will, that will play above what maybe the expectations are,” general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said. “The truth of the matter is we have very few established players on this roster, so this draft class will have an opportunity to come in here and play soon, play quick.”
The most likely duo that will start will be the two first-round picks in offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor and cornerback Chris Johnson. Taken No. 12 and 27, respectively. Proctor will slide in at left guard, per Sullivan, who added that he will also line up at tackle in practice “because we always like to cross-train.”
“I think probably Day 1, I think he’s probably lining up at left guard,” Sullivan told WQAM’s Joe Rose. “We will fortify and move Jonah [Savaiinaea] to the right side and off we go. But it’s moving pieces all the time. We want to get the best five out there. That’s probably how it looks Day 1, and we’ll go from there.”
Although Proctor played left tackle throughout his three-year career at Alabama, the thought is that a transition that keeps him on the same side would likely be easier. He very well might be the right tackle of the future depending on what happens to Austin Jackson, yet that’s a problem for 2027.
“We’ll just do what we need to do to get the best five out there,” Sullivan said. “The unique thing about him is he can line up in all those spots, and you feel really good about it.”
Then comes Johnson. A standout at San Diego State, Johnson was the ideal candidate that Hafley believed he could potentially build his secondary through.
“This was one of my favorite guys in the draft that when we started talking about him, and it came time to pick him, I would not have been surprised if he was taken earlier than we took him,” Hafley said of Johnson, praising his size and length. “So he can win at those levels. I’m excited to coach him.”
With neither of the two outside cornerback spots locked down, Johnson will surely have to compete. The other options — Darrell Baker Jr., Ethan Bonner, Miles Battle, Storm Duck, JuJu Brents, Alex Austin, Marco Wilson and Jason Marshall Jr. — might as well just go for the spot opposite of Johnson.
“ I don’t really care about any of the other media outlets, but like you said, it’s definitely like something to prove,” Johnson said. “People that are out there are doubting, but there’s always people that doubt you, so I’m always going to remain hungry regardless.”
Another position on the back end that’s up for grabs will be safety. The potential rookie options include Michael Taaffe and maybe even Kyle Louis, an inside linebacker whose excellent coverage chops begs whether he could line up at safety. Though it should be noted that Louis would prefer to spend the majority of hist time at linebacker, his openness to the big nickel role could mean that he takes some additional reps on the back end.
“My best tangible skill is my coverage, my instincts,” Louis said. “Not just man-on-man, but zone coverage as well, match coverage.”
Move up one level on defense to inside linebacker, and you will find another position battle for who will line up beside the All-Pro in Jordyn Brooks. Tyrel Dodson, who racked up more than 100 total tackles, five sacks and one pick as a starter in 2025, likely has the advantage based solely on experience. That said, Jacob Rodriguez, the most decorated linebacker in college football this past season, will likely challenge Dodson from Day 1.
“The tape speaks for itself, he’s all over the field,” Sullivan said. “He makes plays everywhere. His instincts are second to none. He can play in space, on third downs, and he’s going to help this football team. But he’s a leader. He’s a green dot guy. He’ll call the defense in time.”
Sure, other position battles will take place among the rookies. Chris Douglas, a third-round pick out of Texas Tech, could potentially vie for a starting receiver spot. The same goes for Chris Bell — that is, when he finally recovers from his torn ACL. Will Kacmarek could immediately replace Julian Hill, now a New England Patriot, as the Dolphins’ blocking tight end.
Answers to all this and more will start to reveal themselves come Friday.
