Kelly: A vision for all 13 of the Dolphins’ draftees | Opinion
Having a vision for the draft class, giving the rookies a clear picture of their expectations, often leads to success for NFL newcomers.
Here is a vision of the roles the Miami Dolphins’ 2026 draft class can fill in their first NFL season, providing realistic expectations for each of the team’s newcomers, and a look at who their competition in camp will likely be.
1. (12) Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor
In an ideal world Proctor would immediately unseat Austin Jackson for the starting right tackle spot, pushing the veteran inside to guard, a position Jackson played in his second season with the Dolphins. However, Proctor, who is 6-foot-7, 352 pounds, might be asked to play offensive guard as a rookie, which is something Laremy Tunsil did in his rookie season before becoming one of the NFL’s elite tackles.
1. (27) San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson
Johnson will compete with Juju Brents, Darrell Baker Jr., Storm Duck, Jason Marshall Jr. Marco Wilson and Ethan Bonner to be one of Miami’s starting trio of cornerbacks, and might have the easiest road to a starting job manning the slot spot because of his college experience working inside. His draft standing as a first-round pick will likely give him a leg up on the competition.
2. (43) Texas Tech ILB Jacob Rodriguez
Rodriguez will likely compete with Tyrel Dodson for the starting inside linebacker role, where he would be paired with weak-side linebacker Jordyn Brooks as starters in Miami’s base defense. While Dodson, who is playing on the last year of his existing contract, has in experience, the deck is always stacking in favor of the younger, cheaper player with more upside.
3. (75) Texas Tech WR Caleb Douglas
Douglas has the size (6-4, 205 pounds) and speed (4.39 in the 40-yard dash) needed to stretch the field like Tutu Atwell, the free agent Miami signed in the offseason. But he will need to learn the offense, refine his route running and get stronger to contribute as a rookie. He will likely compete with Atwell and Jalen Tolbert for a starting role as flanker or split end.
3. (87) Ohio State TE Will Kacmarek
While Kacmarek, who caught 65 passes for 761 yards and four touchdowns during his 55 collegiate games, has decent hands, he’s recognized as one of this draft’s best in-line blocking tight ends. That means he will likely fill Julian Hill’s old role, asked to complement Greg Dulcich, who is getting first crack at becoming Miami’s move tight end. His main competition will be Ben Sims and Zack Kuntz, two free agents added this offseason.
3. (94) Louisville WR Chris Bell
By the time the Dolphins reach the start of the regular season Bell will be nine months into rehabbing the ACL injury he sustained in late November, which means he will likely open training camp on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. The Dolphins would benefit from taking it slow with the rookie, whose size, catch radius and speed would have made him a top-50 selection if he were healthy.
4. (130) Texas OLB Trey Moore
Chop Robinson and Josh Uche are laboring to prove they are better than being pigeonholed as third-down pass rush specialists in the NFL. If either of them earn an early down role, a specialist role could open up for Moore, who will likely compete with Derrick McClendon, Cameron Goode and whoever else the Dolphins add at defensive end for a roster spot. Moore will also need to carve out a role for himself on special teams.
4. (138) Pittsburgh OLB Kyle Louis
Louis, an undersized-but-athletic linebacker many thought projected well to NFL safety, will be asked to fill a multifaceted linebacker role, becoming a coverage specialist in nickel and dime packages. His main competition in training camp will likely be Willie Gay Jr. Like Moore, Louis will need to carve out a role for himself on special teams.
5 (158) Texas S Michael Taaffe
Taaffe, an undersized three-year starter at Texas, will compete Dante Trader Jr., who has a solid rookie season contributing 48 tackles, and Lonnie Johnson Jr., a former second-round pick who developed into a career special teamer, for one of the two possible starting roles. At this point it’s anybody’s guess who mans the back end of Jeff Hafley’s secondary. But Taaffe would be wise to make himself useful on special teams.
5. (177) Missouri WR Kevin Coleman Jr.
Coleman has spent all four of his college seasons as a slot receiver and return specialist, which means that’s likely the role this undersized receiver will fill in the NFL. That means he’s competing with Malik Washington for the slot and return specialist role, and battling Tahj Washington and A.J. Henning for a spot on the 53-man roster.
5. (180) Mississippi State TE Seydou Traore
Like Kacmarek, Traore is competing with every tight end on the Dolphins’ training camp roster to complement Dulcich. That means he will need to excel as an in-line blocker and would benefit from learning the H-back and fullback roles.
6. (200) Texas OG DJ Campbell
Because of Jonah Savaiinaea’s struggles as a rookie starter and Cole Strange’s departure as free agent, the Dolphins will have open auditions for the starting left and right guard spot. He was a three-year starter at right guard at Texas, which means he will likely compete with Jamaree Salyer for the role Strange, who signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, left behind.
7 (238) Iowa DE Max Llewellyn
Lyewellyn is a tall, well-built edge player who needs to improve his play strength. He will likely compete with David Ojabo and Robert Beal Jr. for the strong-side linebacker role on Miami’s 4-3 defense. He has the size (6-5, 258 pounds) needed to set the edge, but will need to prove he can do it when pads come on.
