Kelly: Breakdown of the Dolphins’ post draft defensive depth chart | Opinion
Let’s hope the foundation for the future Miami Dolphins defense has been laid.
In an ideal world — one where Miami hits on every draft pick during the past three years — Chop Robinson, Trey Moore and Max Llewellyn are coming off the edge of Jeff Hafley’s defense, applying pressure to quarterbacks.
Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers, the three 2025 defensive tackles drafted by the last regime, are gobbling up every running play.
Rookie linebackers Jacob Rodriguez and Kyle Louis are holding down the middle of the field while Chris Johnson and Jason Marshall Jr. work the edges of a secondary that is anchored by Dante Trader Jr. and rookie safety Michael Taaffe.
Miami has all the pieces for a youth movement. The question is whether they can produce a defense worthy of respect, which would make the investment made into each of these young players fruitful.
Here is a look at Miami’s defensive roster after the NFL draft, discussing the potential roles of the newcomers added recently.
EDGE RUSHERS (11)
▪ On the roster: Robinson, Josh Uche, David Ojabo, Moore (R), Robert Beal Jr., Cameron Goode, Derrick McClendon, Keith Cooper Jr., Seth Coleman, Llewellyn (R), Mason Reiger (R)
▪ Analysis: The Dolphins released Bradley Chubb, whose 8.5 sacks lead the team, to create $20.2 million in cap space, which the team will gain on June 1, and now the challenge is to find rushers who can not only pressure quarterbacks, but set the edge in a 4-3 scheme. Robinson, the Dolphins’ 2024 first-round pick, should finally be elevated into a starting role, and the hope is he will become more consistent in his third season. Robinson has contributed 47 tackles, 10 sacks and forced one fumble in his first two seasons. But he has only started four NFL games and needs to improve as an edge-setter to avoid being a liability against the run. Uche, a former second-round pick who has started four NFL games in the six seasons he has played for the New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, has contributed 109 tackles and 21.5 sacks in his role as a pass-rushing specialist. Ojabo is viewed as an edge-setting option, as is Llewellyn and Reiger, two rookies. Moore is viewed as a hybrid linebacker, edge rusher. The rookies will compete with Beal, Goode, McClendon, Cooper, and Coleman to be in the defensive end platoon.
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (9)
▪ On the roster: Zach Sieler, Grant, Phillips, Biggers, Matthew Butler, Alex Huntley, Keith Cooper Jr., Rene Konga (R), Rodney McGraw
▪ Analysis: Sieler’s unit got off to a slow start in 2025, struggling to stop the run, and that was the main reason for Miami going 1-6 out the gate. But Grant and Phillips tightened up as the season progressed, anchoring a defensive front that allowed 4.8 yards per carry and 132.4 rushing yards per game. While there’s clearly room for improvement, this is one of the few units on Miami’s roster that didn’t need a heavy infusion of newcomers. Miami retained defensive line coach Austin Clark, and he has done an impressive job helping young defensive tackles take their game to the next level the past few years. Grant (33 tackles, two sacks), Phillips (34 tackles), and Biggers (20 tackles and 1.5 sacks) all bring something different to the table, and it will be interesting to see how they develop without a bias created from where they were drafted. Sieler, who contributed 47 tackles, 5.5 sacks and recovered one fumble last season, could possibly be forced to work on the edge because of his experience there in past schemes. But the 30-year-old needs to produce in 2026 to justify his $16.7 million salary this season.
LINEBACKERS (9)
▪ On the roster: Jordyn Brooks, Tyrel Dodson, Rodriguez (R), Willie Gay Jr., Louis (R), K.C. Ossai, Ronnie Harrison Jr., Jackson Woodard, Jordan Colbert
▪ Analysis: In the first full season as Miami’s inside linebacker duo, Brooks and Dodson combined for 312 tackles, 8.5 sacks, one interception, forced two fumbles and recovered two fumbles, becoming the best linebacker duo the Dolphins have had since Karlos Dansby and Kevin Burnett in 2012. However, expect Rodriguez, Miami’s 2026 second-round pick, to challenge Dodson for the starting inside linebacker role immediately. Brooks, who is slated to make $8,375,000, is seeking a pay raise in an extension, but could potentially play out his existing deal to reach free agency. Gay impressed during training camp, but played sparingly last season for some unknown reason. Miami envisions Louis, the team’s 2026 fourth-round pick, working as a big nickel. Colbert converted from safety to linebacker last season and excelled on special teams before sustaining a season-ending injury in the second half of the year. Every backup linebacker will be forced to earn their roster spot on special teams.
CORNERBACK (12)
▪ On the roster: Johnson (R), Darrell Baker Jr., Storm Duck, Juju Brents, Marshall, Ethan Bonner, Miles Battle, Marco Wilson, A.J. Green III, Alex Austin, Ethan Robinson, Jason Maitre
▪ Analysis: It’s anybody’s guess how the Dolphins cornerback unit will look come September, but the expectation is that Johnson, whom Miami made the 27th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, will start and man the nickel spot right away. That leaves everyone else competing for boundary roles. Duck has been solid the past two seasons, but is working his way back from a knee injury. Brents excelled as a spot starter briefly last season before he sustainted a foot injury that cut his season short. He has the size, athleticism and length to become an NFL starter, but hasn’t been able to stay healthy since entering the league in 2023. Baker has started 25 games the previous four seasons while playing for the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans. Wilson has started 37 games for three teams the past five seasons. Marshall and Bonner have talent, but are raw and unproven NFL players, which is how this entire unit can be described.
SAFETY (7)
▪ On the roster: Trader, Lonnie Johnson Jr., Taaffe (R), Isaiah Johnson, Zayne Anderson, Omar Brown, Louis Moore (R)
▪ Analysis: The Dolphins didn’t re-sign Ashtyn Davis, Ifeatu Melifonwu and Elijah Campbell and traded Minkah Fitzpatrick to the New York Jets for a 2026 seventh-round pick, subsequently moving on from four of the top five safeties from the 2025 season. It’s clear the organization wanted to go younger. Trader, who contributed 55 tackles, forced one fumble and recovered another in the 17 games he played in last season, had good moments in 2025. But some midseason struggles and a shoulder injury kept him from establishing himself as a rookie starter. He will likely compete with Taaffe, a former Texas standout Miami drafted in the fifth round, for the free safety role. Lonnie Johnson, a former second-round pick, has started 22 games in his previous seven seasons, and should be viewed as the front-runner for the strong safety role because of his experience. Lonnie Johnson recorded 224 tackles and four interceptions in the 92 NFL regular-season games he’s played. Isaiah Johnson is a cornerback the last coaching staff converted to safety last season who sustained a season-ending knee injury late last season. He will likely begin the 2026 season on the physically unable to perform list. Anderson joined the Dolphins as a career special teams contributor. Brown spent the past two seasons on Green Bay’s practice squad and injured reserve.
