Kelly: Questions we hope Dolphins rookie camp answers | Opinion
The Miami Dolphins organization takes pride in the fact they hold one of the NFL’s youngest rosters heading into training camp because it hints that the talent base has upside, promise, potential.
But upside, promise and potential eventually needs to turn into production, and considering how this roster filled with minimum salary players, NFL journeymen, and rookies has been put together, the newcomers will have plenty of opportunity to showcase themselves this season.
During the next few weeks the Dolphins’ decision-makers need to discover answers to questions about the rookies who will likely dictate the trajectory of the 2026 season.
How many rookies have the potential to become Year 1 starters?
General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan claims that in an ideal draft class everyone taken before the fifth round should eventually become NFL starters, and not by default (injury). Offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor and cornerback Chris Johnson, Miami’s two first-round picks, will clearly be put in the driver’s seat to earn starting roles. Jacob Rodriguez must unseat Tyrel Dodson to corral the green-dot role at linebacker, and that won’t be easy. And the door is wide open for Kyle Louis or Michael Taaffe to lock down the two starting safety roles. And at this point it’s anyone’s guess who will man the right guard spot, and set the edge for Miami’s defense. Maybe a rookie proves worthy this summer.
Is there an edge-setter in this rookie class?
The Dolphins drafted two players (Trey Moore, third round; and Max Llewellyn, seventh round) who were edge rushers in college, and added another as an undrafted rookie free agent in Mason Reiger, a former Louisville and Wisconsin standout. But there’s a significant difference in setting the edge on the college level and doing it in the NFL, where the offensive tackles and tight ends are usually bigger and stronger. This need won’t get properly evaluated until pads come on during training camp in August.
Does Taaffe possess the physical traits of an NFL safety?
Taaffe is classified as an intelligent, rangy safety from his college days at Texas, where he was one of the program’s biggest success stories as a former walk-on turned team captain. But he’s a tad bit small (5-foot-11, 190 pounds) for the position. While other safeties have had success with that small frame, the Dolphins must learn if Taaffe has the strength and tackling ability to bring defenders down consistently as the team’s last line of defense on just about every single play.
Is Proctor’s weight and conditioning a problem?
Proctor was labeled one of the 2026 NFL Draft’s biggest boom-or-bust selections because he’s 6-foot-6, and 350 pounds on a light day and showed up to Alabama around 400 pounds when he arrived as a freshman. Proctor’s in the best shape of his life now because of the draft process he’s spent the past four months training for. But is that good enough to handle the heat and humidity of South Florida, which rookies and transplants typically need time to adjust to? Can Miami find a nutrition and fitness program for Proctor that will make his weight a topic we no longer monitor, or discuss?
Is Louis better off as a linebacker or a safety in the NFL?
Louis, the former Pittsburgh standout the Dolphins drafted in the fourth round, played weak-side linebacker in college, but many teams projected he would be moved to safety in the NFL because of his limited size (he’s 5-11, 220 pounds), and recorded time of 4.53 in the 40-yard dash. Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley has hinted that Louis will be tried at both spots during the team’s post-draft news conference. The Dolphins have a greater need at safety than weak-side linebacker, but whether safety is a fit for Louis has to be tested out. Sullivan claims Louis will begin his Dolphins tenure as a “big nickel.”
Is Moore an edge or a weak-side linebacker in the NFL?
Moore, who shined as an edge player at UTSA enough to become the AAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2023, transferred to Texas and was asked to play as a stack linebacker role. The transition made sense because he’s a bit of a tweener from a size (6-1, 243 pounds) standpoint. If Moore is too small, or not strong enough to set the edge in the NFL it’ll be an easy decision for the Dolphins. But we won’t know for sure until the pads come on.
How far is receiver Chris Bell into his rehab?
Bell, who sustained a season-ending left knee injury in late-November, is approaching six months into what’s viewed as a nine-to-1-month rehabilitation process. And considering knees are critical to route running, which requires quick cuts and changes of direction, it’s smarter to proceed with caution because a setback for Bell could threaten his playing career, or at least his availability for this season. That means Bell will likely be held out of minicamp, and will likely miss training camp while stashed on the PUP. The hope is he will be cleared to practice with the team sometime around midseason since nine months would be late September.
Could D.J. Campbell contend for the starting right guard spot?
Campbell, who was a five-star recruit and a top-10 national prospect coming out of high school, ended up becoming a 43-game starter at Texas. So it’s clear talent is there. His game is built on natural power, which allows the 6-3, 313-pound offensive linemen to displace defenders at the point of attack. If Campbell could clean up his pass protection he might be able to challenge Jonah Savaiinaea, who started 17 games last season at left guard, and Jamaree Salyer, a free agent addition who has 40 games of starting experience on his resume, for the vacant starting right guard spot.
Is Kevin Coleman Jr. a legitimate contender to start at slot receiver?
While Malik Washington has spent the past two seasons manning the slot and return specialist role for the Dolphins, it’s possible he could be unseated by a shiftier playmaker such as Coleman. But the rookie would need to master the playbook, which won’t come easy. However, Coleman shined as a slot receiver for Jackson State, Louisville, Mississippi State and Missouri, learning all four offenses before every season. That means he’s used to learning new offenses, and doing it quickly.
Can Mark Gronowski unseat Cam Miller for the No. 3 QB role?
Interestingly, Gronowski and Miller have history with each other considering they competed for FCS Championships, winning two each before Miller moved onto the NFL, where he was a sixth-round pick in 2025, and Gronowski transferred to Iowa. They will have a chance to resume the rivalry in Dolphins practices this summer as they battle for the No. 3 role, and what will likely turn into a practice squad spot for a third quarterback.
