Kelly: Things we learned from Dolphins’ first OTA week | Opinion
The new-look Miami Dolphins are a blank canvas, one that head coach Jeff Hafley and his staff are given the autonomy to design whatever they can envision.
Problem is, Miami’s coaches only have so many tools to create with since the majority of the roster is filled with unestablished NFL veterans and rookies looking to make a name for themselves on this experience-deprived roster.
Each week of Miami’s offseason program will provide more clues about what the 2026 team can be, but time and patience are required. Here’s 10 hints the first week of OTA provided about Hafley’s Dolphins.
1. The defensive rookies are small
While general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan claimed it was a priority to draft bigger players than the past regime, it seems as if that philosophy only applied on offense in Year 1 because every defensive player the Dolphins drafted seems to be the smallest member of their unit, with edge rusher Max Llewellyn being the lone exception. Maybe the Dolphins gave up a little on size because they valued Jacob Rodriguez, Trey Moore, Kyle Louis, Chris Johnson and Michael Taaffe’s versatility. And it’s possible all the defensive rookies could get bigger, and maybe stronger throughout the season.
2. Defensive linemen might serve as edges
Hafley says he wants to run a defense with a 4-3 base, but an examination of the Dolphins’ edge rushesr hints that Miami might benefit more from utilizing a 3-4 base because Miami’s defensive ends are either light (Chop Robinson and Josh Uche), unproven (David Ojabo, Robert Beal Jr. and Cameron Goode), or inexperienced (Moore, Llewellyn, Rodney McGraw and Mason Reiger, who are all rookies). That could mean defensive linemen such as Zach Sieler, Zeek Biggers and Jordan Phillips might be forced to work as three-technique defensive ends.
3. Dante Trader Jr.’s seeming taking the next step
Trader had success in spurts during the 419 defensive snaps he played during his rookie season, but then lost playing time because his struggles that contributed to a loss against the Los Angeles Chargers and a shoulder injury that he was nursing around midseason. However, the 2025 fifth-round pick is viewed as an intelligent player who possesses a ton of upside, and it appears Trader, who pulled down one of three interceptions during last Tuesday’s practice, is in the driver’s seat to earn one of the two vacant starting safety spots.
4. Offense isn’t in sync
Defense is typically ahead of offense at this time of the offseason, so watching a three-interception performance last Tuesday wasn’t extremely shocking. Especially when the foundations of an offense is just being laid, like the Dolphins are doing. But it would be ideal to see more downfield passes in 7-on-7s and less check-down throws from all the quarterbacks. Even though there’s very limited running in OTAs, the Dolphins need to test the capabilities of these unproven receivers and tight ends.
5. Malik Willis possesses a strong arm
There are plenty of factors that go into whether a quarterback is top shelf, or a run-of-the-mill passer — accuracy, mobility, pocket presence, decision-making, clutch playmaking, leadership — but arm strength is a phenomenal luxury to have. It’s not absolutely necessary, but is ideal. Willis seemingly has plenty to spare based on how his passes were cutting through a windy practice day last Tuesday. His ability to throw a 15-yard out, and put the ball on a rope should open up aspects of Miami’s playbook that haven’t been utilized since Ryan Tannehill was the Dolphins starter.
6. Austin Jackson is a question mark
Jackson, the last of the three 2020 first-round picks the Dolphins made, has been a solid starting right tackle for most of the games he has played since 2023. Problem is, he has played very few (32 of 68 regular season games) the past four seasons because of various injuries, and is yet again sitting out OTA practices because of an undisclosed injury. Considering Miami already shook Jackson down, reducing his salary to $5.5 million in base salary and removing the final years on the extension he signed in 2023, he’s in a play-for-pay situation this season. If Jackson can’t remain healthy he will likely find himself unemployed, or playing for the NFL minimum, so pressure’s on.
7. Dolphins’ entire O-line is massive
If every projected starter on the Dolphins’ 2026 offensive line stays healthy that unit will average 6-foot-5, 322 pounds, which gives Miami one of the largest offensive lines in the NFL. Those are massive ifs, but the Dolphins’ left side of Patrick Paul, who is 6-foot-7, 326 pounds, and rookie first-round pick Kadyn Proctor, who is 6-foot-7, 352 pounds, provides a substantial size boost that could set the tone for a physical style on offense.
8. Tailback depth is concerning
With De’Von Achane nursing an undisclosed injury and ideally being shelved until the regular season, the Dolphins must find four tailbacks who can handle the workload for training camp and the preseason. Miami clearly needs more than Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II, which explains why Carlos Washington Jr., who spent two seasons on the Atlanta Falcons practice squad, was added this week.
9. A receiver must step to the forefront
The worst thing about Miami’s watered-down roster heading into this season is the fact that there aren’t any proven playmaking receivers on it, and it’s doubtful that reinforcements are coming. That means the Dolphins are hopeful that one of the minimum-alary veterans — Tutu Atwell, Jalen Tolbert and Malik Washington — or one of the rookies — Caleb Douglas, Kevin Coleman Jr., or Chris Bell, who is rehabbing a knee injury he suffered in late November — becomes an alpha receiver who can carry the passing game on his shoulders. If nobody steps up Willis is going to have a long, and possibly painful season.
10. Find a position for Kyle Louis
Louis, the University of Pittsburgh standout the Dolphins selected in the fourth round of the 2026 Draft, is a tweener who needs to find a home at linebacker or safety. Based on the pick-six interception he pulled down in last Tuesday’s OTA practice, there’s more than enough signs he has the potential to become a playmaker. Miami envisions him filling a “big nickel’ role, which means he might spend season one as Jordyn Brooks’ understudy as the Dolphins’ weak-side linebacker. But there’s potential for him to do more at strong safety if he enters that competition.
