Kelly: Ten takeaways from the Dolphins’ 2026 offseason program
Every possible opportunity one could want to gain from an NFL team is potentially on the table in Miami.
There’s a new Miami Dolphins front office and coaching staff, and they are implementing a new culture in the first year of a rebuild.
Starting jobs are supposedly open, and the runway has been cleared for players to do everything from becoming an NFL starter to solidifying a practice squad spot. All the players have to do is seize it.
“The message is also pretty easy. We got some really good vets and some guys that are pretty solidified in some roles, but then there’s a lot [of opportunity],” coach Jeff Hafley said. “There’s 40-plus guys on one-year deals, and there’s a ton of rookies. So there’s a lot of guys on this roster who have a lot to prove.
“It’s going to ramp up in training camp for guys to try to win jobs so we can really evaluate them when we play football to see who’s going to be out there.” Hafley continued, referring to the player’s upcoming five-week break. “The guys that put in the work these next few weeks, physically and mentally, are going to have an advantage, and if I were one of those guys, I would take every advantage of that.”
Here’s a breakdown of what we head into training camp thinking we think about the Dolphins.
Malik Willis has an impressive arm
The arm talent is unquestioned. Willis can launch a ball 40-yards flat-footed. There’s very little wobble to his passes, and he throws the football from unique arm ankles. The only player in a Dolphins uniform the past few seasons I can compare his arm to is Jay Cutler. However, the decision-making needs to improve, becoming a half second quicker. Maybe that comes in time, say when chemistry is developed. But the raw talent - arm strength, speed, elusiveness - is undeniable. The biggest question is, can it be developed into a pocket passer?
Quinn Ewers continues to blossom
Ewers impressed his teammates, coaches with his quick decision-making, and bold throws last season as a seventh-round draft pick, and it appears he’s turned up the volume on that approach this camp. His passes were bolder than Willis’ consistently, and it should make us wonder what he’d do if paired with a better offensive line, and upgraded weaponry. Ewers has an uphill battle to even challenge Willis for the starting spot because of the financial commitment Miami made to the former Green Bay Packers backup, but consistent practices in training camp and the exhibition season might open the door.
Someone in the receiver unit needs to step up
Former Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland once shared an infamous quote on HBO’s Hard Knocks in 2012 saying “We have 4s, 5s and 6s. What we need are 3s, 2s, and 1s.” He was referring to an unproven receiving corps that never developed. It appears the 2026 Dolphins are facing the same challenge because none of the veterans caught my eye, and none of the rookies appear to be ready to challenge them for playing time. Miami’s offense needs to find and develop receiver opposing defenses need to respect, if not fear. If not, this will be a long season for whoever is playing quarterback.
Tight ends have some upside
Four of the tight ends Miami had in the offseason program showcased some level of potential that indicates there’s something worth investing in. While they all have limitations, and areas that need to improve, collectively they were one of the top performing units during the offseason program. We’ll see if that remains consistent when pads come on, and we’re closer to replicating what real football looks like for Greg Dulcich, Ben Sims, Will Kacmarek, Seydou Traore and Cole Turner.
Offensive line depth is concerning
Austin Jackson’s foot injury exposed an area of weakness the Dolphins have on the roster because Miami needs to do better than Kion Smith as the primary backup offensive tackle. Sure, Kadyn Proctor, the Dolphins’ 2026 first-round pick, can easily transition from guard to tackle if something happened to Patrick Paul and or Jackson. But in that case, who will replace him at left guard? Miami needs to make sure they have a solid eight offensive linemen they can rely on as starters because that’s what has been needed in Miami for more than a decade.
Defensive tackles will serve as ends
The Dolphins have four defensive tackles in Zach Sieler, Jordan Phillips, Kenneth Grant and Zeek Biggers who are ready to contribute on defense, and each of them can fill different roles, providing the Dolphins with the ability to play many defensive fronts. Miami will groom Phillips to play nose tackle, and it appears that Biggers will be developed as a three-technique defensive end, which is a role Sieler played at times in his career with the Dolphins. This unit has to get better for Miami’s defense to be respectable.
Chop Robinson’s on a weight gain journey
Robinson claims he’s added eight pounds this offseason, and intends to play around 265, adding 10 pounds to his 6-foot-3 frame. He’s doing this to become a better edge setter, and the hope is that he doesn’t lose any of his explosiveness, which is the reason Miami used a first-round pick on him in 2024. We’ll soon learn if Robinson’s weight and strength gains hinder his body mechanics.
Dante Trader Jr. should be viewed as secondary’s leader
It’s a crime that Trader didn’t start more games in 2025, especially since most of the safeties who played ahead of him aren’t in the NFL now. But Trader himself admitted he needs to become a more consistent player, and it seems he’s taken a step in that direction this offseason. He’s been the most vocal leader in the secondary, which is full of inexperienced youngsters. Barring injury, he should be one of the unit’s two starters.
Jeff Hafley’s an excellent communicator
Hafley needs 30 seconds to summarize things that would have taken Mike McDaniel three minutes. He’s succinct, direct, and articulate, which is a phenomenal starting point for this generation of football players, who grew up on social media and have an uber short attention span. Does this mean Hafley can coach, develop players, and game plan? No, but he’ll win plenty of press conferences.
Rookie linebackers shouldn’t be rushed
The Dolphins have three veteran starters in Jordyn Brooks, Tyrel Dodson and Willie Gay Jr. who have all had success in the NFL as starters, and they’ve each forgotten more football than all the rookies know. That doesn’t mean that the rookies - Jacob Rodriguez, Kyle Louis and Trey Moore - don’t have talent. They just need to be slow cooked a little for Miami to get the best results.
