Kelly: Who are the Miami Dolphins’ top 15 newcomers? | Opinion
Whether we view what the Miami Dolphins are doing as a rebuild, reloading or roster renovation, the one thing that’s universally understood is that South Florida’s NFL team will feature a ton of new faces.
Because of the releases, trades executed, and free agent decisions made this offseason by new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley, more than half Miami’s 22 starting spots on offense and defense are open for business, and newcomers — whether rookies or free agent signees — will likely be competing for them.
Here’s a ranking of the top 15 newcomers the Dolphins added this offseason, with a projection of the roles they might fill in 2026
1. Quarterback Malik Willis
Barring an injury, Willis will be given the entire season to prove he is, or isn’t an NFL starter in 2026 because the Dolphins have $45 million committed to him during the next two seasons. Willis’ athleticism will bring a new element the Dolphins offense hasn’t had since Pat White, a 2009 second-round pick who crashed and burned as an NFL quarterback. Let us hope the same doesn’t happen to Willis, who joined the Dolphins having made six NFL starts in four seasons. In the offseason program he showcased a strong arm, but needs to work on accuracy and making decisions faster.
2. Offensive guard Jadyn Proctor
The Dolphins selected the massive Alabama offensive lineman with the 12th overall pick in the draft because they coveted his blend of size (6-foot-6, 352 pounds) and athleticism. The plan in Year 1 is to start Proctor at left guard, putting him between left tackle Patrick Paul and center Aaron Brewer as a rookie, and then eventually moving him to tackle in a season or two. The hope is that his athleticism will benefit Miami’s rushing attack wherever he lines up.
3. Cornerback Chris Johnson
Johnson, whom the Dolphins made the second cornerback selected in the 2026 NFL Draft when he was picked 27th overall, is expected to serve as Miami’s first-team nickel cornerback. Nickel is a critical spot in today’s NFL because that position covers every team’s slot receiver, handling roughly 700 defensive snaps a season. The hope is that Johnson will be able to seamlessly make the transition inside, and in time will eventually work as a boundary cornerback.
4. Receiver Jalen Tolbert
In 2024 this former third-round pick caught 49 of 79 passes thrown his way in 17 games, turning them in 610 yards and seven touchdowns for the Dallas Cowboys. But the next season Dallas traded for George Pickens and Tolbert returned to his backup role. Miami presents Tolbert the opportunity to become a frontline starter, and he has quickly established himself as Willis’ favorite target during the offseason program. Expect that to carry over to the regular season if Tolbert can stay healthy.
5. Pass rusher Josh Uche
Uche, who recorded 21.5 sacks in the 76 games he has played the past six seasons, joined the Dolphins, his hometown team, with the goal of proving he’s not just a pass-rushing specialist. He has bulked up to 255 pounds and will get first crack at earning a starting edge spot opposite Chop Robinson. However, both Uche and Robinson need to prove they can effectively set the edge on run defense to lock down those starting roles.
6. Tight end Will Kacmarek
The Dolphins selected the former Ohio and Ohio State standout in the third round because the team felt the 6-6, 258-pounder was the 2026 draft’s top in-line tight ends. He will likely compete with Ben Sims to share the tight end workload with Greg Dulcich, who is viewed as the clear-cut starter in Miami. While he has a ton to learn, Kacmarek showcases power and respectable hands.
7. Pass rusher David Ojabo
Ojabo, a former second-round pick whose career has been sideswiped by injuries up to this point, has an outside chance of winning a starting spot as an edge, or strong side-linebacker if he can master the defense and make impactful plays during training camp and the preseason. The Nigerian import has contributed 32 tackles, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in the 575 defensive snaps he’s played the past four seasons while with the Baltimore Ravens.
8. Safety Zayne Anderson
Anderson, a career special teams contributor, has spent the past two seasons in Hafley’s defense. Therefore, he has a better understanding of it than most of his teammates, which could put him in the driver’s seat to play opposite Dante Trader Jr. as one of Miami’s starting safeties. Anderson has contributed 31 tackles, intercepted one pass and forced two fumbles and broke up two passes in the 145 defensive snaps he’s played for Green Bay the past two seasons.
9. Receiver Kevin Coleman Jr.
Coleman, the Dolphins’ 2026 fifth-round pick, is a polished slot receiver whose knack for learning offenses quickly and ability to get open in zone coverage should benefit Miami’s offense. Especially if Malik Washington, who has developed decent chemistry with Willis, is needed to fill the starting flanker role this season. Coleman’s main competition for playing time appears to be veteran receiver Tutu Atwell, who had a quiet offseason. If fellow rookie Caleb Douglas proves he’s worthy of the starting flanker role then Coleman would need to unseat Washington for the slot receiver role to contribute on offense.
10. Offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer
Salyer, who sustained an undisclosed injury during Miami’s minicamp and sat out the final week of the offseason program, is critical to the offensive line’s success because this 6-4, 325-pounder appears to be the top backup at offensive guard and tackle. The 40 games Salyer started for the Los Angeles Chargers the past four years could make him Jonah Savaiinaea’s top challenger for the starting right guard spot.
11. Outside linebacker Kyle Louis
Louis, the Dolphins’ 2026 fourth-round pick, will likely serve as Jordyn Brooks’ backup as a rookie, but he’s expected to handle what Jeff Hafley calls the “big nickel” role. That means he will likely be used in certain defensive packages, serving as a coverage specialist when it comes to defending tight ends, and tailbacks coming out the backfield, gracing the field when Miami needs a defender bigger than Johnson.
12. Inside linebacker Jacob Rodriguez
Miami’s 2026 second-round pick will likely begin training camp as Tyrel Dodson’s backup at inside linebacker and could very well unseat the veteran with a strong camp showing and a productive exhibition season. Rodriguez’s knack for creating turnovers could give him a legit opportunity to become a rookie starter.
13. Outside linebacker Trey Moore
Moore, the Dolphins’ 2026 fourth-round pick, will compete with Willie Gay Jr. and Robert Beal Jr. for the strong-side linebacker role in Miami’s 4-3 base defense. This college pass rusher is learning the intricacies of playing the linebacker position, so there might be an adjustment period.
14. Receiver Caleb Douglas
The Dolphins were enticed by this former Florida and Texas Tech standout’s combination of size (6-4, 205 pounds) and speed (4.38 in the 40-yard dash) so much they selected him in the third round, ahead of a couple of more high-profile draft prospects. Douglas needs to become better at getting off the line of scrimmage to have an impact in the NFL.
15. Receiver Tutu Atwell
This Miami Northwestern product has started 27 of the 64 games he has played for the Rams the past five seasons, but he’s coming off his second-worst professional season having caught just six passes in 2025. Miami provides Atwell, who has recorded 1,535 receiving yards and scored six touchdowns off 105 receptions and 16 carries, an opportunity to prove he’s still the type of playmaker who can stretch the field.
