Finsmob Unleashed

The 2026 Miami Dolphins are going into the 2026 NFL Draft knowing they need to hit on multiple picks. While that in and of itself can put pressure on the people responsible, the scouting department, the GM (Jon Eric Sullivan), and the Head Coach (Jeff Hafley), the expectations are low for wins and losses in 2026. Despite that, there is absolutely pressure on the trifecta mentioned above to improve the roster and right the ship as far as the NFL Salary Cap is concerned. I would expect more trades, shedding more big contracts, which is an unfortunate by product of irresponsibility by the former GM Chris Grier. Saying Ross wanted to win now dopes not excuse many of the mistakes Grier made to get us where we are now and that’s a big part of why he, and his scouting department are both gone.

We talk about the draft here quite often, and many of you post your Mock Drafts here often. Don’t take this wrong way, I know you guys know your stuff, but I laugh at nearly every single mock draft posted with trades, where the outcome is our Dolphins netting 12 or 13 picks from 8. No offense, but that’s just silly stuff. It’s not always easy to trade back, and it’s hard to trade back multiple times in one draft. These guys are trying to find players that can help this team immediately, plug and play guys for at least the first 3-5 picks, and managing that after trading back is probably an exercise in futility. As far as trading up, I 100% DO NOT think we’ll be doing that. Our number of picks are at a premium, and the consensus is this is not a top heavy draft, there are no real superstars in the top 10 that are significantly better than the players right behind them from 11-20. Yes, there are some players that are head and shoulders better than the rest at their position like QB Fernando Mendoza and RB Jeremiyah Love, but even that’s debatable. Some folks think the gap between QB’s Mendoza and Simpson is closer than others think. What I’m trying to point out is that I believe it could be very difficult to find a trade partner to move back, and with the amount of needs we have at so many positions, a trade up would be foolish.

Addressing the needs comes down to the most impactful positions of the game, which starts with the QB, and then the guys that can get to the QB on defense and those that can defend the receivers of the QB and just as important, the guys that protect the CB. In other words, QB, DE, OL and CB. That doesn’t mean that the other positions aren’t important, but those are the premium ones, and by OL, specifically the bookends, LT and RT, and by EDGE, depending on the scheme, either DE or OLB. Pass rushers that will disrupt the QB, and hopefully sack the QB, not juist get into the vicinity as our age old discussion has raged on about pressures and sacks. If there was ever a poster boy for the argument that pressures are not even close to being as important as sacks, former Dolphins OLB Jaelan Phillips would be that guy. Phillips never finished a season with double digit sack totals but have 20 QB hurries in his best season in 2022 and for pressures, 36 in 2022, and believe it or not, 35 last season for two teams combines, Dolphins and Eagles, 18 with us, 17 for the Eagles. Always close, but rarely there. 116 “pressures” and 28 sacks 63 games. Ugh!

Which position we choose in RD 1 will obviously depend on who is still available. My feeling is we desperately need a legit starting QB, so my feeling is if either Mansoor Delane or even Jermod McCoy is there, one of them is coming off the board to us. Depending on the medicals with McCoy who didn’t play the 2025 season due to an ACL tear, I would hope for Delane, but McCoy is a fine CB who would be a starter here if healthy. Reuben Bain is a tenacious player who doesn’t test especially well and has very short arms for an edge rusher, which means if a an OT gets his hands on him first with a longer reach, it’s hard for him to get free. That being said, Bain’s play in the playoff was excellent, and this against some top competition. Play tape is always king, and despite some rumors that he will fall to us, I expect him off the board in the top 8 picks.

Now to the other controversial debate, the QB position. I have made it clear that I don’t want us to spend big money on a free agent QB. I know Sully and especially Haf, know QB Malik Willis better than anyone else in the NFL. Haf had Willis run the scout team so the defense would be prepared for every Qb they faced that week, and Willis simulated the style of that QB. If it were a $10M per season type of thing and they felt strongly that he could be a plus starter here for our Dolphins, that’s one thing. Coming off HUGE mistake giving a QB a ridiculous contract for no good reason, namely Tua’s 4 YR/$212.4M nightmare contract, I just can’t see following that up with a $30M per season flier on QB Malik Willis who was 2-1 with the Packers and 1-2 with the Titans. I’m more than happy to go with QB Quinn Ewers in 2026, but I would also like to draft a QB in this draft, and due to the fact that we happen to have three 3rd RD picks, I believe the 3rd RD would be the place to snatch QB Drew Allar. Evaluations in general do not favor him as an immediate starter. What they all say, however, is he has the prototype build, size, athleticism and arm strength. I understand that those things alone do not make a great QB. Courage, intelligence, tenacity, comprehension all combine to collectively become an “It” factor, and up to this point, Allar has yet to show he has “It”.

There are a lot of factors that can contribute to that, and an easy one is to look at the talent that surrounds the QB, and the coaching. Penn State did not give Allar elite receivers and they changed the Offensive Coordinator 3 times during his tenure. You either accept those as valid excuses or you don’t, but those are definitely negative contributors to how the QB plays. Some elite QB’s can overcome those things no doubt, but we’ve seen QB’s in the NFL struggle in their first contract with their draft team and then go on to have success in their second, third or even 4th stop. Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith come to mind. One thing you can’t coach into a player is arm strength, size, and athleticism. If you’re 6’0 215, you can’t coach them to 6’5 230 with a rocket arm. Have I been influenced by what I’ve seen in New England with Drake Maye? No question there. Drake Maye was a better prospect coming out, but still had that boom or bust label. I’d be much more comfortable taking Allar in RD 3 to see what we can do with him. Obviously, the QB class of 2027 will be better, but keep in mind they said that about 2026 last season. Dante Moore decided to go back and Arch Manning did as well. You never really know how things will shake out, and if our guys feel they can develop Allar, I’d be thrilled to have him here.

OK, now you guys can get back to your 15 pick (Tradey pants) Mock Drafts! Love you guys and much respect to all of you!

GO DOLPHINS!!!