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!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
Lol…thank you, Mike E.!
Not a fan of Allar and I hope we find 3 starters with the our top 5 picks.
We have a 1, 2, and 3-3s, correct? All need to start….lol. Foundational perhaps.
@schadjoe
NEW: Miami Dolphins releasing FB Alec Ingold, K Jason Sanders
I was waiting for both these to happen
@AdamSchefter
Source: Bills are releasing WR Curtis Samuel.
@flasportsbuzz
Among the Dolphins’ 30 free agents, they’ve shown interest in keeping several (besides Cam Goode, who re-signed). Among the others they would like to bring back, per a source: tight end Greg Dulcich, who was very productive after his promotion to the active roster on Oct. 22.
@TomPelissero
Packers edge Rashan Gary, who has been the subject of trade talks, announced his time in Green Bay is over. He was due $19.5 million in 2026 with no guaranteed money.
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
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LOL, it is.
Though, keep in mind. I believe a couple years ago the Packers traded down and went from 8 picks to 11 picks. It’s not out of their norm to trade down, they have done it more than once.
They have also traded down for more picks then traded back up for a player they wanted and still ended up with more picks.
Packers averaged about 10.5 picks a year over the last 5 years. That is from either trading players or trading down but not necessarily trading down in the 1st.
BBM’s Post MikeE New Blog Mock Draft
33. Blake Miller OT Clemson
39. T.J. Parker EDGE Clemson
43. A.J. Haulcy S LSU
75. Julian Neal CB Arkansas
87. Dani Dennis-Sutton EDGE Penn State
90. Drew Allar QB Penn State
103. Bryce Lance WR North Dakota State
106. Bud Clark S TCU
111. Beau Stephens OG Iowa
127. Sam Roush TE Stanford
139. Landon Robinson DT Navy
148. Nicholas Singleton RB Penn State
150. Jalen Farmer OG Kentucky
206. Matthew Hibner TE SMU
226. Collin Wright CB Stanford
247. Jimmy Rolder LB Michigan
LOL 😉
BTW, notice Allar at pick #90. lol
I do try to keep trade downs to end up with 11-12 picks. Most times I trade down twice, I am trying to get an extra pick to account for trading Minkah along with trading down in the 1st. This sim we commonly use does not let you trade players, at least not yet.
Re: Rashan Gary
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky later reported Gary “has not been told he will be released or traded” and that “his IG account was hacked.”
Carson Wentz is reportedly viewed as New York Jets offensive coordinator Frank Reich’s main target at quarterback in free agency this offseason.
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We can only hope
BBMike – I was hoping the Jets were all in on Tua! LOL
Would be nice also
There is a guy in the Santa Rosa County Jail named Peter Toogood. He’s in there for a failure to appear on a 2023 case. He’s from Houston, TX.
Sounds like a porn star name. lol
LOL, nice name, but not quite as good as Buck Sexton! 😆
Do you know who Buck Sexton is, BBM?
I know Son knows who he is.
conspiracy theory pusher.
I did not know who he was. lol
bailbondmike
says:
March 6, 2026 at 3:00 pm
Re: Rashan Gary
ESPN’s Rob Demovsky later reported Gary “has not been told he will be released or traded” and that “his IG account was hacked.”
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If true, I think it’s disgusting that somebody would do that to another… so as to hack a social media account in order to sow chaos and falseness.
It’s happened to me before, so I know the feeling. 😡
Hopefully Buck Sexton isn’t like Jackson Hinkle. That guy is shitting up my timeline
Vikings center Ryan Kelly retires
Texans release Joe Mixon
Jason Sanders was making too much money, Alec Ingold didn’t really deliver. Good guy, just couldn’t really stay healthy and be effective for us. I wonder if we’re going to have a FB as a big part of our offense
I wonder as well. I would like to get Indiana TE/FB Riley Nowakowski in the 7th. I haven’t really checked out any other FB’s.
The Packers didn’t/don’t have a FB, but that’s not the offense we will be running.
He only played 1/3 of our offensive snaps last year. I don’t see it as a necessity. Nowakowski can fill that role but also line up inline as a TE. He’s 6’2, 250.
Nowakowski had 32 rec for 387 yards with 2 TD’s and rushed 2 times for 2 yards and 2 TD’s.
Yeah, don’t expect a traditional FB. If we need one for short yardage, they will use a big TE. We just need that big TE. LOL
BBM,
YES, I like Riley Nowakowski as well, if we’re going to replace Alec Ingold. The other guy I really like? Eli Heidenreich out of Navy. Both should be available as late day-3 prospects, IMO.
Is he a FB? He’s a little light for a FB at 198
See below. I was referring to TOUGH runners, not just the FB position, man.
Obviously, Nowakowski has the build as a classic FB. Yet, Heidenreich, only being 6’0″, 206, is just a STUD of a player.
Give me Nowakowski as our FB, and maybe Heidenreich as a short-yardage machine as a 3rd-down RB to compete with Ollie Gordon.
If I have it MY way? There’s no need to draft a RB this year. Just sayin’ that if we do, we have options on day 3.
FIX the O-Line, and we’ll have UDFAs run for over 1,000 yards.
I think Heidenreich can play anywhere, not FB though at 198 pounds. WR or RB, he’s fun to watch. 9.12 RAS.
He’s projected as a 7th rounder by most and a UDFA by NFL.com. If he’s a UDFA, I would snatch him up. Choice BTWN the 2 in the 7th, I am taking Nowakowski.
It’s possible both guys could be UDFA’s
Yes, tough to tell. I think both get drafted late though.
I don’t have RB as a position to draft even if one is BPA. I do think we need to try and upgrade the RB4 spot over Donovan Edwards with a UDFA. I was surprised they poached him.
What would you guys think of drafting Jonah Coleman and trying to use him as a FB?
I love the idea of converting a tailback who can run the ball to a FB
I would love to have a Arab that can add some yards on the ground
I wonder if maybe CJ Donaldson would fit foot in this role
bailbondmike
says:
March 6, 2026 at 5:57 pm
I think Heidenreich can play anywhere, not FB though at 198 pounds. WR or RB, he’s fun to watch. 9.12 RAS.
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Sheesh, I wasn’t projecting Heidenreich as a FB, guys! Who would do that with his weight?!! I lumped him into the convo of a late 3rd-day guy as a RB who is gritty and tough like FB Riley Nowakowski.
My bad for the confusion, but seriously?!!
If it’s anything like Green Bay, they will just use a blocking TE as a FB when needed.
Both Sully and Haf have been saying they’re building inside out. We have some playmakers. This team has to get more physical.
🤣
Wow, Maxx Crosby traded to the Ravens for ’26 and ’27 1st RD picks
wow. It was reported earlier that Lamar Jackson was hinting at something big, people were speculating. It was AJ Brown.
😳