The NFL Draft has always been an exciting event, and this year will be no different. It’s amazing to me that we were excited about it all through the Chris Grier years when every year all we got was disappointment. Part of that issue was Chris Grier, and the other part of the equation was the Head Coaches chosen by Chris Grier. This year I think it will be different as we have to two men mostly in lockstep in regards to what they want to do with this team, and the image they want to create here in Miami. After years of frustration, disappointment and agony of poor draft choices, countless trade-ups for the wrong players, I believe the 2 gentlemen pictured above are going to bring us a very successful draft haul in 2026, and beyond.
One thing I feel quite certain about is we won’t be squandering any picks, and I still believe it’s possible that we have another trade of a player on the roster now for either picks in this coming 2026 NFL Draft, or for a 2027 NFL Draft pick or two. Yes, they have said Achane is off the market, but as soon as someone offers the right price, likely a late 1st RD or early 2nd RD pick in this draft, or a 1st RD in 2027, Achane is as good as gone. I also believe ILB Jordyn Brooks may go to Dallas, especially if the Cowboys are targeting a LB that they can’t get in RD 1, and that would likely end up being a 2nd RD pick, which I’d gladly welcome. I know there was talk about having too many draft picks is a bad thing, but it’s certainly won’t be if you choose the right players. A good deal of players drafted within rounds 1-3 will be starting somewhere in the NFL. Keep in mind if the GM and HC are on the same page, and I believe that to be the case here in Miami, HC Jeff Hafley will already have an idea how they plan to use that player and how to get that player where he needs to be in order to be ready to help the team immediately. That’s the thing, we’re not only building the roster, but many of the players drafted will be counted on to play NOW!
When building a team, you don’t look to a WR or a RB, sorry! I don’t care how much you think we need a WR, we’re not taking one at #11, and probably not at #30 either. I’ll say this, I wouldn’t be angry at #30, but I will flip if they choose a WR at #11. Is there a possibility we trade back? That would require a team to really want a player at our spot, and an agreement on either a player or draft capital to switch spots. I think that’s possible, but what I truly don’t see is us moving up and trading away picks to do so. Now I wouldn’t object to trading up using a player, such as the previously mentioned ILB Jordyn Brooks or RB De’Von Achane, but I wouldn’t bet us using precious draft capital to move up. I could also see trading back to acquire future draft picks, especially 2027 NFL Draft picks considering the QB talent available in 2027.
I’m always excited about the NFL Draft, I was commiserating with my coworker who is a Jets fan. It’s amazing that both of us love the draft so much even though when all it’s done is bring us misery. It makes me completely understand and empathize with Charlie Brown as he goes to kick that football each and every time knowing Lucy is going to snatch it away at the very last second and end up on his backside. We’ve been doing it forever, it’s annual rite of passage or punishment as it turns out. I really do feel differently this year, I am so confident we’re going to do things right that if Sully and Haf screw this up, instead of just falling on my backside I might get a C-c-c-c-con-cussion. I think we’re going to be just fine though, fixing the O-line, finding a pass rusher or two, a CB that can start immediately, maybe a S to pair with S Dante Trader, and if we do trade Jordyn Brooks, an ILB that will potentially be a here for the next 5-10 years like Sonny Styles.
GO SULLY! GO HAF! GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
Piggy – Can you photoshop the names on the top of the screen and on the desk plaques that say Chris Grier and Mike McDaniel please? Didn’t notice it when the image was small. LOL
First
Dammit, MikeE you can’t be 1st. That’s illegal!
I agree on the possibility of trading Brooks but the only problem is Dallas doesn’t have a 2026 2nd round pick.
Then they could give us their 2027 1st, that’s about the same value
I agree
Thanks for the new blog, Mike, and I totally agree about RB or WR in the first round. In my opinion, there are no elite WRs worthy of the top 20. Tate and Lemon are good, but not top 20 good. Tyson may have the best physical talent, but I wouldn’t touch him on Day 1 or Day 2 with that injury history. I will immediately question our GM if Tyson is picked in the first round. All I see is Yatil Green when I see Tyson. NO THANK YOU!!!
LOL – I hear ya Rich! Concepcion and Brazzell I think can be exciting players, but I think Brazzell can be had in the 2nd, not so sure about Concepcion though
IF Sonny Styles should make it to #7 and for some reason N.O. chooses to trade with us vs. drafting Styles, I would make that trade in a second. I would even throw in a mid-round pick if necessary. Styles is the kind of young player you build your defense around. Caleb Downs too, if he falls to #11.
BBMike – I only went first to ask Piggy if he could help with the pic. I hate that Grier and McDaniel’s names are on there, I really do!
MikeE, I think it was Rock who came up with a trade scenario where the Dolphins trade 11, 30 and Brooks for 12, 20 and 92.
I can’t remember the exact result, but I tried it on draftbuzz and it wouldn’t accept the trade. I had to take less in return.
Nope! Not me. Maybe MF13?
I think the first CB off the board will be at pick #9 to the Chiefs. Have to keep in mind they traded CB McDuffie to the Rams.
Of course, the Chiefs could draft a CB at #29 they got from the Rams. They also just signed free agent CB Kaiir Elam. Who knows
I don’t have photoshop anymore Mike
I haven’t heard anyone mention Spencer Fano at all
what do you guys think of Fano
I’ve read that he’s ideal for a zone blocking scheme
that he moves well
that he has short arms and projects to be OG
a lot of those things are pretty good for us
if Mauigoa is off the board as well as those other defensive players mentioned before
is he the BPA for us?
I hear teams who have met with have worked him out all over the OL to include Center.
I took Fano in a couple of mock drafts and some guys on here lambasted me for it. LOL At least for when I took him in the 1st.
It wasn’t me. I think he is a talented OL.
Fano is very versatile, which Sully and Hafley really like. He is projected to maybe move inside to the guard position while also helping at tackle for a few games if needed. The other projection has him moving to center, with some feeling he could be a Pro Bowl player at that position.
^
Well one good thing is with 11 picks they surely cannot go to commercial EVERY time we pick this year….(or could they?)
oh really
looking at our depth chart
if we were in a competing for a playoff spot mode, yikes
on O I see QB, RB, LT, C, RT as good enough starters
the next 5 ok, but need to be upgraded
then there’s Jonah, he can’t play like last yr and even expect to stay as a starter, so an upgrade from last yr
On D the front 7 decent starters, that’s being a bit homerish, but…
S seems below avg, but not Colonblow bad
CB I have no clue what we’re doing there
I had hopes on CB Darrell Baker Jr they signed until I looked at his ranking. He ranked like 88 out of 114 CB’s.
Mike E,
Nice write, bud. Thanks for everything you do here!
DAMN! In this mock I had Sonny Styles, Caleb Downs and Monsoor Delane fall to #11. What to do? What to do?
No Trades
11. Sonny Styles LB Ohio State
30. T.J. Parker EDGE Clemson
43. Emmanuel Pregnon OG Oregon
75. Bryce Lance WR North Dakota State
87. Jalon Kilgore S South Carolina
90. Max Klare TE Ohio State
94. Tacario Davis CB Washington
130. Logan Jones OC Iowa
151. Keagen Trost OT Missouri
227. Eric McAlister WR TCU
238. Sawyer Robertson QB Baylor
If these guys fuck up this draft I am going to spin
I would have taken Styles also. Nice draft!
Center is far more dependent on brains than any other OL or really any position other than QB. A guy needs to be able to read fronts and diagnose stuff on the fly. That is a hard thing to assess just by watching a guy play tackle or guard for years. I’d much prefer to draft a guy who’s played center his whole life.
There are plenty of good tackle prospects in this draft. I’d still take a guard first but we need tackles too.
Rockphin
says:
April 3, 2026 at 1:55 pm
Won’t his size be a detriment when matching up with tight ends and RB’s out of the slot? I don’t like him at all. I never liked Brent Grimes and his big mouth wife either.
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Man, I couldn’t stand Miko Grimes! And she still has me blocked on Twitter/X after all these years!
LUV Ponds as a player and I think he’s best suited at the nickel in the NFL. No, I wouldn’t count on him to matchup against TEs and bigger RBs, but that’s strictly a guess on my part… however, we’ve seen some nickels really surprise.
I do believe he could man the boundary in a pinch due to injury or spot duty, but unless he’s Brent Grimes Part 2, I wouldn’t want him out there too often in the NFL.
Grimes was an extraordinary and unique athlete. His battles with MEGATRON are now a thing of legend, being Grimes usually came out on top. Ponds may surprise everyone when it’s all said and done, but the statistical chances of him (or anybody of such physical stature) becoming the next Brent Grimes is extremely remote.
Why is that? Because Grimes studied film like nobody’s business. Just like Zach Thomas, Grimes had to have it together from the neck-up in order to compensate for his size deficiency at the position.
Is Ponds a film-junkie? I haven’t the answer… at least not yet.
Fano is the most athletic OL in the draft. He’s going to start somewhere on the OL because he’s also very competitive.