The 2026 NFL Draft is approaching so quickly, and I’m getting more excited and optimistic by the minute. When you listen to either GM Jon-Eric Sullivan or HC Jeff Hafley speak, you get a certain comprehension that these guys legitimately know what they’re doing, they have a concept of what they want this football team to look like, and that they are capable of executing the plan to do it. Don’t forget that while there is a synergy between to the two, Sully made it clear that the decision will be made unilaterally, by him, as it should be. That doesn’t mean he won’t listen to counsel from HC Jeff Hafley, or his scouting department, but it means there’s not going to be a vote or consensus agreement on each pick, and that GM Jon-Eric Sullivan will be making the selection after consideration of all the information given to him and his own convictions on what to do. We’ll never ever know what the hierarchy or collaboration was with GM Chris Grier, and I’m not even sure I want to know. What I do know now, however, is whn we make a pick, GM Jon-Eric Sullivan made that pick and he will be ultimately responsible for the success or failure of that selection.
I have been trying to listen and read as much as I can before this draft to get an idea of what we might be doing in this draft. I think we all agree we need to build the foundation of this team, and in my estimation, that’s not a WR at #11. Some interesting points I heard just this morning were Chiefs GM Brett Veach believes there will be a lot of trades in this draft, especially in RD1. The other was Ravens GM Eric DeCosta stated that most NFL teams probably have only about 15 players with true 1st RD grades which also indicates that teams would rather trade back and have a few more “lottery picks”, or chances to find players rather than make a selection of a player who doesn’t really carry a 1st RD grade. Of course that would be difficult if all GM’s felt the same way, so I guess we’ll have to see what happens there.
Miami Dolphins RB De’Von Achane showed up to workouts which was a good sign for both parties and Sully stated that negotiations are going well towards getting a deal done. The parameters are out there because the Bills signed RB James Cook to a 4YR/$46M contract with just shy of $29M guaranteed. I know some of you hate Mike Florio, but count me as one who does not. This morning on the Joe Rose Show where he’s a guest every week in the 9:00AM hour, he discussed with Joe Rose the De’Von Achane situation. He’s absolutely NOT wrong when he says Achane is one of the handful of NFL players that you just can’t trade. His take is that any team that had any interest in De’Von Achane already made their offers and Sully didn’t like the value of any of them to this point. He brought up a potential scenario where say the Titans are expecting Notre Dame RB Jeremiyah Love to be there at #4, but a team trades up to #3 where the Arizona Cardinals pick and take Jeremiyah Love, would the Titans then potentially pick up the phone and call Jon-Eric Sullivan to see what it would cost to get de’Von Achane? Certainly possible, which is why the concept that any player isn’t tradable is foolish.
I still remain firm in my belief that O-line is the priority and we should be diligent in making sure we get one as soon as possible. Universally, Francis Mauigoa, Vega Ioane, Spencer Fano and even Monroe Freeling are probably in the conversation. Supposedly, we’re looking for O-line flexibilty, guys who can play multiple positions and be excellent at doing so. These three players can play either inside or outside and Spencer Fano has actually played every single spot on the O-line well. If that concept is true, it’s more likely that one of our first 2 picks in RD1, should we stay where we are will be an OL. There are some guys who project as OG only like Vega Ioane but he is supposedly the safest pick on the O-line, he should be a dominant OG right from the get-go. Other OG only guys are Chase Bisontis, Keylan Rutledge and Gennings Dunker. One or two of these guys might still go RD 1, but are more likely to go RD 2, unless of course a run on O-Line happens and then more will go and the chance for a trade back at #30 for us increases, especially if we took an OL at #11, but you can see the danger of not doing that though. I don’t think we’re going to trade up in any of the early rounds, I think it’s clear we want “more”, not “less”.
Once we have our OL, you can flip a coin on CB, EDGE and WR. We do need to help QB Malik Willis get this offense going, and I believe getting the O-line to a solid level would be an excellent start. We could certainly use a good pass catcher, and that could be a WR or TE. We don’t have a lot of quality at either spot right now with WR’s Atwell, Tolbert, Washington, Wease, Washington and Marshall. At TE, the dropoff is even worse after Dulcich with Conyers, Turner, Cole and Kuntz. We also need Safety help, so that will be a priority like EDGE, WR and CB, after we bring in at least one OL. With those 4 3rd RD picks, I expect WR, S and TE will be addressed even if we took one player already. You can see all the holes we have, so getting more picks would be a good thing. Building through the draft is the best way, you take players you like and mold and them and turn them into the foundation of the team at a fair price. You pay foolishly in free agency, either way, to get someone else’s players or keep your own. The idea is to sign your own if you like before they hit free agency where the price dramatically increases. We need to find multiple starters in this draft, and then again next year in order to turn around this roster from being subpar to better than average. This is where we’ll be either getting it done or failing at getting it done. This is the first test for Sully and Haf and it’s a big one. I feel very good about their chances of success! CHEERS!
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
Cheers, Mike E. and thank you!
We need some big uglies, especially OGs…lol.
Good write, Mike. I agree with your assessment about positional needs. We have the picks to get this thing going.
As always, I just want good players, but I don’t see any reason to draft many, if any, skill offensive players. Nothing but OL and defense is fine with me. That’s building the right way. We’ll see if these guys’ words match their actions soon enough.
I agree, we do not need shiny offensive playmakers this year.
Mike, you had me at your first sentence, tge fact that you can listen to them speak is already winning, no ahh duh duh BS
Mike, wait what, this roster is subpar?🤪
does anyone argue its not subpar?
does a great draft change that?
sure its possible guys play hard, Malik is the real deal (which I think he is, but really haven’t seen enough of to know), some young guys stepping up, but reality is 2019 revisited
I have no expectations on team play, my only expectation is we kill it in this draft or at least do what we can
Of course it changes it. Bring in 5 or so players that are the real deal and can get the job done and those units are much better already. Then you keep building. That doesn’t mean we win 10 games this season but you change the culture of the team when you have your foundation. The Browns and Rams have drafted well, and look how fast the Patriots turned it around. We could be one of those teams in 2 years, but you have to start somewhere, and that somewhere is now with this draft.
I was referring to this season, sorry for the confusion
do you think we have enough talent to compete for the playoffs, if we draft/bring in those 5 players?
I feel great about the state of the franchise, we don’t need to have a good season to continue that feeling, we just don’t have the talent to do anything this year
we’re rebuilding, the only thing that matters is to approach team matters with that in mind
draft solid players, don’t reach for medical prospects McCoy, don’t worry about elite players (if one should fall ok, but better to trade down and get 2 solid players)
in other words don’t Grier it by thinking the roster is better than it is
Steve – I’d be surprised if we were a playoff team, but I wouldn’t be shocked. Better O-line play, better QB play, and maybe a few guys that were here last season like Grant, Phillips, Biggers and the 2 DB’s Trader and Marshall step up, and maybe JuJu Brents stays healthy and realizes his potential, and a couple of defensive guys we draft we really hit on, anything is possible. Not likely, because that’s asking a lot, but I’m also hoping Hafley’s coaching style with be make this team a more physical team than it has been, on both sides.
It all depends on QB play when thinking playoffs.
bailbondmike
says:
April 17, 2026 at 9:01 am
Actually, Sadiq’s drop rate was 10.5% and Sam Roush’s drop rate was 8.75% or 7 drops on 80 targets. Still not great but manageable.
Compare to Eli Stowers drop rate of 4.1%.
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According to PFF, Sadiq’s drop-rate is 10.5%, but Sam Roush’s drop-rate is 12.5%. That’s why I stated Roush’s rate is even worse than Sadiq’s.
PFF confirms 7 drops on 80 targets for Roush, but that rate comes out to 11.4% (still worse than Sadiq).
I don’t know where the 8.75% or the 12.5% come from… it’s basic math.
So regardless, Roush has less reliable hands than even Sadiq… that’s worrisome.
7 drops divided by 80 targets comes out to 8.75%. I don’t know where PFF gets their 11.4% either. lol
Mike E,
Solid write! I feel ya left out OG Emmanuel PREGNON, who is slated to go late 1st-early 2nd round. He also is a strict Guard, with no Tackle-flexibility.
I wouldn’t pass on him because he’s strictly a guard. Whenever he’s healthy he’s going to play guard and most likely start, so you need some flex backups.
Rockphin
says:
April 17, 2026 at 8:47 am
But Sadiq who cannot block and is a big WR and has drop issues is being mocked as a 1st round pick while Roush who is more of an inline traditional blocker (yes he can block, he just needs to clean up his technique) is a 3rd round type guy.
We basically have NO tight ends in the room right now. half of them have NEVER caught an NFL pass!
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Roush has a mediocre 57.6 blocking grade.
Sadiq has a 66.3 blocking grade.
I don’t deny the fact we could use a solid TE, but taking one before the 4th round in essentially a rebuild on both sides of the ball would be… unorthodox.
My guy Dallen Bentley has a 61.7 blocking grade… but he’s a solid 6’4″, 259 pounds. Surely he can learn to block well at that size.
He also comes from Utah, with a recent flurry of success at the TE position in the NFL. Utah’s TEs aren’t typically asked to be run-blocking first.
Rockphin,
Lastly, you and I VERY much like the same style of TE over the years. Here’s Dallen Bentley’s highlights. Dare I say, I see a little bit of Dallas Goedert to his game…
OH, by the way. Want to know what Dallen Bentley’s drop-rate is? 0.0% on 76 targets.
A 61.7 blocking grade is not bad for Bentley. You don’t find many who grade over 70. I think any TE who grades over 60 is good enough in that department as long as they can give you something in the receiving department as well.
Tim – If it’s all about QB play, we have a better chance this season without Tua. lol
😂 what I mean is I don’t think the team is going to be an embarrassment and with good QB play a 10 win season and a playoff spot wouldn’t shock me either. We have talent and the draft which is supposed to make the team better. I’m enjoying the new direction.
Hey M – Yes, Pregon is definitely another very good OG only prospect. Thanks!
Anytime, my dude!
Just in case some of y’all forgot who my guy Jalin Conyers is, who we picked up as an priority UDFA after the ’25 Draft…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbBYM3x-Fgw
Tim Knight
says:
April 17, 2026 at 2:02 pm
I wouldn’t pass on him because he’s strictly a guard. Whenever he’s healthy he’s going to play guard and most likely start, so you need some flex backups.
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You should already know my opinion on the impregnable PREGNON. I totally agree with ya.
I watched 4 Oregon games last season and he ALWAYS showed up to me. He’s a BEAST.
Likewise with S Dillon Thieneman, he ALWAYS showed up to me: BEAST.
Know who NEVER showed up to me? Kenyon Sadiq.
It seems everyone is high on Thienman.
bailbondmike
says:
April 17, 2026 at 2:47 pm
A 61.7 blocking grade is not bad for Bentley. You don’t find many who grade over 70. I think any TE who grades over 60 is good enough in that department as long as they can give you something in the receiving department as well.
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VERY much agreed! 😀
I’m happy about the Achane news. I am one of the many that thinks and knows he’s a special player. He makes the team better and he’s 24 years old. Look at his per touch numbers. He’s elite level. Yes I’m giving him a market value contract.
I think Achane and Willis create major problems for opposing defenses.