Dolphins trade back and then trade up in RD 1

It wasn’t the guy I expected us to draft, but it was the position I wanted without question. The O-line is a joke, we have 2 players on that line that are solid in LT Patrick Paul and C Aaron Brewer. That’s it! Jon-Eric Sullivan’s first move in the 2026 NFL Draft was trading back from #11 to #12, one spot with the Dallas Cowboys. We acquired two 5th RD picks, #177 and #180 to move back one spot, and break the hearts of quite a few fans here who wanted S Caleb Downs. One guy who probably was thrilled with the pick was RB De’Von Achane, and another guy was certainly QB Malik Willis. I’m looking forward to having these massive bookends on our O-line, it’s been way too long since this O-line was a strength, and not coincidentally, way too long since this team was a legit contender. Patrick Paul at 6’7 326 and Kadyn Proctor 6’7 352.

Jon-Eric Sullivan’s next trade in the draft was a trade up, as the Dolphins moved from RD1 Pick #30 to Pick #27 by trading Pick #30 and Pick #90 (RD 3) for the #27 Pick and and a 4th RD pick #138. The Dolphins at #27 selected San Diego St. Cornerback Chris Johnson. The 6’0 193lb CB will undoubtedly be pushed to start at the very important CB position. I had hoped we never traded up in this draft, I want more picks, but we really didn’t lose any picks, we just moved back from RD 3 to RD 4. Listen, it’s way too early to judge picks, but I would say the majority of us figured we’d go O-line and CB, and that’s precisely what we did. If/when S Caleb Downs is a perennial All Pro, and Kadyn Proctor is 6’7 380 and the fattest turnstile in Dolphins history, go ahead, pound your chest because you were right. On the other hand, if OT Kadyn Proctor is a motivated player here, and is mauling defenders at the LOS and downfield with regularity and provides solid protection for our QB, I won’t have a care in the world what Caleb Downs is doing.

Day 2 coming up tonight at 7:30 will have the Dolphins waiting 11 spots at Pick #43 and then we’ll have three selections in RD 3, #75, 87 and 94. I won’t be shocked (or disappointed) if we tap a guy for the O-line again in RD 3. LT Patrick Paul, LG Jonah Savaiinaea, C Aaron Brewer, RG Kadyn Proctor, RT Austin Jackson (if healthy). 2 gaping holes bigger than the space between Michael Strahan’s two front teeth that needed to be filled. I personally do not want to hand Big Jonah that job, and I also didn’t want to see OG Jamaree Salyer start at RG. I’m aware we could have selected an OG later and we still might do that. How many times have we been failed by the O-line? How many times have we had to watch an injury torpedo the success of that unit? Two injuries? If not injuries, just out and out subpar play? It’s been a nightmare, and we took one step in attempting to fix that. You all saw the run on the O-line, it was real, and it will probably continue.

I think we’ll probably grab a WR and possibly a TE as well, but where, who knows? I’m curious to see if we move back again in RD 2, that wouldn’t surprise me. We definitely need EDGE help so RD 2 would be a good place to grab one. Players still available at the EDGE position are Zion Young, Cashius Howell, T.J. Parker, Gabe Jacas, Derrick Moore and R. Mason Thomas. We’ll see if we nab one of those guys in RD 2, and then maybe find a WR and another O-lineman. I know some of you love Penn St. EDGE Dani Dennis-Sutton. Maybe we take him. Maybe he would help you guys recover from us not taking Caleb Downs. I know you guys liked him, I respect that, but how did he all of a sudden become a Hall of Famer? I’ll wait for your responses later!

What do you guys think we do in RD 2? Move up? Move back? What position do we target in RD 2? Then what do you think we do in RD 3? Let me know, I want to hear . . .

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1,125 Responses to Dolphins trade back and then trade up in RD 1

  1. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    I have also decided that I am going to ignore where and when the new players on this team came to be here (mostly because I can’t keep track, Damn! LOL) I’m just going to wait until I can see them play and then choose my favorites from whoever is left on the 53 and root for them. That blocking TE is going to make our RB’s look soooo much better.

    • Tim Knight's avatar Tim Knight says:

      Kacmarek can catch passes at times it’s just that blocking is his forte and being that Hafley wants to be heavy rush team you need those kinds of TEs. We’ve been talking about having a TE like this for years so when we do draft that type of TE everyone loses it because it was in the 3rd round.

      You know who was also a 3rd round pick TE and was more blocker than receiver? Dan Campbell! They’re both the same size too.

  2. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    With that Chis bell video, I meant to add that he reminds me of a 6’2, 220 pound faster Jarvis Landry.

  3. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    12. Kadyn Proctor OT Alabama C+

    27. Chris Johnson CB San Diego State B

    43. Jacob Rodriguez LB Texas Tech B

    75. Caleb Douglas WR Texas Tech F

    87. Will Kacmarek TE Ohio State F

    94. Chris Bell WR Louisville A

    130. Jalen Farmer OG Kentucky A+

    138. Brian Parker II OC Duke B-

    151. Jonah Coleman RB Washington A

    177. Anthony Lucas EDGE USC A-

    180. Jeff Caldwell WR Cincinnati C+

    227. Bishop Fitzgerald S USC B-

    238. Sawyer Robertson QB Baylor C-

  4. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    TBH, and I am going to be a hypocrite, I would take the RB Mike Washington at pick 130. lol

    Actually, I think he could be BPA there depending on who keeps falling.

  5. sb7mvp's avatar sb7mvp says:

    lol at thumbstache. Kudos rock. Also with phindog back, we are going to have to watch where we step on the lawn again.

  6. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    12. Kadyn Proctor OT Alabama C+
    27. Chris Johnson CB San Diego State C+
    43. Jacob Rodriguez LB Texas Tech A-
    75. Caleb Douglas WR Texas Tech C
    87. Will Kacmarek TE Ohio State C
    94. Chris Bell WR Louisville A+
    130. Dani Dennis-Sutton EDGE Penn State A
    138. Zakee Wheatley S Penn State A
    151. Jalen Farmer OG Kentucky A
    177. Mason Reiger EDGE Wisconsin B
    180. VJ Payne S Kansas State A-
    227. Caden Barnett OG Wyoming B
    238. Riley Mahlman OT Wisconsin C

  7. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    You know who was also a 3rd round pick TE and was more blocker than receiver? Dan Campbell! They’re both the same size too.

    You saying we picked our future head coach?

  8. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    12. Kadyn Proctor OT Alabama C+

    27. Chris Johnson CB San Diego State B

    43. Jacob Rodriguez LB Texas Tech B

    75. Caleb Douglas WR Texas Tech F

    87. Will Kacmarek TE Ohio State F

    94. Chris Bell WR Louisville A

    130. Justin Joly TE NC State A

    143. Billy Schrauth OG Notre Dame B+

    151. Ephesians Prysock CB Washington A-

    177. Anthony Lucas EDGE USC A-

    180. Travis Burke OT Memphis B-

    183. Caden Curry EDGE Ohio State A-

    227. Fa’alili Fa’amoe OG Wake Forest A

  9. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    Even the best blocking TEs are still a mismatch against good DEs. The quality of your running game…hate to break it to ya…does NOT hinge on your TE. If you wanted to upgrade the running game or blocking…here’s a crazy thought….draft a damn guard.

    • Tim Knight's avatar Tim Knight says:

      Uhhh yes TEs do play a major role in zone blocking schemes, Randy. Your negativity is affecting your football acumen. Go watch some film and tell me who’s washing guys out on the edges.

  10. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    Bri – Replying to your earlier post about Downs and Proctor. My feeling was very strong that we needed to fix the O-line. I wanted Mauigoa, but he was gone. I can’t promise that Proctor will be an ALL Pro RG/RT, but I felt the importance of filling what I see as 2-3 holes on the OL far outweighed a Safety. That’s just my opinion. We also don’t how much of an impact Downs will have. We’ll see

  11. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    Tim,

    You’ve been wrong about pretty much everything for decades and you question my football acumen? Ok.

    Major role my ass.

    • Tim Knight's avatar Tim Knight says:

      Yeah okay and you didn’t even address me with your post when it was obviously addressed to me because I was the one talking about blocking TEs. So I guess we’re changing the rules that TEs don’t block so why have we been all talking about getting one for decades? Come on, man! That’s weak.

  12. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    Damn, DT Kaleb Proctor to the Cards at 104. I have been mocking him to us at 90 or 94. You know a trench player.

  13. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    There goes one of M13’s guys Canady to the Chiefs.

  14. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    I guess Jude Bowry is a no go for us too

  15. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    acknowledging that there is a need at Guard and that you would have preferred to address that need before taking what was if not universally, at least in the majority lower rated TE is valid, but tight ends absolutely play a huge role in the run game. You guys are sniping at each other.

  16. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    jests take Klubnik. Poor guy

  17. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    Tim,

    As you always do, you changed what I said and responded to yourself. I never said a TE doesn’t play a role in the running game. It’s not a major role by any means. I said the running game success doesn’t hinge on your TE, and it doesn’t….especially in today’s NFL.

    I also never said TEs can’t block or don’t “wash guys out” on plays. Of course that happens too. But, again, good DEs beat 1v1 TE blocks more often than not. Ask any DE, and they’ll say the same thing. If you’re hanging your running game hat on the blocking of your TE, you’re screwed.

    AND, I don’t need to draft one in round three. I don’t care how good a blocker he is…and I actually like Kacmarek! Still, no damn reason to draft him there. Lol

    • steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

      nobody said, he’s going 1v1 against a DE, he’s also going to be our FB and HBack, his talents go a long way towards filling holes

      I too think he was drafted too high, but it is what it is, I don’t know the plan or have any insight on what other teams may be doing, they do thru trade calls amongst other things

      Just be like Rock and forget about where each player was drafted and just respond on the player

      if we can get over 4 players from this draft, that are good solid players we did it right

      sure this is a different draft, because of the amount of early picks, but history says we’ll be lucky to get 5 good one

  18. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    Tim,

    For the record, that post was absolutely not directed at you. Like I’ve said many times on here, if I am directing something at one person, I’ll put your name on it. If I want to make general comments, I leave names off. I don’t know how else to do it. It was more my frustration with drafting a blocking TE in the third round.

    • Tim Knight's avatar Tim Knight says:

      Okay I’ll drop it. I’m happy with the Will Kacmarek pick and I think he’ll play a major role in our run game.

  19. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    Damnit

  20. CavalierKong's avatar CavalierKong says:

    I don’t know half of the picks half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of them half as well as they deserve.

  21. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    The WR Caleb Douglas pick was odd to me, but I think that was a character pick, and it was early for that type of thing. They clearly want players they like, they seem to have a specific trait they look for. I completely understand the value of the pick and that he could have been available much later. He may have way overdrafted the kid. Hopefully he turns out to be a baller

    • Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

      I heard about 10% drops and such, but then I saw his highlights and imagined a dolphin on his helmet and said to myself OK, pretend we took him in the 4th.

      As long as they hit on the player, after the first round with it’s contract advantages, it doesn’t matter where you picked him.

      We took Zach Thomas in the 5th, but if we “Reached further” for him when we were in the 3rd would he have been any less great for the team?

      He falls in the world theory, like the OT they took, there are only so many guys that tall and that fast on the earth.

      • steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

        his career drop rate is about 8.2, its just a stat

        take the wizard Ozzie Smith, he covered so much ground, that even a higher error rate still meant he had more cutouts, than the second place guy

        Douglas has a large catch radius, that needs to be factored in

        Sully said he needs to get stronger, that could also help with the drops (finesse players flinch more when about to be hit), also drops are likely a concentration issue

        he’s a project, we have time to get him up to speed

        Jimmy Johnson once said, a player with less talent is as much a risk as a more talented player with injury concerns

        Douglas can have a high ceiling, if things fall into place

        still wouldn’t have taken him there, not my call

    • sb7mvp's avatar sb7mvp says:

      every team drafts players they like. Im not sure how this is a counterpoint

  22. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    seeing DDS, Moore and Farmer go off the board is pretty upsetting

  23. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    Damn, Wetjen gone. Steeler’s are a smart organization.

  24. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    Dodson, Weaver and Tahj seem to be the biggest losers so far, bases on who we drafted

    competition, competition, comp…

  25. manitobafinfan's avatar manitobafinfan says:

    can see the reason for reaching for “their guys” yesterday .. holy hell it’s a long wait till we pick today …

  26. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    Did anybody pick Beau Stephen’s yet? He’s another Iowa guy I thought would go earlier than predicted.

  27. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    its ok we all seemed to like DDS, there’s no way Sully was taking him

    ————

    REALLY, and you know this how????

  28. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    hearing Bills fans speak

    🤮🤮🤮

  29. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    feel like I’m 16 again, every time they show the bridge in Pittsburgh

  30. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    Steve, I am always late on your sarcasm. lol

  31. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    I liked Orr who the damn jills just took. He isn’t much in coverage, but if he can put it all together he will be really good.

  32. Mike E.'s avatar Mike E. says:

    Any EDGE guys we like left???

  33. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    Pick is coming up. I am scared. lol

  34. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    why is our fan waiving. Tyreke hill jersey around

  35. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    there’s are edge

    lightish guy

  36. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    2 off ball LB’s

    They are making no fucking sense

  37. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    If they plan to use him at edge, that’s definitely not getting bigger an tougher at that position.

  38. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    that was odd.The lady picking for the raven says I’ll keep it short like the steelers, postseason

  39. rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

    I like the Trey Moore pick. That dude has some serious quicks coming off the edge. He’s still fairly new to edge, so he’ll need a lot more coaching, but there’s good upside.

    Also, the Chris Bell pick is growing on me, even with the ACL.

  40. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    I guess it all comes down to how Hafley is going to run his defense where he needs some fast OLB’s.

  41. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    Also, we already have bigger slower edges on the roster so Trey Moore is a decent pick with versatility.

  42. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    we still have more picks left, than we usually have in the entire draft

  43. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    we’ll start the season with 16 project starters

  44. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    This draft feels like it needs a QB.

  45. steveccnv's avatar steveccnv says:

    we always seem to get a commercial its because they do one after every pick

  46. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    Kyle Louis, LB, Pittsburgh.

  47. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    Another fucking LB, WTF!!!

  48. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    wow

    I said I wanted a LB not a half dozen of them

  49. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    Kyle Louis is great just really undersized

  50. ElephantRider's avatar ElephantRider says:

    Convert to S

  51. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    going hybrid I see

    Took Rodriguez who is a huge safety / small LB and now Kyle Louis Big safety / small LB

    Both very good zone cover LB’s

  52. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    They won’t be resigning Brooks obviously and Brooks will likely be a deadline trade this year for a 2027 pick.

    That 2027 pick will then be used on a player who was projected to be a UDFA.

  53. rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

    Kyle Louis is definitely going to be fun to watch, a definite hybrid player!!!

  54. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    The Trey Moore selection absolutely fucking sucks.

  55. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    don’t k ow if they are going to covert Louis to safety or how they use him but Kilgore nd Wheatley are still there

    im. Ot sure we are done at safety or hybrid or whatever

  56. Randy's avatar Randy says:

    bolstering those ST units!

  57. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    Sully may not want to pay Brooks after this season.

    Sully / Hafley have said that they want to have a lot of players that can play multiple positions and those two LB’s are hybrid DB’s and playmakers

    I am actually starting to look forward to seeing this D. YOUNG but out Dline has a couple years, our LB vets are pretty good and now this influx of hybrid talent we have the potential to be really good in a couple years.

    In the short term, we are going to be forcing development real time which will be a natural Tank job to increase our draft next season while intensively maturing the young guys by making them play.

  58. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    Those two LB’s are going to be chess pieces Hafley can use and move around so the offense never knows what’s coming. He is finally taking steps to close the “First down here” sign in the shallow middle of our D. Don’t need to go Nickle because they are always in big nickle.

  59. rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

    Rene Konga, DT is still out there, too.

  60. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    ok, 6 more picks. let’s call parker c from duke

  61. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    I’d be very happy with Joshua Josephs @ R5P151… so we obviously won’t be drafting him! LOL

  62. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    Rock, while I agree with you, I hate that we have only spent 1 of our first 8 picks on the trenches.

    Obviously, Hafley likes the DL we already have on the roster. I do also. Our OL seems it will forever be the downfall of this team.

    Hope they get an OL at 151. Maybe Brian Parker who has that versatility.

  63. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    Joshua Josephs is there. He has prototypical size and some good traits that need to develop

  64. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    FUCK! Redskins take Joshua Josephs.

  65. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    Get me Brian Parker now at R5P151.

  66. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    Taking Josephs, while I like him, would make no sense at this point. So, they will probably pick him.

  67. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    We traded out with the Panthers to 158

  68. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    OH SHIT

    I just realized that I had paused to go take a piss 20 minutes ago and never fast forwarded through the commercials as intended so I have been behind all this time.

  69. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    Parker Cooper Crownover

  70. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    Looks like we traded 151 and 227 for 158 and 200

  71. rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

    I’m hoping for another OL and DL before today is over.

  72. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    Zakee Wheatley to the Panthers, Brian.

  73. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    Randy, I am sure you saw Beau Stephens to the Seahawks.

  74. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    I still wouldn’t mind Dallen Bentley, TE, Utah, either. Seems too many teams have been sleeping on him.

  75. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    Ill tell you what

    PFSN’s mock draft simulator is like real time with the trades.

  76. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    Crownover of Justin Jolly?

  77. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    Fa’alili Fa’amoe Matt Gulbin still there

    Versatile and better than average at multiple positions

  78. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    With the OL still going nonstop, I wouldn’t mind if they took OG Caden Barnett anywhere from 158 to the end of the draft. Obviously reaching doesn’t matter to them.

    • rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

      At this point in the draft, I don’t care about reaching. Now, if we’re talking about reaching at pick #75, that’s a different story.

  79. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    Matt Gulbin is another name to watch for us to draft on the O-Line.

  80. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    Watch them take Nussmeier. lol

  81. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    alright they have been interviewing this guy for multiple picks so then they will have to catch up with the other picks, then they will have to go to commercial when we pick and then they will have to catch up again

  82. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    This commercial shit is not a fluke

  83. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    Better shot of getting Riley Nowakowski at 200 but I doubt the take him with who they have taken

  84. Tim Knight's avatar Tim Knight says:

    Kyle Louis was listed as a S when we drafted him. Hafley likes big safeties who can matchup in coverage without giving up much size in nickel against the run. We already have two guys on the roster like that. It’s a role player like a joker etc. I saw a video about how he uses guys in his scheme.

  85. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    We select… Michael Taaffe, S, Texas.

  86. rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

    We got a safety!!!

  87. The Flying Pig's avatar The Flying Pig says:

    we just took mother safety

    taffe

  88. rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

    I really like the safety position, so I’ll be watching Louis and Taaffe closely this year.

  89. mf13ss's avatar mf13ss says:

    I remember Taaffe’s story. He’s a good guy with outstanding character.

  90. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    Taaffe is a very small safety 5’11, 190. Kind of a head scratcher when talking about what Hafley wants.

  91. Rockphin's avatar Rockphin says:

    Is that the 3rd defensive captain they have taken today? At least the 2nd

  92. Tim Knight's avatar Tim Knight says:

    Trey Moore is a developmental guy at Edge. He’s an athletic high motor guy who has played a lot of roles at LB. He’ll likely get bigger during his career.

    Defensive coach equals his kind of players.

    • rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

      Exactly. Trey has shown some very nice flashes off the edge, but a lot more coaching is needed. He is still a little green at the edge position, so proper development will be very important.

  93. rich0322's avatar rich0322 says:

    Let’s go get Parker and Konga, and then we can call it a day. LOL

  94. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    Taaffe is a very good cover safety. He could be your potential deep cover safety or even a press NB. Either way, he was one of the top cover safeties.

  95. bailbondmike's avatar bailbondmike says:

    Another decent OG gone

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