If you will allow me some leeway here, I want to try and change your perspective. Not only was this GM Jon Eric-Sullivan’s first NFL Draft experience, but it’s very important to remember that he was drafting to try and replace nearly half the roster. Chris Grier, our former GM left this team in an awful state. The most obvious issue to anyone from the outside was the cap situation, we came into the season over the cap. Before undertaking his, or really their, because Sully and Haf are really the synergistic duo who are in charge of the team. Together, they just purged the roster of a bunch of high price salaried players that let’s face it, didn’t have what it takes to get it done here. QB Tua Tagovailoa, WR Jaylen Waddle, EDGE Bradley Chubb, WR Tyreek Hill, OL Liam Eichenberg, OL James Daniels, WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, FB Alec Ingold, and K Jason Sanders. If you loved any of these players, forgive me, but they were part of the problem here. They’re part of the reason this team has been considered “soft”, and why this team could never really contend during the Grier/McDaniel. All the shiny stars in the world weren’t going to win here in Miami with the weak type of mindset of Grier/McDaniel, routinely rewarding players with salary bumps and contract extensions during a period where we made the playoffs twice and were out and out embarrassed looking like we didn’t belong on the field with the other team. Those days are OVER!!!!
We all need to realize the tremendous undertaking it was for Sully and Haf, knowing this team in tremendously disadvantageous cap situation. There will be no big spending to help fill the roster and better the roster once Free Agency begins and teams start cutting veteran players. I’m not saying we won’t make any moves, but we simply don’t have any space to make big purchase. Sullivan realized he had to fill the roster through the draft and UDFA’s, and we made 13 selections in the 2026 NFL Draft. Some of you hated at least half of them, and maybe national talking heads did too, but none of that matters. I explained yesterday that Sully and Haf may have changed the entire culture here in just one draft. The guys selected are “their guys”, and it was quite clear to me that Sully and Haf wanted physical players that want to get at it. These guys will run through a wall for HC Jeff Hafley and for their teammates. Do you not see the contrast to what we had here before? “Me” guys, not team players. There will be no “You get to pick the music for today’s practice Jaylen because you had a very good practice today!” I could vomit just thinking of that. Good practices will now be expected from every player and will be rewarded by playing better in the games and remaining on the roster.
Despite taking players that weren’t high on many boards, throughout the draft we Sully took physical players, because he wants this team to be a bigger, more physically imposing team. Our new OL Kadyn Proctor sure enough is big at 6’7 352. CB Chris Johnson isn’t really big, but he’s a “dog” and big enough at 6’0 193. LB Jacob Rodriguez who’s selection was blessed by none other than former Texas Tech LB and Hall of Fame LB Zach Thomas tells you all you need to know. This guy forced the most fumbles in the history of college football with 12, and had 7 FF’s last season. The WR’s we picked are also “dogs”, physical guys that are either difficult to bring down after the catch and aggressive making contested catches.The TE we drafted Will Kacmarek is hands down the best blocking TE in the draft. One guy who probably can’t wait to see these guys is RB De’Von Achane because Proctor and Kacmarek mean more yards for him! We drafted LB Kyle Louis who will be a chess piece. Undersized as a LB, Louis has very good cover skills and excellent athleticism and will be used like a LB/S hybrid.
We took our first EDGE rusher in RD 4 taking yet another player from Texas, Trey Moore. Not sure how much he can help this season, but the draft is never only about one season. That’s even more clear with the selection of WR Chris Bell in RD 3, who is coming off a late 2025 ACL tear. He will probably start the season on IR, and who knows, may finish on it too, but when healthy, Bell was a potential 1st RD pick.Bell is a big, thick WR at 6’2 222. He’s a tough receiver thats willing to fight for the ball and extra yards as well after the catch. IN RD 5 the Dolphins took, whaddaya know, another Texas player in S Michael Taffe. An undersized S with solid ball skills with 7 INT’s in his 5 year career and apparently he is QB Quinn Ewers best friend. We took a TE, a receiving TE in RD 5 Seydou Traore who is an international player, but a developing player at the TE position. We finally took another OL in RD 6, OG DJ Campbell from none other than Texas. We finished off the draft with another EDGE rusher Max Llewellyn. Here’s our entire draft haul . . .
RD 1 #12 OT Kadyn Proctor 6’7 352 – Alabama
RD 1 #27 CB Chris Johnson 6’0 193 – San Diego State
RD 2 #43 LB Jacob Rodriguez 6’1 238 – Texas Tech
RD 3 #75 WR Caleb Douglas 6’3 206 – Texas Tech
RD 3 #87 TE Will Kacmarek 6’5 261 – Ohio State
RD 3 #94 WR Chris Bell 6’2 222 – Louisville
RD 4 #130 EDGE Trey Moore 6’2 243 – Texas
RD 4 #138 LB Kyle Louis 6’0 220 – Pittsburgh
RD 5 #158 S Michael Taffe 6’0 190 – Texas
RD 5 #177 WR Kevin Coleman 5’10 179 – Missouri
RD 5 #180 TE Seydou Traore 6’3 233 – Mississippi State
RD 6 #200 DJ Campbell 6’3 313 – Texas
RD 7 #238 EDGE Max Llewellyn 6’6 258 – Iowa
So, 13 players in all, quite a haul. Once again my friends, culture change, and lord knows we need that so badly here. I think it’s the thing I hated most about this team was their inability to ever step up in a crunch moment. There are always exceptions on a big 53 man roster, and believe you me, ILB Jordyn Brooks, who is a “DOG”, will love playing next to Jacob Rodriguez, also a “dog” and fellow Red Raider. How many times did we hear from former Dolphins player how soft our team was? How many times did we witness how soft this team was, and that was partially HC Mike McDaniel, and certainly the players like Tua who never met a big moment he didn’t melt in, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle. None of those guys showed up big in big moments when it was needed.
I’m so looking forward to “seeing” the culture change, not hearing about. I can’t wait to see these guys in action. I’m not expecting to compete for a divisional crown this year but I expect this team to win at least half a dozen games or more this season. To me, that would be impressive after the extensive purge we went through. I want to observe a more physical team, we’ll know it when see it, and I think we’;re going to see it a lot. We’re going to see what big collection of “dogs” can do and how infectious it is to the entire team. Can’t wait to see it!
GO DOLPHINS!!!
Finsmob Unleashed 
kool-Aid is very bad for you
It can lead to diabetus
My friend Wilford Brimley says step away
You lost me at “change your perspective”.
Then you saved yourself from reading a long article! lol
you may have swayed me a little…
Rock – It’s not Kool Aid if it’s your own opinion, and this is my opinion. I haven’t read anyone else’s take on this, this is what I believe to have happened. It’s only Kool Aid if you drink what I’m putting out. LOL
I’m willing to see how these picks play out, Sulley wanted a certain type of player to start and he feels he got them. It’s not sustainable to keep drafting that way and perhaps he won’t next time you have to take the best talent and with solid base in place those guys will stand a better chance at success going forward.
Proctor, Bell and Kacmerak I think totally help change our offense to being much more physical.
after a few nights of mediocre sleep, I can definitely see what they are doing. The part that I won’t budge on is not taking Downs. Not because I wanted him more than any other player, but because we had a chance to add an elite prospect, and we passed on it. You don’t get that opportunity often.
Rodriguez makes up for not taking Downs, they’re both football junkies, leaders
If we took Downs we would’ve been on the outside after the OL run
we have Jackson for another year. It wasn’t a real need.
I don’t think we’ll be doing things like that next year. I think we definitely had big needs and chose to fill them rather than take the best prospect. We really were in a bad situation.
A writer from USA Today had a list of the top ten steals of the draft.
6. Kyle Lewis
2. Chris Bell
I agree 2 great picks
last time we played in GB Thanksgiving night, Sully and Hafley got to see how soft this team really was
change is a good thing, this time around
don’t sleep on Kevin Coleman, he’s a great punt returner and using those same skills from the slot
I figured we took him as a returner when I saw the pick.
https://www.ourlads.com/nfldepthcharts/depthchart/MIA
our lads has updated the depth chart
and although they dont really know anything yet there re a couple of interesting things
2. Kyle Louis is a safety. Or at least listed as a backup safety. I’m really curious to see the Louis, Trader, Taffe trio of young safeties
3. Rodriguez backs up Brooks. Not sure about this one. I think maybe he starts along side Brooks. That’s a pretty good set of ILB
4. Bell and Douglas start. All I can say to this is I HOPE SO. If we drafted out two starting WRs in the 3rd, that was a really good round.
5. Kacmerek is not starting. I think we are going to see a lot of two TE sets next season Dulcich and Kacmerek are probably going to be big parts of this offense. The nfl saw more two TE sets last year than it ever has. It’s a growing tend.
Proctor may also be the LG with Jonah, Salyer and Campbell fighting for the RG spot. Either way our O-line should be better
this is like a 2027 mock draft, just a little premature for my liking
Kacmerek seemed like a reach to me when he was drafted. I wanted an OG in the 3rd like Pregnon or Dunker. But after watching Kacmerek a little I realized he is a guard you don’t have to declare as eligible on plays.
dude is a mauler
it’s noteworthy that 2 TE sets are a Growing trend in the nfl. Offenses are getting bigger to take advantage of smaller defenses.
it felt lie, we didn’t build the trenches enough on draft day – but maybe I just didn’t get the vision initially.
Kacmerek – who I think will play a lot as a rookie makes us a much more physical offense
Achane is going to have a big season
Mike E,
Great write Mike E. I’m glad you guys recognize the importance of having Dogs .🐕
hopefully THESE Dogs don’t leave yard cigars on the field every week 🐕💩
LOL!
”I don’t think we’ll be doing things like that next year. I definitely think we had big needs to fill.”
This is EXACTLY my point. we didn’t take a best player available because we had so many needs. Then you take it the best player available and you will have a stronger team in the future. You’re basically saying that we took less talented players because we had to fill needs. I think the opposite if we have so many needs, let’s fill them with the best players available. We will have Talented team in the future if we have better talent on the team.
According to Sully, he took BPA
but I guess the draft “experts” in the media know what’s best, prolly why them call themselves experts
I’m hoping sooner rather than later (maybe by 2027), we’ll be seeing Campbell, Proctor, and Kacmerek opening huge holes on that right side!!!
J-Rod and Louis are definitely my favorite picks, but I also like the Chris Johnson, Trey Moore, Chris Bell, and Kacmerek picks.
if you look at how bad our numbers were last year in pass D, for me the worst stat, I’d have to say the Chris Johnson pick was a slam dunk and our best pick
Chris Bell not far behind
worst pick Douglas, but don’t hate that pick, it was just odd at the time, and still not sure how his college drops will affect his NFL career
blocked again.
Lol. Oh sure…that one goes thru.
Brian in NY
says:
April 26, 2026 at 11:20 am (Edit)
You’re basically saying that we took less talented players because we had to fill needs.
*********************************************
Not really, but you know as well as I know that Austin Jackson is a huge question mark. He’s missed more than half the season two consecutive years in a row, 20 games to be exact. So although it’s very convenient for you to say we have Austin Jackson, I say “Do we?”. To add, if Jackson is a big question mark, and so are both OG spots, I’m sorry, but that is a big need right there, it just is. The Giants took Reese because they needed a pass rusher, but at 10 with Mauigoa and Downs on the board, they took Mauigoa. My guess is Sully had Downs rated around the same as he had Proctor, factored in our needs on the O-line, calculated (correctly!) that the run on OT’s had begun and that he better grab his favorite or else!
We can downplay signing Malik Willis to a 3 year contract but the GM has a responsibility to give his QB adequate protection. If Austin Jackson goes down, we know Proctor should be fine at RT, and then either Salyer, Savaiinaea or Campbell will be the 2 OG’s. I understand that you think Downs is a generational player, and he might be, but in this difficult position we were in, to me it was the right decision to go OT.
Dogs are of utmost importance! Wish one particular “doggy” could be here more. In any case, good to see ya when you’re here!
I know some have mentioned trading Brooks after drafting some LBs, but I want him to stay. I think Brooks and J-Rod playing together will be a lot of fun for us fans.
Thanks for the write-up and draft recap, Mike E.
YW Rich! I look forward to seeing the 2 Red Raiders play together at LB!
https://x.com/WillisMuse/status/2047841489951023379?s=20
Nice, love Zach!!! Red Raiders are our new LB U!!!
Not sure I understand the argument that we had so many needs we couldn’t go BPA. That’s literally the best time to do it.
Looking at GB last season, the TE’s, 3 of them, Tucker Kraft (44 targets), Luke Mugrave (31 targets), and John Fitzpatrick (15 targets) had a total of 90 targets for a total of 68 catches. Previous year was similar, 72 catches total but Kraft had the majority with 50. So not a whole lot of use in the pass game for the TE’s. Not saying we have the GB offense here, but I’d think some concepts will come here. The choice of a big blocking TE seems to reinforce that.
SB – I thought I explained it, but I’ll try again. Don’t you think our roster was in a complete shambles before the draft? Again, 3 big fat question marks on the O-line, potentially not a starting CB on the roster, and in my estimation, not a lot at EDGE either, although Sully might like the guys we picked up in FA for this season at the very least. How many times does a GM approach his very first draft with the cupboards almost completely empty because the last fucknut GM who was here was giving out contract extensions like Oprah used to give away cars and we were OVER the cap and we had to purge so many top players and basically anyone making a high salary? I think it was a pretty unique situation.
Take this with a grain of salt, but they mentioned that Miami sniped the whole AFC East. Basically, taking Chris Johnson right in front of Buffalo, taking J-Rod right in front of the Jets, and taking Trey Moore right in front of NE. There were whispers that each team was looking to draft the player Miami got. Not sure if true, but still interesting.
That’s great! I did hear we got sniped by the Giants who had heard we loved WR Malachi Fields and traded up in front of us to grab him. Regardless, awesome to do it to our divisional rivals! Thanks Rich!
Yeah, heard that about Fields. I think we may end up making out better if Chris Bell lives up to his billing.
Sully saying it for me . . .
https://x.com/MiamiDolphins/status/2048207823515922780?s=20
We’ll all have to wait and see. I don’t think this draft will be remembered fondly in a few years. But, if we can get a few guys from it, that’s all that really matters. I don’t think it was any sort of foundational draft. It looked piecemeal.
The bottom line is winning cures all. Nobody cares about culture if you’re winning. Hopefully we got some talent in this draft that helps us win.
I don’t agree with that. We were winning in 2022 and 2023 but the pussy culture here got us crushed when it counted. Winning big games is what I want to see, and that will be playoff games. I think (hope?) that’s what we’re building towards. Getting bigger players with better attitudes and intestinal fortitude that can handle the pressure when it counts!
Randy – Any thoughts on Iowa EDGE Max Llewellyn?
I was just hoping to have a draft where we were blown away with at least 2 picks and that didn’t happen. It was very Ireland and Grierish. Making trades for people with potential and the need to coach up that don’t matchup with the needs of the franchise. We’re adding players and not building a team. Also, culture change is talked about every time there’s a new regime. I’ll believe it when I see it.
MikeE,
I talked about Llewelyn a few months ago. Great spin move…not much else. He plays hard. He’s well coached. He’s not very stout in contact. Maybe he has value as a situational pass rusher. I can certainly see him as a fit for a Wide 9 concept. A lot of his tackles are behind the LOS. If he sticks…backup.
That said, he kind of reminds me of a guy like AVG was coming out of college.
Nice! Thanks Randy!
MikeE,
Ah, but the fans didn’t give a shit in 2023. We still hear about it! All most saw was winning. There were very few voices not crowing about how Tua was fantastic and we were so close…SO much talent on the team. Those of us who mentioned the shitty leadership got shot down hard.
Folks just assume that if you’re successful your culture must just be fine. Frankly, I think it’s overrated. Don’t strawman me…culture matters, but talent is what wins football games. Give me talent, and I’ll get enough culture. Without talent, culture ain’t winning shit.
I like the UDFA pickup of le’veon moss
Ha! Was just going to post about him!
Strengths
He was also De’Von Achane’s RB tandem guy at Texas A&M. Where else? lol
Gotta love for Texas for sure!
“My friend Wilford Brimley says step away”
————————-
I just watched The Thing last night after watching a documentary my wife and I have credits in (paid $50 each to get credited in the doc, which was fun.)
The one with Kurt Russell?
Yeah, 1982 Carpenter’s movie. Great flick.
Nice on the documentary. The Thing is still one of my all time favorite movies. My #2 horror favorite, just behind Jaws.
Cheers, Rich, it’s one of my all-time favorites too.
This is something that always perplexed me. If every team has its own board and should be given the benefit of the doubt that their pick was their pick on their board, why does it matter what any other team is going to do? Who Buffalo or NY is going to pick from that perspective has zero impact on my decisions because everybody’s board is theirs alone. Now, if I can somehow fuck them up in the process all the better. But, every board is different…so what does it matter who wants whom?
I do not want a GM making moves based on that sort of thing. Focus on your own process.
I don’t think any of the picks were because other AFC East wanted them, I just thought it was interesting that it worked out that way. If it was even true of course.
Mike E.
says:
April 26, 2026 at 12:40 pm
SB – I thought I explained it, but I’ll try again. Don’t you think our roster was in a complete shambles before the draft? Again, 3 big fat question marks on the O-line, potentially not a starting CB on the roster, and in my estimation, not a lot at EDGE either, although Sully might like the guys we picked up in FA for this season at the very least. How many times does a GM approach his very first draft with the cupboards almost completely empty because the last fucknut GM who was here was giving out contract extensions like Oprah used to give away cars and we were OVER the cap and we had to purge so many top players and basically anyone making a high salary? I think it was a pretty unique situation.
__
Not sure what you’re addressing here as this post wasn’t directed at you. I’m pretty sure plenty of GM’s have stepped into the same situation and had to build from the ground up. Yes, the roster was in shambles, which is why the draft is being criticized for not focusing enough on talent and immediate readiness to contribute. We weren’t going to solve it in this draft, but we could have had a better start, especially with our draft capital.
Like I said, I like some of these players, but they felt like additions to an established team and not the core pieces for a franchise turnaround.
Ok, I think the opposite. First you find guys that set the tone and create the culture, and we need low cost players. I’m sure GM’s have stepped into poor roster situations, but really, poor roster situations and over the cap too? I think that’s an extreme situation. We drafted a boatload, of players, 13 to be exact. Once you have a team of me guys and those guys have spread that culture throughout the roster, then go ahead and start drafting best players. I’m not saying my way is the best way, but that’s wha they appear to be doing and I have zero issues with it. We’ll see how it works out. I also think we got some really good players, but definitely not the supposed “headliners” that were circulated by all the draft sites and NFL.com as well
Randy,
Nahnahnahnahnah! lol
BPA is not a universal census other than a handful of prospects at the very top and that’s not 100% either.
I’ve seen lots of people giving us good grades and we likely landed 4 starters and some good developmental players.
I will say Caleb Douglas seems to be considered a major reach but in the 3rd round is there really such thing as a major reach. I also heard some pundits talking about guys who might be the steal of the draft in the 4th and 5th rounds. So why did they fall so far if they’re that good? My opinion on that is not everyone feels the same way about lots of prospects.
I don’t worry too much about “reaching” and once you get to day 3, I don’t care at all. Just go get the guys you think will fit and help this team.
Will Kacmarek
https://x.com/MiamiDolphins/status/2048047810948305113?s=20
Why do I have a feeling he will be one of my favorite players by the end of training camp. LOL
He makes that running game go and helps us win short yardage situations, he will be a favorite for sure!
Tim,
Not to be contrary, truly. I chuckle because this time every year you can find an article for every team saying how they got “a steal” somewhere. Its marketing. It’s pretty predictable but premature. Most don’t pan out. Let’s hope ours do.
Kong,
Thousands of dollars on a video game…I assume that’s what the mobile game you were talking about is. And now throwing money around to get your name on stuff. Are you Trump?
😂
I wish I had Trump level money, but alas no, it was just a fun gift.
Kong – “The Thing” was an awesome movie. Saw that one in the theaters when it first came out, had no idea what it was really about. The special effects were pretty far ahead of their time and were amazing to me. It was pretty scary and suspenseful at the time, I remember it well. Dia-beet-us had no overcome Wilford Brimley yet that time. lol
Would have loved to watched that in the theater. Being such an atmospheric movie, I bet it’s a different experience. If it ever gets another release, I’ll take the opportunity.
One of my favorites has always been Escape From New York. I grew up watching Kurt Russell as a little boy in Westerns. Makes me feel old.
Another Carpenter movie. He had a string of great B movies in the 80’s, not to mention Halloween.
Escape from New York
The Thing
Big Trouble in Little China
The Live
(with that great line by Rowdy Roddy Piper “I’m here to chew bubble gum and kick ass…and I’m all out of bubble gum”)
*They Live
Chrtistine and The Fog were also in there; the Fog was inferior IMO.
I’m happy to spread the propaganda!
https://x.com/ShoutoutKG/status/2048182724905607590?s=20
Carpenter was good, but man, Paul Verhoeven was better IMO. Loved Robocop, Total Recall, Starship Troopers, and Showgirls and Basic Instinct (For a different reason!)
It’s awesome you bring up Verhoeven. My buddy and I were chatting about Carpenter yesterday and he compared the two. They both have unique styles, make good movies with social commentary as subtext and are just great story tellers.
Kong,
I love all those. One of my best buds is a huge car guy and would watch Christine over and over. I loved Vampires with James Woods too. Cheap ass movies but they entertained. Maybe we just didn’t know any better. Lol
Any one of those movies I could just turn on the tv and if it’s on, sit down and enjoy it.
MikeE,
Don’t think Adrienne Barbeau wasn’t a big part of my love for Escape From New York. Lol
LOL – You mean Adrienne Barboobs, don’t you?
Nice write up Mike. I am fairly optimistic of the direction the franchise is going in. A long time coming. I did want Reuben though.☹️
You and about 10 million other Florida residents! Not getting Bain and Mauigoa left a lot of Florida peeps angry apparently. I saw X or twitter as it used to be blowing up with angry Dolphins fans
I’m really sad, because now we have to wait an entire year until we can draft again. I LUV THE DRAFT!!! LOL
As ‘The Tuna’ would say, “You are what your record says you are”. We are currently 0-0, added fresh new faces, and starting from the ground up. This Draft class cannot be adequately judged for about 3 years.
So, 3 years from now we may discover we drafted the next BIG thing on day three… such as a Zach Thomas, Tom Brady (not that we drafted a QB), or Antonio Brown.
3 years from now, it’s possible we landed perennial Pro-Bowlers through this Draft.
But also, 3 years from now we may find that it was horrible Draft with very few of our new draftees left on the team.
Until then, we’ll just have to wait and see and hope for the best.
My favorite pick by far was Chris Johnson… BALLHAWK!!! And once Chris Bell gets back from his damaged ACL, I think he’s going to be straight up MENACE on the field for us!
Draft grades right now DO NOT MATTER! And that includes mine, which I’ll grade as a C+ on its face. I’m looking forward to being very wrong, for that would mean Sully hit a homer!
BEST of luck to every new draftee and UDFA we’ve acquired since Thursday night kicked off.
WELCOME TO MIAMI!!!
GO PHINS!!!
HELL YEAH!!!
The documentary is called ‘The Thing Expanded’- 5+ hours, lol.
The same fan-based studio also did one on Aliens (another amazing movie).
I’d buy that for a dollar