Dolphins’ Glaring Roster Holes Exposed in Brutal ESPN Rankings

The Miami Dolphins will enter the 2026 season with questions at several positions.

ESPN’s annual position-by-position rankings of all 32 teams, covering 10 key offensive and defensive units, reflect many of those concerns.

Miami ranked last overall and at wide receiver, tight end, edge rusher, cornerback, and safety.

“This should not be a surprise considering Miami had the shakiest unit at half of the positions on this list,” ESPN’s Mike Clay wrote. “A last-place case could’ve also been made for quarterback, where 27-year-old starter Malik Willis has just 155 pass attempts to his name.

“Running back De’Von Achane is a baller, but he has little help and has to run behind a shaky offensive line. The defense has a few solid players, including linebacker Jordyn Brooks and defensive tackle Zach Sieler, but there are weak spots all over the unit. Needless to say, the Dolphins are in full-on rebuild mode with new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and new coach Jeff Hafley. The only way for them to be competitive is if Willis emerges into a star.”

Miami doesn’t need Willis to be a star to have success in 2026

Many are predicting the Dolphins will be the worst team in the NFL in 2026. But Willis doesn’t have to become a superstar for them to be competitive.

In March, the Dolphins signed Willis to a three-year, $67.5 million contract, hoping he could become their quarterback of the future. But he needs to play efficient football and help Miami consistently move the ball downfield.

The Dolphins will also need Achane and many of their 2026 draft picks to produce if they are going to surprise people. Caleb Douglas has flashed during training camp, and Chris Bell could become a future No. 1 receiver if he can regain the form after tearing his ACL as he did at Louisville, where he looked like a surefire first-round pick before suffering a knee injury.

The Dolphins’ secondary is their biggest concern. They selected Chris Johnson in the first round, and he will likely start either on the boundary or at nickel cornerback. But the depth behind him is lacking, with unproven players such as JuJu Brents, Jason Marshall Jr., and Storm Duck.

The 2026 season will likely be a transitional year for the Dolphins after they overhauled a veteran-heavy roster. Although much of the pressure will be on Willis, several young players will need to step up if Miami wants to avoid finishing in the AFC East basement.