Dolphins Have Steady Present, Bright Future at Linebacker

But his presence didn't stop the Dolphins from investing in the future at linebacker in the 2026 NFL Draft, making the most of their seemingly endless trove of selections to triple-dip on promising prospects.

In the second round, Miami landed another stud from Texas Tech in Jacob Rodriguez, who was one of the most impactful players in all of college football last season, regardless of position. He put up huge numbers, making tons of splash plays against both the run and pass, all while anchoring one of the nation's most dominant defenses that helped lead the Red Raiders to a conference title and a top-four seed in the College Football Playoff.

Rodriguez backed up his impressive film with a strong showing during Senior Bowl week, and he proved his athleticism with stellar workout numbers at the NFL Scouting Combine. It wouldn't have been surprising if Rodriguez (the No. 32 overall player on my board) had ended up being a first-round pick, but the Dolphins managed to steal him at the No. 43 overall spot.

Miami had two picks in the fourth round, and they spent them both on linebackers. After grabbing the experience and production that Trey Moore brings to the party after a solid career split between UTSA and Texas, the Dolphins landed another bargain at the position with Pitt's Kyle Louis.

An undersized but versatile playmaker who can line up all over the field, Louis is built like a safety, but he packs a punch that allows him to hold his own in the box as a run defender. He's a fluid athlete who has no problem sliding out into the slot and handling coverage responsibilities in space, and he's got a knack for making big plays when the ball comes his way. His combination of physical traits and mental prowess should've had Louis (the No. 76 overall player in my rankings) off the board much earlier than the 138th overall pick.

Just like Rodriguez, Louis also turned heads with his performance during Senior Bowl week.

The Dolphins are clearly in the early stages of a massive rebuild, having parted ways with a ton of big-name veterans this offseason, including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and wide receivers, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. But while many are expecting them to be one of the worst teams in the league this season, Miami has retained some core players still in their prime (running back De'Von Achane, center Aaron Brewer), and they've acquired a ton of promising talent this offseason. If Malik Willis can be a solid starter at quarterback, it won't be surprising if the Dolphins make the majority of preseason predictions look silly.

There's no doubt who will anchor those efforts on defense, as Brooks will remain a valuable leader who sets the tone with his high level of play that's reflected on the field, in the locker room, and on the stat sheet.

But when it's time for the torch to be passed at his position, the Dolphins have already added talented defenders who will be worthy of taking over.