DRAFT WINDS PICK 11 – PART 1: OFFENSE

DRAFT WINDS PICK 11 – PART 1: OFFENSE

In almost every interview he’s conducted since taking over as the new General Manager of the Miami Dolphins, Jon-Eric Sullivan has hammered home the importance of the draft in building this franchise back up to a position of respectability. And he’s right, of course. It’s been the single biggest failing of the team for two decades plus, and over the last five years, the misses have been glaring.

Whilst we barely need reminding of what might have been, let’s just circle around the scene of the many crimes just once more in the hope that 2026 marks a change of course.

In 2020, when we were so perfectly positioned to change the course of the franchise forever, we ended up selecting three players – Tua Tagovailoa, Austin Jackson, and Noah Igbinoghene – who will, most likely, all be off the roster by the start of the 2026 season. Instead, we could have taken Justin Herbert or Jordan Love at 5, Justin Jefferson at 22, and one of Tee Higgins, Xavier McKinney, or Jonathan Taylor at 30.

In 2021, we inexplicably traded out of pick three when we could have selected Ja’Marr Chase, Penei Sewell, Pat Surtain, Micah Parsons, or Rashawn Slater. GM Chris Grier then traded back into six to take Jaylen Waddle, who’s been good but not great, eschewing the chance to take Sewell, Surtain, Parsons, or Slater, three of whom are on first ballot Hall of Fame career paths.

Later in that draft, we traded up to take Liam Eichenberg when we could have stayed put and selected All-Pro Creed Humphrey or Milton Williams. Then at pick 81, we reached for tight end Hunter Long only to see Nico Collins go 8 picks later, followed by two-time All-Pro Quinn Meinerz, a player we’d spent significant time with, 17 picks after we chose Long.

Shockingly, only De’Von Achane and special teamer Cameron Goode remain from two years of drafting in 2022 and 2023. In ’22, we took the athletic but inexperienced Channing Tindall 102nd. Before he was cut in the summer of 2025, he’d made a grand total of sixteen tackles. Meanwhile, fellow LB Leo Chenal, who was taken a pick later at 103, has won two Super Bowls to go along with his 218 tackles and 7 sacks. 

At pick 125, Miami selected Texas Tech WR Erik Ezukanma, who’d never been given a play call from the huddle in his career. Unsurprisingly, he flamed out. Four picks later, Dallas drafted two-time Pro Bowler Jake Ferguson, seven picks later, Sullivan’s Green Bay took Romeo Doubs, and most egregiously of all, eight picks after that, the Packers took one of the best linemen in the league in Zach Tom.

In 2023, we drafted CB Cam Smith three picks ahead of Pro Bowl edge Tuli Tuipulotu. Ironically, of the next three corners off the board after the South Carolina product, Tyrique Stevenson at 56, DJ Turner at 60, and Garrett Williams at 72, all three have become good players, with Turner developing into a top ten CB. Smith currently plays for the Columbus Aviators of the United Football League.

In 2024, we selected the underwhelming Chop Robinson one pick before All-Pro CB Quinyon Mitchell, who’d been dominant all week in front of Miami’s front office at the Senior Bowl. And whilst it’s too early to really judge the 2025 class, Pro Football Focus this week listed the group as the worst in the league based on their snap-weighed system.

In short, it’s simply not been good enough.

And so to the new regime. Miami holds the 11th overall pick in April’s draft, and with Shrine Week out of the way and the Senior Bowl practices in full flow, it’s time to take a look at who they might select in round 1.

During Sullivan’s time in Green Bay, the Packers had 20 first-round picks. They selected four edge rushers – (Nick Perry, Datone Jones, Rashan Gary and Lukas Van Ness); four defensive tackles (Justin Harrell, BJ Raji, Kenny Clark and Devonte Wyatt); three offensive tackles (Bryan Bulaga, Derek Sherrod and Jordan Morgan); three corners (Ahmad Carroll, Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes), three off-ball linebackers (AJ Hawk, Clay Matthews and Quay Walker); and then two each of quarterbacks (Aaron Rodgers and Jordan Love), and safeties (HaHa Clinton Dix and Damarious Randall) with one receiver – Matthew Golden – last year.

With that in mind, here’s a position-by-position guide to who’s in play at pick 11 in 2026:

QUARTERBACK:
Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza will be long gone by the time Miami gets on the clock. They certainly will do their due diligence on Alabama’s Ty Simpson, who had a terrific start to the season but struggled down the stretch. Ultimately, I’d be shocked if Sullivan signed off on a passer with just 15 starts who’s at or just under 6ft. As of right now, Ole Miss passer Trinidad Chambliss is stuck trying to get an extra year of eligibility. Even if the NCAA denies his request, it would take a significant leap of faith to think he would be taken at 11.

RUNNING BACK:
The Dolphins’ running back room is set, and unless they decide to deal De’Von Achane, I can’t see them taking Notre Dame’s Jeremiyah Love even if he’s still on the board. There’s also real quality depth behind the former Aggie scatback.

WIDE RECEIVER:
Sullivan’s history with the position – just one first-round receiver in 20 picks – would indicate it’s unlikely. However, there are three very strong candidates who could be on the board when Miami picks, starting with USC’s Makai Lemon. The Biletnikoff Award winner is one of my favourite prospects in the draft. As well-rounded a player as there is in 2026, he’s an Amon-Ra St Brown type who can kill you from the slot but shouldn’t be marginalised to just one position.

Especially as we live in a time where high football IQ really matters. The NFL values good route runners, players who understand coverages and leveraging, and how to get open consistently more than ever before. With so many reduced splits and routes that distribute from all over, being able to read coverages with so much zone and post-snap changes, along with the ability to block, are almost uniquely valuable. All these things, along with outstanding YAC ability, set Lemon apart.

Ohio State’s Carnell Tate is a classic X and the next in a long line of remarkable Buckeye wideouts. Whilst there are questions about his deep speed, he’s a fluid mover who plays fast, a tremendous route runner and hands catcher who gets constant separation and who can weigh in as a perimeter run blocker of repute. And then there’s Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson, who has some Ja’Marr Chase to his game, a super talented receiver who can devastate from inside or out with his route running and big play ability. But his chequered injury history and 10.5% career drop rate will give teams cause for concern as we get deeper into the process.