Final Dolphins Mock Draft

Final Dolphins Mock Draft

We made it, folks. It’s our Christmas Day. All the watching and waiting and ruminating and mocking is over for another few months as the new regime begins its work in earnest tonight.

Overnight, two of the most well-connected media big dogs posted their final mocks: NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah had the Dolphins taking Reuben Bain Jr at 11, followed by Caleb Lomu at 30, whilst Albert Breer of The MMQB posted what may well be the most likely scenario with Bain at 11 and Denzel Boston at 30. And whilst I could absolutely see a scenario where the Dolphins go Bain, Boston, and Haulcy with their first three picks, this is where I landed.

11. Caleb Downs – S – Ohio State
Jeff Hafley’s scheme in Green Bay was predicated on outstanding safety play. Whilst there are few better in the league at rolling down into the box than SS Evan Williams, it was Xavier McKinney who was the glue that held the group together. An All-Pro in both of his seasons with the Packers under Hafley, his range, instincts, and football intelligence were standouts and covered for some of the issues on the perimeter, where the corner group was one of the worst in the league. Downs is not only the best player in the draft, but he’s also got the biggest football IQ, and his ability to play multiple roles on a down-to-down, possession-to-possession, and game-to-game basis makes him so valuable. This would be a home run.
ALTERNATIVE PICK: Reuben Bain Jr – Edge – Miami

30. Malachi Lawrence – Edge – UCF
The only question about Lawrence is whether he’s still on the board at this point. The UCF edge has had one of the best draft seasons of anyone in the class, and there are scouts who believe he’s the best edge in the draft. This is an explosive player who’s long, with long arms – 33 5/8 inches and an 81 5/8 wingspan. He’s also big, athletic, and plays with significant power, especially in his hands to stun linemen. And he has a rich bag of pass rush moves to boot. He may take some time to develop in Miami, but his ceiling is enormous.
ALTERNATIVE PICK: Denzel Boston – WR – Washington

43. Germie Bernard – WR – Alabama
One of the most underrated players in the class, Bernard is versatile, tough, he’s got great hands, he wins between the hashes, and he’s really good after the catch. A football obsessive, he’s a tough cover from a schematic point of view: Ryan Grubb lined him up all across the formation, motioning him back in to help with blocking. Bernard displays real toughness in everything he does. A high IQ, high character, physically imposing, and selfless player, he’s consistent, always delivers in big moments, and his second-phase reaction ability is a perfect fit for Malik Willis.
ALTERNATIVE PICK: AJ Haulcy – S – LSU

75. Kaleb Proctor – DE/DT – Southeastern Louisiana
Much like Malachi Lawrence, the biggest question here is whether he’ll still be available. Proctor is a top 30 player on my board, an absolute firebrand who played at a lower level, but when he stepped up, he was dominant – watch his performance against LSU, where he had two sacks and multiple TFL’s, giving four and five-star linemen fits. I dare not mention the name of who he reminds me of, but he added 16lbs to get to 291 for the Combine and still ran a 4.79. He Who Must Not Be Named ran a 4.68 at 285. Proctor would give Miami a hugely versatile player on the defensive line and the speed to wreck the pocket.
ALTERNATIVE PICK: Keyshaun Elliott – LB – Arizona State

87. Jalen Farmer – G – Kentucky
The Dolphins need help at both G spots and at RT for when Austin Jackson is inevitably injured – he’s played just 62 of 103 career games. Farmer is a thickly built RG who, in my opinion, moves better than he’s given credit for. This is a brick wall in pass protection, who can get some real displacement and movement in the run game. As one coach said to me, “He’s a guy who has bad intentions on every snap.” The Dolphins need some bad intentions up front.
ALTERNATIVE PICK: Max Klare – TE – Ohio State

90. Skyler Bell – WR – UCONN
The Dolphins brought in Tutu Atwell, Terrace Marshall, and Jalyn Tolbert to add to a group that includes the Washingtons, but Bell here represents great value. He’s also coming off a dominant final campaign where he had 101 catches for 1,278 yards in the regular season and probably should have won the Biletnikoff Award, for which he was a finalist. Bell has the speed to work all three levels – he ran a 4.40 at the Combine – he can win at the catch point, he’s strong, he’s an eager and tenacious blocker in the perimeter run game, and he has return value.
ALTERNATIVE PICK: Jude Bowry – OT – Boston College

94. Austin Barber – OT – Florida
Barber came in on a 30 visit, and there’s some high-quality material to chew on with his tape, especially in the run game, where I think he’s one of the best in class. But there’s also some real lows and I’m not sure there’s anyone in this draft who has as much of a roller coaster as he does in terms of good and bad film, often in the same game. However, I think at worst he absolutely has a future as a starter at G in a ZBS. The question is, can Zach Yenser and Matt Applebaum get a tune out of him as a potential RT.
ALTERNATIVE PICK: Elijah Sarratt – WR – Indiana

130. VJ Payne – S/Sot – Kansas State
The slot position is a starting position in the NFL, and Miami has done very well there over the last couple of seasons with Kader Kohou and Minkah Fitzpatrick , and Payne could continue that trend. Within a few minutes of watching his coverage cut-ups from 2025, I messaged a friend to ask: “Are we SURE VJ Payne isn’t a CB??” He’s long and fast – he ran a 4.40 forty at the Combine – and his man cover stuff from the slot is pretty compelling. Payne was very good at the Senior Bowl, and for a Miami team looking for a big nickel who can come in and flash those high-level coverage chops from the off, he’s perfect value.
ALTERNATIVE PICK: Charles Demmings – CB – Stephen F Austin

151. Matthew Hibner – TE – SMU
The Dolphins have a bunch of bodies at TE, and for as much as I like Greg Dulcich, his career has been plagued by injury issues. Hibner, whose nickname is Captain America, had almost no profile until RJ Maryland tore his ACL, then stepped in as a starter and had 31 catches for almost 500 yards, and impressed at the Senior Bowl. At the Combine he ran a 4.57 and he has some really fun tape, flashing serious down field speed to run away from defenders, nice route tempo that includes some real explosion when he breaks at the second level, outstanding hands – a career drop rate of just 3.4% – and a strong blocking profile, aided in no small part by the fact that blocking on kick returns was one of Hibner‘s main responsibilities at Michigan where he started his career. At 6’4, 251, he has starter upside and could be a ST standout.
ALTERNATIVE PICK: Trey Zuhn III – OT/G – Texas A&M

227. George Gumbs – Edge – Florida
Gumbs is a raw player lacking in experience as a converted WR and TE who’s only played on the defensive side of the ball since spring 2023. But there are some seriously intriguing flashes, he’s super athletic, running a 4.66 and jumping 41 inches – the second best vertical of all edge rushers since at least 2013 – and an electric 7.00 3 cone. And that athleticism isn’t just workout-good. It’s there live on the tape, as is him giving 2026 first round LT Monroe Freeling a hard time, same with likely 2027 first rounder Trevor Goosby. Gumbs could work as a rotational edge and special teamer in Hafley’s scheme.
ALTERNATIVE PICK: Jordan Van den Berg – DT – Georgia Tech

238. Kaelon Black RB – Indiana
Black has a game that’s easy to love, and whilst he might not be a star for anyone, he gives me some serious Devonta Freeman vibes with the thick legs, similar build, and super angry running style. There are some significant off-field question marks in terms of health, and he’s an older prospect – he’ll turn 25 mid-season – but he’s a downhill hammer, a solid rotational four-down player who could work into that mix behind De’Von Achane, and he was a 30-visit player.
ALTERNATIVE PICK: Mark Gronowski – QB – Iowa