Miami Dolphins Reality Check

Miami Dolphins Reality Check

Let’s examine the positives first.

The Dolphins, under the leadership of General Manager Jon-Eric Sullivan, drafted a whopping thirteen picks in the 2026 draft.

A list worthy of post-draft grades of anywhere from very positive comments by Matt Miller of ESPN to a B grade by draft king Mel Kiper.

The list includes an offensive lineman with incredible upside in Kadyn Proctor, a cornerback in Chris Johnson, a reported steal in linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, and a wide receiver expected to be a star after an ACL injury in Chris Bell.

Among others.

So, the positive is that these draftees turn out to be Pro Bowl players for Miami, and some expect this sooner rather than later, like in 2026.

Heck, there have been rumors that Jacob Rodriguez will be the new Zach Thomas.

Please, Zach Thomas is a Hall of Famer and one of the greatest players who wore a Miami Dolphins uniform.

Stop with ridiculous analogies.

Thirteen players drafted. Although there is a large drop with definite potential, they are rookies.

They do not even know their way around the training room, where to eat, where to practice, or how to spend or invest their money, and they are trying to learn a playbook that is foreign to them.

Let’s be real.

2026 is a rebuild for our beloved Miami Dolphins.

Our quarterback, Malik Willis, played for Tennessee in 2022 and 2023, throwing 3 interceptions and 0 touchdowns.

In Green Bay, he performed better while spelling Jordan Love, posting a 79% completion rate, 6 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions.

Yet still very young and inexperienced, as are most of the Dolphins players.

Some veterans remain, including Zach Sieler, Jordyn Brooks, Aaron Brewer, and De’Von Achane, but this is still a very young, rebuilding team.

On the ESPN show, NFL Draft Daily, Jordan Reid, a draft analyst, published an extremely early version of the 2027 draft.

In that prediction, the Dolphins were picking second to the Arizona Cardinals, who chose Arch Manning.

The Dolphins chose wide receiver Jeremiah Smith from Ohio State.

Meaning the Dolphins would have won only three to four games to be in that position.

Do I wish it to be this way?

As a fan who wants our team to win, hell no.

But we should expect it.