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Dolphins Jeff Hafley has six-pack of rookie defenders to mold in Miami
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- Dolphins Jeff Hafley has six-pack of rookie defenders to mold in Miami
Following the 2026 NFL draft, Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan drafted a half dozen defensive players, much to head coach Jeff Hafley’s liking for sure.
A defensive-minded coach with emphasis on the secondary, Hafley has several players who could be perfect pieces for his scheme, immediately and in the future.
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Scheme-versatile cornerback Chris Johnson was picked No. 27 overall and could be an absolute lockdown cornerback, as he's outstanding in zone coverage. Last season at San Diego State, while in zone, he held quarterbacks to a 20.6 quarterback rating.
While being scheme versatile, which is something Hafley values, Johnson could be a perfect top cornerback for the secondary who could even play the slot in a pinch.
Second-round pick linebacker Jacob Rodriguez could end up being this class' most productive and most valuable player based on his potential and ability. With veteran All-Pro Jordyn Brooks currently manning the inside of the linebacker unit, Rodriguez can play the weak side and eventually take over the middle of the defense as well as earn a “C” on his uniform, as he had at Texas Tech.
Rodriguez is a sound tackler, plays with heart and desire and is a turnover creator, evidenced by his seven forced fumbles and four interceptions last season with the Red Raiders.
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If Hafley was looking for a Swiss-Army Knife chess piece, Sullivan provided one in a steal of a fourth-round pick in hybrid linebacker wrapped in safety traits, Kyle Louis of Pittsburgh .
First athletic, when someone who can stop the run and drop back in coverage, Louis can handle a “star” safety role for Hafley, and by that box linebacker in sub-sets that could be perfect for when Hafley mixes things up in his scheme and packages. Another captain in college, leadership and versatility, as well as athleticism, were major attributes Sullivan wanted in his selection, and Louis fits the bill perfectly. He is a chess piece that can be used in a few different ways for a coach who loves flexibility in his defenders.
Speaking of versatility, linebacker Trey Moore from Texas can be a solid rotational pass rusher as an off-ball linebacker or even an edge. Very productive in his years at the University of Texas-San Antonio before transferring in 2024, Moore has a solid bag of pass-rushing moves, including a lethal spin move to help get past blockers and get home to the quarterback.
Moore is a tad undersized but has adequate speed and athletic ability to be a fine sub-package pass rushers who is highly intelligent. He was a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is commonly known as the Academic Heisman.
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Moving back to the secondary, cerebral safety Michael Taaffe is an underrated pick and a potential starter right away at free safety.
Although a tad undersized at 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, Taaffe makes up for it with his play recognition, intelligence, instincts and work ethic. A player who can be a coach on the field, Taaffe has outstanding processing ability and can read a quarterback and jump routes.
As for his tackling, he cut his missed-tackle rate in half from 2024 to 2025, showing that he can be coached up and can be a great cover man for Hafley, who prides his defensive backs on not getting beat deep. If there were a green dot on the back of a helmet given to defensive backs, he’d have one. With limited competition currently in the Dolphins ’ safety room, Taaffe is a major candidate to be an extension of Hafley in the field.
Lastly, Sullivan addressed a pure edge rusher with savvy seventh-round pick Llewellyn from Iowa. At 6-foot-6, he has a very solid repertoire of moves as a pass rusher, and that outweighs some speed and strength limitations.
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As the Dolphins' last selection, he could still make a fast impact as a situational pass rusher, and a bit more mass and refining could make him a very solid final pick in Sullivan first ever class. In a very sparse room, Miami needed to add a player who could rush off the edge.
Hafley will have six pupils to mold, with three, at the very least, being captain material for the Dolphins within a few years.
More Dolphins: Every player selected with the picks the Dolphins traded away in the 2026 NFL draft
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins Jeff Hafley has six-pack of rookie defenders to mold in Miami
