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Predicting the Dolphins 2026 53-man roster after the draft
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- Predicting the Dolphins 2026 53-man roster after the draft
Now that the 2026 NFL draft is complete and general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan put together his first class, it's never too early to look down the road and see what the Miami Dolphins 53-man roster could look like for the upcoming season.
Of course, there can be some veteran free agent signings, especially after June 1, but it can still be a fun exercise to predict how this young Dolphins roster can shape up.
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QB (2)
The Dolphins brought in Malik Willis to hopefully be their franchise quarterback, while last year’s seventh-round pick, Quinn Ewers, will be his backup. The Dolphins signed Cam Miller as well, who could be a practice squad player, as well as 2026 undrafted free agent Mark Gronowski , who could compete with him for that third spot should they start the season carrying one.
RB (3)
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De'Von Achane
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Ollie Gordon II
Led by superstar De’Von Achane, who is rumored to sign an extension soon with the team, the Dolphins' backfield has a solid mix of speed and power. Entering his third season, Jaylen Wright will compete with last year’s rookie Ollie Gordon to spell Achane, while one needs to establish themselves as the go-to short-yardage back.
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Miami signed a pair of undrafted free agents in Oregon State’s Anthony Hankerson and Texas A&M’s Le’Veon Moss. Particularly Moss, could be a potential rosterable back should Miami elect to keep four in the backfield.
WR (6)
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Caleb Douglas - R
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Kevin Coleman Jr. – R
+Chris Bell (IR/PUP to start season)
The Dolphins selected a trio of receivers in the 2026 NFL Draft, and they will join a pair of offseason free agents as new targets in South Florida. Third-year veteran Malik Washington is a lock, and last year’s UDFA Theo Wease Jr. showed sparks of potential late in the 2025 season. Rookie Kevin Coleman Jr will fight for his spot in the depth chart as a slot target, and also brings a punt returning component to his skill set.
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Miami’s fourth-round pick in this draft, Louisville’s Chris Bell, is recovering from a late-2025 ACL injury. While pacing ahead of schedule as per reports, there is no need to rush him into action in a rebuilding year, and Miami could strategically IR or PUP him to start the 2026 season and ease him in.
TE (3)
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Will Kacmarek - R
Miami re-signed veteran Greg Dulcich to a one-year deal in the off-season, who had some solid outings and is a guy to watch make a leap in production in 2026. Ben Sims is a blocking tight end brought in from Green Bay , and third-round pick from this draft, Will Kacmarek is the class’s best blocker at the position, who catches anything when thrown to him.
Rookie fifth-round pick Seydou Traore is a former soccer goalkeeper and an International Pathway Program Player, so he should start his career on the practice squad. Traore is an “F” pass-catching tight end with great athleticism, solid hands and a developmental player after two seasons at Arkansas, then another two at Mississippi State.
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Jalin Conyer, a UDFA from last season, could be a surprise 53-man candidate should Miami want to keep four in the tight end room.
OL (8)
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Andrew Meyer
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Kadyn Proctor - R
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DJ Campbell - R
The Dolphins’ offensive line is led by center Aaron Brewer and left tackle Patrick Paul. 2026 first-round pick Kayden Proctor was drafted to be an eventual tackle in all likelihood, but as general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan told reporters, he could play up to four positions. He could even line up next to Paul as a left guard, moving last year’s underwhelming rookie Jonah Savaiinaea to his more natural right side on the interior. Veteran Austin Jackson is penciled in at right tackle, but even he could be a guard candidate should Proctor outperform him, and man the right tackle spot to begin a quality bookend set with Paul for the foreseeable future.
Another rookie in DJ Campbell is a depth right guard and veteran Jamaree Salyer could challenge for playing time in camp. It could be a solid chance Miami will roster nine, in which case, add veteran swing tackle Charlie Heck to the mix, who was signed in the offseason, and now on his fifth team since being drafted by the Houston Texans in the fourth-round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Another former UDFA is the fourth-year utility lineman Kion Smith , who can also be a name to watch if they go with nine.
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DL (5)
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Rene Konga (UDFA rookie)
The defensive line group is led by captain and team elder statesman Zach Sieler. A trio of 2025 rookies step into their second year in Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers, while 2026 UDFA Rene Konga is a sleeper to watch for, to make the initial 53. If not Konga, fifth-year veteran Matthew Butler could be the fifth tackle in this group, but as Sullivan said, this team will be “younger,” so watch for the UDFA to be a fan favorite to make the cut.
EDGE/LB (12)
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Willie Gay Jr.
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Jacob Rodriguez - R
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Trey Moore - R
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Kyle Louis – R
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Max Llewellyn – R
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Mason Reiger (UDFA rookie)
Arguably the deepest and best rook on the roster, the Dolphins' linebacker corp is led by last year’s All-Pro, Jordyn Brooks. Rookie second-round pick Jacob Rodriguez adds versatility and turnover creation to the group and draft classmates Trey Moore and Kyle Louis bring excitement and more flexibility to head coach Jeff Hafley’s linebacking unit. Louis is especially intriguing with his ability to play like a safety and Hafley can use him as a defensive chess-piece type player. Willie Gay and Tyrel Dodson will return and are veteran depth pieces.
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The edge group is a bit light with third-year Chop Robinson looking to rebound from a sophomore season in the pros where he regressed a bit. Miami added free agents David Ojabo and Josh Uche who are both Michigan men, and look to find success in new surroundings. Rookie seventh-rounder Max Llewellyn from Iowa has size and a solid bag of pass-rush moves and UDFA rookie Mason Reiger is a candidate to sneak onto the roster. Out of Wisconsin, he has a similar size and athletic profile to former Badger and Dolphin, Andrew Van Ginkel . Cameron Goode is a quality special teams player and an important piece to that phase of the game.
CB (6)
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Chris Johnson - R
A young, unproven room, rookie No.27 overall pick, Chris Johnson, is already the best of the bunch and will likely man the outside as CB1. As for the other boundary, veteran JuJu Brents will try to hold off a pair of past UDFA’s in Storm Duck and Ethan Bonner, while 2025 rookie Jason Marshall can handle the slot position, who converted to the inside after being a collegiate outside corner.
Veteran Darrell Baker Jr. adds some depth who was signed in the offseason and some options competing for that last spot would be Isaiah Johnson, AJ Green III, Alex Austin and Marco Wilson .
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S (5)
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Michael Taffe - R
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Louis Moore (UDFA rookie)
Miami lost several safeties to free agency and believe it or not the most tenured Dolphin in this room could be 2025 fifth-rounder Dante Trader Jr. He could be a name to pen in at starting strong safety.
Sullivan added free agents Lonnie Johnson Jr and special teamer Zayne Anderson to compete on the depth chart. Rookie fifth-rounder Michael Taaffe could be an immediate impact player as a potential starting free safety as well as special teams.
Another UDFA who could sneak onto the roster in a thin room is Indiana All-American Louis Moore. Although a former undrafted free agent returning to Miami is Jordan Colbert and he could challenge for that last spot in the group.
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Specialists (3)
Although having a fine season stepping in for the injured and now former Dolphin Jason Sanders , Riley Patterson had a record-setting year for Miami in accuracy. However veteran Zane Gonzalez was signed to compete for the job. Still, Patterson was solid and younger, so he wins the battle.
Veteran Bradley Pinion should be the punter, who was signed in the offseason, and he’ll compete with Seth Vernon.
Taybor Pepper was signed as the long snapper, and returns to Miami, where he was last in South Florida in 2019, and spent the last five seasons with the San Francisco 49ers . In the spirit of competition, he’ll compete with Tucker Addington .
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More Dolphins: Grading the Miami Dolphins' 13 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Predicting the Dolphins 2026 53-man roster after the draft
