MIAMI, FL — The 2025 season didn’t just end for the Miami Dolphins; it imploded. A 7-10 record and a soul-crushing Week 15 loss to Pittsburgh forced owner Stephen Ross to finally pull the plug on the Chris Grier era. Now, new General Manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and Head Coach Jeff Hafley inherit a roster that looks more like a construction site than a professional football team. After shipping Jaylen Waddle to Denver and releasing Tyreek Hill, Miami sits on 11 total picks for the 2026 NFL Draft, including two in the first round. The mission is simple: find the grit this franchise has lacked for a decade.
The Memphis Mountain: OL Travis Burke
If you want to protect a $67.5 million investment like Malik Willis, you don’t buy a picket fence. You build a wall. Travis Burke, the 6-foot-9, 325-pound tackle from Memphis, is that wall. Burke isn’t just a space-eater; he’s an athlete. Last season, he allowed a measly 13 pressures on over 400 pass-rush snaps. Miami’s offensive line struggled to find a pulse last year, but Burke brings a mean streak that scouts haven’t seen in South Florida since the early 2000s. He’s a Hollywood, Florida native, and the homecoming narrative fits perfectly with Sullivan’s “toughness first” philosophy.
Burke’s movement is what separates him. Most men that size move like glaciers, but Burke handles speed rushers with a fluid kick-step that keeps the pocket clean. For a mobile quarterback like Willis, who needs room to create, Burke’s ability to anchor against a bull rush is a requirement, not a luxury.
The Security Blanket: TE Oscar Delp
With Waddle and Hill gone, the Dolphins’ receiving corps is currently a collection of “what-ifs.” Willis needs a reliable middle-of-the-field target who won’t blink when a safety is bearing down. Enter Georgia’s Oscar Delp. While his college stats suffered from a crowded Bulldogs’ depth chart, the tape reveals a violent blocker with vertical speed.
Delp represents the versatile “Y” tight end that Hafley’s offense craves. He isn’t just a pass-catcher; he’s an enabler. He clears lanes in the run game for De’Von Achane and then slips out for a 20-yard seam route. In an AFC East that is increasingly defined by physical defense, having a tight end who can actually move a 260-pound defensive end is a massive advantage.
The Dirt-Mover: OL Keylan Rutledge
While the first-round picks at No. 13 and No. 30 will grab the headlines, the 2026 draft will be won in the third and fourth rounds. Keylan Rutledge out of Georgia Tech is the definition of a blue-collar interior lineman. He doesn’t care about highlights. He cares about leverage.
- Position: Interior Offensive Line (Guard/Center)
- Key Trait: Lower-body power and finishing ability
- Fit: Immediate competition for a starting guard spot
Watching Rutledge at the Combine, you could see the twitch. He plays with a low center of gravity and doesn’t stop his feet until the whistle blows. Miami’s interior was a revolving door of injuries and inconsistency in 2025. Rutledge provides the kind of cheap, high-upside stability that allows a rebuilding team to actually establish a run game.
“We aren’t looking for guys who just want to be in Miami for the weather. We want players who want to hit people. This draft is about finding the guys who don’t mind getting their hands dirty on a Tuesday in November.”
— Jeff Hafley, Dolphins Head Coach
What’s Next for the Fins
The Dolphins have a mountain of dead cap—over $112 million this season alone—making the draft their only viable path to relevance. With the No. 13 and No. 30 picks, the pressure is on Sullivan to prove that the “Packer Way” translates to the AFC East. This isn’t just a rebuild; it’s an identity shift. If they miss on these picks, Willis won’t just struggle—he won’t survive the season. Expect Miami to be the most aggressive team on draft night, potentially using their surplus of third-rounders to jump back into the late first round if a tackle like Burke starts to slide.
