The Miami Dolphins, after trading Jaelan Phillips, Jaylen Waddle and Minkah Fitzpatrick in the last six months, have 10 picks in the 2026 NFL draft, including seven in the top 100 selections.
With that, many believe that the Dolphins, led by the new power duo of general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley, will move around the draft.
In a recent post for ESPN, Marcel Louis-Jacques made the case for Miami moving down and acquiring even more picks later on.
“New general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan has emphasized setting the team up with young, affordable talent as the Dolphins reshape the roster,” Louis-Jacques wrote. “Don’t rule out a trade, but Miami’s priority is adding as much talent as possible. Depending on how the board falls, trading down in the first round feels more likely, especially if it results in a first-round pick swap and at least one additional top-100 selection. But adding players on rookie contracts is an appealing option to bolster the Dolphins’ thin roster.”
However, in the same post, ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid explained why the Dolphins might want to move up in the draft instead.
“I expect the Dolphins to be very active throughout the draft after stripping their roster to the studs this offseason. Sullivan comes from the Packers’ tree, and Green Bay has historically valued premium positions in Round 1 and pass catchers on Days 2 and 3,” Reid wrote. “I think that trend will continue, as adding linemen is likely early. But with 11 picks, the Dolphins could get aggressive and move up the board for a prospect they really covet.”
Either way, it feels like a virtual guarantee that Miami will make at least one trade over the course of the three-day selection meeting. They need talent, so as long as they can add players who will make an impact, Sullivan is doing his job.
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