Dissecting the First Dolphins Depth Chart of 2026: Rookies at the Forefront

With the Miami Dolphins set to open their preseason schedule Friday night against the Washington Commanders, we have our first depth chart of the 2026 season.

As we tell everyone every year, coaches produce a depth chart for official consumption only because it's a league requirement at this time of year and also because nothing is etched in stone.

With that in mind, here is what stood out from the Dolphins' first depth chart:

OFFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS

-- The first name at the top of the offensive depth is attention-grabbing because it's Caleb Douglas, and he's one of five rookies listed on the first team — including Jacob Rodriguez who listed as "or" at one of the inside linebacker spots. This isn't surprising, mind you, considering the reps Douglas has gotten in training camp.

-- Former UFL Gottlieb Ayedze is listed as the second-team left tackle and we'll honestly say here it would be a surprise if he were to take a regular season snap for Miami. But somebody has to be listed here, right?

-- Very interesting to note that new offensive lineman Caedan Wallace is listed as a backup at both right guard and right tackle, and we'd suggest that would seem to indicate he's got a pretty good chance at making the 53-man roster. Particularly noteworthy is Wallace being listed as one of top second-team right tackles along with free agent pick-up Charlie Heck. This speaks a bit to the depth concern along the offensive line.

-- Ben Sims being listed as first-team fullback/tight end tells us the Dolphins will be using a fullback in 2026, even if not in name. This matches what we've seen in camp with the usage of Sims as an H-back.

-- Jaylen Wright being listed ahead of Ollie Gordon II as the second-team running back suggests he's in the lead to be De'Von Achane's top backup, though that spot could be very fluid.

-- Rookie sixth-round pick D.J. Campbell being listed third team at right guard — and with an either/or at that — behind 2025 practice squad member Josh Priebe doesn't seem bode well for his chances of making the 53 as a rookie.

DEFENSIVE HIGHLIGHTS

-- As with the offense, the defense lists 12 positions to account for the various personnel groupings the Dolphins will employ.

-- On the defensive line, Kenneth Grant or Jordan Philips being listed first team next to Zach Sieler makes sense because the opening defensive lineup figures to depend on whether the Dolphins are expecting a more run-happy or pass-happy opponent, Phillips being the choice to stop the run and Grant more so to rush the passer.

-- Two things that stand out at edge are rookie seventh-round pick Max Llewellyn listed ahead of veteran Cameron Goode at one spot and Robert Beal Jr. listed ahead of David Ojabo at the other. Goode flat out has outperformed Llewellyn so far in camp, while Ojabo brought better credentials to Miami than Beal when both arrived as free agents.

-- Rodriguez being listed as first-teamer alongside Tyrel Dodson with the "or" designation is eye-opening to a degree, though it's been well earned with Rodriguez really coming on in the last several days of camp.

-- Veteran Ronnie Harrison Jr. has had a very solid camp, which is why he's listed as second team along with Kyle Louis behind Jordyn Brooks when the rookie fourth-round pick otherwise normally would get the nod. It's entirely possible the Dolphins will wind up keeping Harrison along with Louis on the 53-man roster.

-- Rookie fourth-round pick Trey Moore has gotten a lot of work with the first unit in training camp, so it's not surprising to see him listed ahead of Willie Gay Jr. Gay, who left practice early with an injury Monday, remains one of the most confusing players on the roster.

-- There is nothing surprising at all in the secondary, where the only question is whether it should be taken as an automatic that starting nickel corner Chris Johnson will move outside when the Dolphins are using only four DBs. In that scenario, it likely would be Johnson and Brents as the starters.

-- On special teams, we shouldn't be surprised to see Malik Washington listed as the first-team punt and kickoff returner after the success he enjoyed last year.

DOLPHINS DEPTH CHART FOR PRESEASON OPENER

OFFENSE

WR Caleb Douglas, Tutu Atwell, Terrace Marshall Jr., Theo Weae Jr.

LT Patrick Paul, Gottlieb Ayedze, Marques Cox

LG Kadyn Proctor, Jamaree Salyer, James Ester

C Aaron Brewer, Andrew Meyer, Jim Bonifas

RG Jonah Savaiinaea, Josh Priebe, D.J. Campbell OR Caedan Wallace

RT Austin Jackson, Charlie Heck OR Caedan Wallace, Kevin Cline

TE Greg Dulcich, Will Kacmarek, Seydou Traore, Cole Turner, Jeremiah Franklin

FB/TE Ben Sims, D.J. Herman

RB De'Von Achane, Jaylen Wright, Ollie Gordon II, Carlos Washington Jr., Donovan Edwards

QB Malik Willis, Quinn Ewers, Cam Miller

WR Malik Washington, Kevin Coleman Jr., A.J. Hennning

WR Jalen Tolbert, Jalen Reagor, Tahj Washington, Donaven McCulley

DEFENSE

DT Kenneth Grant OR Jordan Phillips, Matthew Butler, Fatorma Mulbah

DT Zach Sieler, Zeek Biggers, Alex Huntley, Keith Cooper Jr.

EDGE Chop Robinson, Clelin Ferrell, Max Llewellyn, Cameron Goode, Rodney McGraw

EDGE Josh Uche, Robert Beal Jr., David Ojabo, Mason Reiger

ILB Jordyn Brooks, Ronnie Harrison Jr. OR Kyle Louis

ILB Tyrel Dodson OR Jacob Rodriguez, Jackson Woodard

ILB Trey Moore, Willie Gay Jr.

NB Chris Johnson, Alex Austin, Ethan Robinson

CB JuJu Brents, Ethan Bonner, Marco Wilson, Ahmari Harvey

CB Jason Marshall Jr., A.J. Green III, Miles Battle, Nick McCloud

S Zayne Anderson, Michael Taaffe, Major Burns, Tanner Wall

S Dante Trader Jr., Lonnie Johnson Jr., Louis Moore

SPECIALISTS

K Riley Patterson

P Bradley Pinion

H Bradley Pinion

LS Tucker Addington

KR Malik Washington, Jaylen Wright, Jalen Reagor

PR Malik Washington, Kevin Coleman Jr., Tutu Atwell, Jalen Reagor

Add us as a preferred source on Google