Ranking the Position Priorities for the Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins having 11 picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL draft probably is a good thing because they've got an awful lot of holes to fill on their roster.

There are needs all over the place after an offseason spent recalibrating the roster to get the salary cap back to a reasonable place for the years ahead.

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But where are the biggest needs heading into the 2026 draft?

We rank them, looking both at what's in store for 2026 and for the long term.

THE DOLPHINS RANKED BY POSITIONS OF PRIORITY

1. DEFENSIVE END

We can call it defensive end or edge defender, it doesn't matter. What does matter is the Dolphins are really thin at that spot, particularly if they'll be leaning on a 4-3 base as head coach Jeff Hafley suggest earlier this offseason. And this was before Hafley suggested this week that Josh Uche would be used quite a bit as a strongside linebacker, leaving Chop Robinson and a lot of question marks on the outside of the defensive line.

2. SAFETY

The Dolphins added former second-round pick Lonnie Johnson Jr. and former Packers safety Zayne Anderson in free agency, but Johnson is looking to revive his career and Anderson is a special teams specialist. The truth is the Dolphins need an answer here after the departure of Minkah Fitzpatrick and Ashtyn Davis and Ifeatu Melifonwu still free agents.

3. CORNERBACK

The Dolphins have a lot of numbers at this position, with 12 cornerbacks on the roster, but there is not one truly established player in the group. At this time, it's about hoping a few of them emerge, though clearly there's no guarantee.

4. WIDE RECEIVER

It's not easy replacing Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but the outlook here might not be quite as dire as it's being portrayed and it's also not as bad as other spots. With Jalen Tolbert and Tutu Atwell arriving to join Malik Washington, the Dolphins have three serviceable players even though they clearly don't have a front-line guy.

5. INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE

The addition of Jamaree Salyer brought another option in the middle of the offensive line after James Daniels was released, but Jonah Savaiinaea remains a question mark until proven otherwise, so the guard position could use some upgrading to surround second-team All-Pro center Aaron Brewer.

6. TIGHT END

New Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan said in Phoenix he's excited to see what Greg Dulcich can do after his strong finish in 2025, but he remains mostly an unproven commodity and there isn't much depth at this spot.

7. OFFENSIVE TACKLE

The Dolphins should be fine at this spot in 2026 with Patrick Paul and Austin Jackson as the starters and Charlie Heck as the new swing backup, but that comes with the obligatory if Jackson stays healthy because that's been an issue. There's also a need for future help because Jackson is on the last year of his contract.

8. DEFENSIVE TACKLE

The Dolphins spent three picks on that position last year and they need to see how far Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers can take their game. Zach Sieler remains a good anchor for the group, though his contract makes it a possibility he could be released next offseason for salary-cap reasons.

9. RUNNING BACK

The Dolphins have a star in De'Von Achane and he should be the focal point of the offense if the team winds up giving him a contract extension. But that's not quite a lock and this position would jump up in this ranking by a good amount if a trade did end up happening. Regardless, the Dolphins need to see more from Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II as backups.

10. LINEBACKER

This is similar to the running back position in that the Dolphins are in good shape here if they wind up keeping Jordyn Brooks and don't trade him instead of giving him a new contract. With Brooks around, Tyrel Dodson, Willie Gay Jr. and Uche provide a solid supporting cast, though younger options will be needed soon, if not now.

11. QUARTERBACK

Yes, the Dolphins are most set at this position than any other after the signing of Malik Willis as a free agent. Could the Dolphins want to bring in a young quarterback through the draft as another option or another asset regardless or to compete with Quinn Ewers? Absolutely. But the fact remains the Dolphins very well could set with their 1-2 combo for the next two, if not three, years.