Ranking the Most Important Dolphins, No. 16: Kacmarek a Clear Building Block

The Miami Dolphins will head into training camp at the end of July with a totally different roster than the one that ended the 2025 season after an offseason overhaul that saw the departure of several significant veterans and the arrival of newcomers young and old.

The Dolphins have 91 players on their roster with the exemption they have for England-born rookie tight end Seydou Traore, a participant of the International Player Pathway Program.

As life goes in the NFL, no every player on the roster is equal, so we decided to rank all of them in terms of their importance to the Dolphins' success in the 2026 season. The list was determined on the basis of not just ability but also expected role and significance to the overall progress of the organization as it continues the rebuilding project that began with the hiring of Jon-Eric Sullivan as GM and Jeff Hafley as head coach.

This is part of a series that will run in the lead-up to start of training camp.

NUMBER 16: TE WILL KACMAREK

How he joined the Dolphins

The Dolphins selected Kacmarek in the third round of the 2026 NFL draft with the 87th overall pick. Kacmarek was the second of three third-round picks for the Dolphins this year and was selected with a pick obtained from the Philadelphia Eagles last year in exchange for outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips.

Contract status

Kacmarek signed a four-year, $6.8 million rookie contract that included a $1.4 million signing bonus. He's under contract through the 2029 season.

His 2025 season

Kacmarek played in all 14 of Ohio State's games and made 10 starts. He finished with 15 catches for 168 yards (11.2 average) and two touchdowns.

His projected role

The Dolphins surprised a lot of observers and analysts by taking Kacmarek in the third round, a move based primarily on his blocking ability. It was a move that backed up new head coach Jeff Hafley's statements about wanting the team to become more physical. And clearly the Dolphins didn't invest a third-round pick on Kacmarek not looking for him to play a big role — and very quickly. While returning player Greg Dulcich looks like the tight end with the most upside, Kacmarek's blocking ability could have him challenge for a starting job or at least an equal share of snaps. Whatever Kacmarek can provide in the passing game, with good hand and solid route running, will be a bonus. But his blocking alone should make him a key player for a team that wants to rely on the running game.

THE PREVIOUS PLAYERS ON THE COUNTDOWN

90. G James Ester
89. T Kevin Cline
88. QB Mark Gronowski
87. DT Keith Cooper Jr.
86. EDGE Seth Coleman
85. RB Anthony Hankerson
84. WR Donaven McCulley
83. FB D.J. Herman
82. C Jim Bonitas
81. LS Tucker Addington
80. DT Alex Huntley
79. T Marques Cox
78. EDGE Rodney McGraw
77. TE Cole Turner
76. DT Khalil Saunders
75. CB Miles Battle
74. S Major Burns
73. RB Carlos Washington Jr.
72. EDGE Robert Beal Jr.
71. WR A.J. Henning
70. RB Donovan Edwards
69. DB Omar Brown
68. EDGE Cameron Goode
67. WR Jalen Reagor
66. EDGE Max Llewellyn
65. WR Terrace Marshall Jr.
64. CB Ethan Robinson
63. G/T Josh Priebe
62. DT Rene Konga
61. WR Tahj Washington
60. QB Cam Miller
59. CB A.J. Green III
58. EDGE Mason Reiger
57. CB Alex Austin
56. P Bradley Pinion
55. LB Jackson Woodard
54. K Zane Gonzalez
53. S Louis Moore
52. DT Matthew Butler
51. CB Marco Wilson
50. CB Darrell Baker Jr.
49. LB Ronnie Harrison Jr.
48. T Charlie Heck
47. WR Chris Bell
46. CB Storm Duck
45. WR Theo Wease Jr.
44. TE Seydou Traore
43. G DJ Campbell
42. G/C Andrew Meyer
41. K Riley Patterson
40. S Michael Taaffe
39. CB Ethan Bonner
38. TE Ben Sims
37. EDGE David Ojabo
36. S Lonnie Johnson Jr.
35. Zayne Anderson
34. EDGE Josh Uche
33. WR Jalen Tolbert
32. EDGE/LB Trey Moore
31. LB Willie Gay Jr.
30. RB Jaylen Wright
29. WR Kevin Coleman Jr.
28. G Jonah Savaiinaea
27. DT Zeek Biggers
26. LB Kyle Louis
25. RB Ollie Gordon II
24. WR Tutu Atwell
23. G/T Jamaree Salyer
22. WR Malik Washington
21. DT Jordan Phillips
20. WR Caleb Douglas
19. LB Jacob Rodriguez
18. CB Jason Marshall Jr.
17. S Dante Trader Jr.

Add us as a preferred source on Google