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After shipping wide receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos last month, the Miami Dolphins hold two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL draft at No. 11 and No. 30 overall.
With several needs, the Dolphins could go in a number of directions with any of their picks this year, especially early on, where they really need to nail the selections.
Leading up to the draft, NFL Media's James Reber identified a pair of prospects that he considers ideal fits for the Dolphins in the first round. With pick No. 11, that prospect is USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, who caught 137 passes for 2,008 yards and 14 touchdowns in three year with the Trojans.
"Miami has left new quarterback Malik Willis with one of the league’s thinnest receiver rooms after shipping Jaylen Waddle to Denver and releasing Tyreek Hill," Reber wrote. "With a number of needs and 11 total draft picks to address them, the Dolphins could make a splash at No. 11. The reigning Biletnikoff Award winner could supply that. Lemon has earned an NGS college production score of 91, the seventh-highest of any receiver prospect since 2019.
"The only players to put up a better mark: Ja'Marr Chase, DeVonta Smith, Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, Malik Nabers and Marvin Harrison Jr., who have combined to make 15 Pro Bowls in 26 total seasons. Lemon’s versatility to play outside or in the slot makes him an ideal building block for Miami, regardless of who else the team brings in to catch passes."
At pick No. 30, that prospect is Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood, who recorded 77 tackles, 14 passes defensed, three interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 29 games between Auburn, Colorado and Tennessee.
"The Dolphins allowed the highest passing success rate in the NFL last season (50.5%) and are thin on experience at cornerback, having not currently re-signed incumbent starters Jack Jones or Rasul Douglas," Reber wrote. "They can address one of those vacancies with their second pick of the opening round, where Hood may well be available.
"Hood's assertiveness makes him the type of disruptor near the line of scrimmage that Jeff Hafley was sorely missing in Green Bay, while his impressive speed allows him to recover on deep routes. He played multiple schemes in college, which could give him the discipline to adjust to the nuances of Hafley's zone. Miami does not currently have many defensive building blocks in place, but a sparkplug like Hood could set the tone for the future of the group."
These are two of the positions most commonly mocked to Miami this year, and landing a capable starter at both positions would be ideal as they start to build the foundation under new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and new head coach Jeff Hafley.
More Dolphins: Former Dolphins RB continues to bash coach for not demanding respect
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: 2026 NFL draft: 2 prospects named 'ideal first-round fit' for Dolphins
Continue reading...
With several needs, the Dolphins could go in a number of directions with any of their picks this year, especially early on, where they really need to nail the selections.
Leading up to the draft, NFL Media's James Reber identified a pair of prospects that he considers ideal fits for the Dolphins in the first round. With pick No. 11, that prospect is USC wide receiver Makai Lemon, who caught 137 passes for 2,008 yards and 14 touchdowns in three year with the Trojans.
"Miami has left new quarterback Malik Willis with one of the league’s thinnest receiver rooms after shipping Jaylen Waddle to Denver and releasing Tyreek Hill," Reber wrote. "With a number of needs and 11 total draft picks to address them, the Dolphins could make a splash at No. 11. The reigning Biletnikoff Award winner could supply that. Lemon has earned an NGS college production score of 91, the seventh-highest of any receiver prospect since 2019.
"The only players to put up a better mark: Ja'Marr Chase, DeVonta Smith, Justin Jefferson, CeeDee Lamb, Malik Nabers and Marvin Harrison Jr., who have combined to make 15 Pro Bowls in 26 total seasons. Lemon’s versatility to play outside or in the slot makes him an ideal building block for Miami, regardless of who else the team brings in to catch passes."
At pick No. 30, that prospect is Tennessee cornerback Colton Hood, who recorded 77 tackles, 14 passes defensed, three interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 29 games between Auburn, Colorado and Tennessee.
"The Dolphins allowed the highest passing success rate in the NFL last season (50.5%) and are thin on experience at cornerback, having not currently re-signed incumbent starters Jack Jones or Rasul Douglas," Reber wrote. "They can address one of those vacancies with their second pick of the opening round, where Hood may well be available.
"Hood's assertiveness makes him the type of disruptor near the line of scrimmage that Jeff Hafley was sorely missing in Green Bay, while his impressive speed allows him to recover on deep routes. He played multiple schemes in college, which could give him the discipline to adjust to the nuances of Hafley's zone. Miami does not currently have many defensive building blocks in place, but a sparkplug like Hood could set the tone for the future of the group."
These are two of the positions most commonly mocked to Miami this year, and landing a capable starter at both positions would be ideal as they start to build the foundation under new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and new head coach Jeff Hafley.
More Dolphins: Former Dolphins RB continues to bash coach for not demanding respect
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: 2026 NFL draft: 2 prospects named 'ideal first-round fit' for Dolphins
Continue reading...
