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The Miami Dolphins, after moving on from several experienced veterans, brought in a ton of new players this offseason, including a group of 13 rookies through the 2026 NFL draft.
Miami got offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor and cornerback Chris Johnson in the first round. On Day 2, they added linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, wide receiver Caleb Douglas, tight end Will Kacmarek and wide receiver Chris Bell. They then wrapped up the three-day process by taking defensive end Trey Moore, linebacker Kyle Louis, safety Michael Taaffe, wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr., tight end Seydou Traore, guard DJ Campbell and defensive end Max Llewellyn.
With training camp rapidly approaching, here's how we're ranking Miami's rookie draft picks by their potential impact during their first season with the team and first season under new head coach Jeff Hafley.
The 22-year-old spent the last four years at Texas, earning All-SEC honors once. He appeared in 49 games and started 42 for the Longhorns. In an ideal world, Campbell will serve as nothing more than a backup guard and maybe play some special teams during his rookie season.
The 23-year-old spent five years at Iowa, appearing in 43 games and recording 64 tackles (20.5 for a loss), 14.5 sacks, 10 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries with the Hawkeyes. While Chop Robinson is really the only player in the group of edge rushers to get guaranteed reps this year, Llewellyn would have to really prove himself to make the team and earn opportunities in 2026.
Traore comes from London, England, but he spent two years at Arkansas State, where he earned All-Sun Belt honors once, and three years at Mississippi State. In 46 games, he recorded 126 receptions for 1,404 yards and 10 touchdowns. The 23-year-old will likely be fighting for the third spot in the tight end room, but with other options ahead of him, he could be fourth this year.
Taaffe spent five seasons at Texas, recording 222 tackles (9.5 for a loss), 14 passes defensed, seven interceptions, three sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 53 career games. He earned All-SEC honors once and All-American honors twice. The Dolphins may need help at safety in 2026, but the 23-year-old has veterans that he'll need to beat out for playing time.
Moore, 23, played at UTSA for three seasons, earning All-AAC honors and winning AAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2023, before transferring to Texas for the final two years of his career. In 57 games between the two schools, he recorded 175 tackles (50 for a loss), 30.5 sacks, 13 passes defensed, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and one interception. The fourth-round pick has some positional versatility to play on the edge or off the ball, so he could see some depth opportunities or special teams reps.
Coleman was well traveled in college, spending one year each at Jackson State, Louisville, Mississippi State and Missouri. The 2022 SWAC Freshman of the Year recorded 199 receptions for 2,536 yards and 12 touchdowns in 51 games between the four schools. As the third wide receiver taken in the draft, he has a lot of work to do to move up the depth chart in training camp.
Bell spent the last four years at Louisville, earning All-ACC honors in 2025. In 47 games with the Cardinals, he caught 151 passes for 2,166 yards and 12 touchdowns. The 22-year-old probably has the most potential of the drafted trio of wideouts, but it's unclear how much he'll play in 2026, as he recovers from a torn ACL.
Louis played at Pittsburgh from 2022-25, earning All-ACC honors twice and All-American honors once. In 37 games for the Panthers, he recorded 201 tackles (25.5 for a loss), 10 sacks, six interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. The 22-year-old will probably start off as the fourth off-ball linebacker on the depth chart, but his ability to play safety as well could make him more impactful earlier.
After spending three years at Ohio, Kacmarek transferred to Ohio State for the final two years of his collegiate career. In 53 games between the schools, he caught 59 passes for 713 yards and four touchdowns. Primarily a blocking tight end, he'll likely hold a similar role in the NFL. However, if he can catch the ball regularly, he could pass Ben Sims for the second spot on the depth chart.
Douglas, 22, played at Florida from 2022-23 and at Texas Tech from 2024-25. He earned All-Big 12 honors once and in 39 career games between the two schools, he caught 135 passes for 2,031 yards and 16 touchdowns. As the top drafted wide receiver for the Dolphins, he has the best shot of finding a role in a thin room right away.
Rodriguez began his collegiate career as a quarterback at Virginia before transferring to Texas Tech for the last four years and moving to linebacker. He earned All-Big 12 honors twice and All-American honors once, while also winning Big-12 Defensive Player of the Year, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award and Chuck Bednarik Award in 2025. In 56 games, he recorded 317 tackles (25.5 for a loss), 13 forced fumbles, 12 passes defensed, six sacks, six interceptions and five fumble recoveries. The 23-year-old will probably begin his camp behind Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson, but it wouldn't surprise anyone to see him starting by Week 1.
Johnson, 21, played at San Diego State from 2022-25, where he earned All-Mountain West honors once and All-American honors once. He was also named Mountain West co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2025. In 47 games with the Aztecs, he recorded 152 tackles, 14 passes defensed, six interceptions, five forced fumbles and one sack. After the team picked him in the first round, he's expected to be their top cornerback as a rookie, meaning he'll be on the field for most of their defensive snaps.
Proctor, 21, spent the last three seasons at Alabama, earning All-SEC honors once and All-American honors once. The 21-year-old started 39 games at left tackle for the Crimson Tide, but with the Dolphins, he's moving to left guard, where he's expected to start in Week 1.
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Ranking Miami Dolphins rookies by impact in 2026
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Miami got offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor and cornerback Chris Johnson in the first round. On Day 2, they added linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, wide receiver Caleb Douglas, tight end Will Kacmarek and wide receiver Chris Bell. They then wrapped up the three-day process by taking defensive end Trey Moore, linebacker Kyle Louis, safety Michael Taaffe, wide receiver Kevin Coleman Jr., tight end Seydou Traore, guard DJ Campbell and defensive end Max Llewellyn.
With training camp rapidly approaching, here's how we're ranking Miami's rookie draft picks by their potential impact during their first season with the team and first season under new head coach Jeff Hafley.
13. OL DJ Campbell
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The 22-year-old spent the last four years at Texas, earning All-SEC honors once. He appeared in 49 games and started 42 for the Longhorns. In an ideal world, Campbell will serve as nothing more than a backup guard and maybe play some special teams during his rookie season.
12. DE Max Llewellyn
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The 23-year-old spent five years at Iowa, appearing in 43 games and recording 64 tackles (20.5 for a loss), 14.5 sacks, 10 passes defensed, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries with the Hawkeyes. While Chop Robinson is really the only player in the group of edge rushers to get guaranteed reps this year, Llewellyn would have to really prove himself to make the team and earn opportunities in 2026.
11. TE Seydou Traore
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Traore comes from London, England, but he spent two years at Arkansas State, where he earned All-Sun Belt honors once, and three years at Mississippi State. In 46 games, he recorded 126 receptions for 1,404 yards and 10 touchdowns. The 23-year-old will likely be fighting for the third spot in the tight end room, but with other options ahead of him, he could be fourth this year.
10. DB Michael Taaffe
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Taaffe spent five seasons at Texas, recording 222 tackles (9.5 for a loss), 14 passes defensed, seven interceptions, three sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery in 53 career games. He earned All-SEC honors once and All-American honors twice. The Dolphins may need help at safety in 2026, but the 23-year-old has veterans that he'll need to beat out for playing time.
9. DE Trey Moore
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Moore, 23, played at UTSA for three seasons, earning All-AAC honors and winning AAC Defensive Player of the Year in 2023, before transferring to Texas for the final two years of his career. In 57 games between the two schools, he recorded 175 tackles (50 for a loss), 30.5 sacks, 13 passes defensed, five forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and one interception. The fourth-round pick has some positional versatility to play on the edge or off the ball, so he could see some depth opportunities or special teams reps.
8. WR Kevin Coleman Jr.
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Coleman was well traveled in college, spending one year each at Jackson State, Louisville, Mississippi State and Missouri. The 2022 SWAC Freshman of the Year recorded 199 receptions for 2,536 yards and 12 touchdowns in 51 games between the four schools. As the third wide receiver taken in the draft, he has a lot of work to do to move up the depth chart in training camp.
7. WR Chris Bell
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Bell spent the last four years at Louisville, earning All-ACC honors in 2025. In 47 games with the Cardinals, he caught 151 passes for 2,166 yards and 12 touchdowns. The 22-year-old probably has the most potential of the drafted trio of wideouts, but it's unclear how much he'll play in 2026, as he recovers from a torn ACL.
6. DB Kyle Louis
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Louis played at Pittsburgh from 2022-25, earning All-ACC honors twice and All-American honors once. In 37 games for the Panthers, he recorded 201 tackles (25.5 for a loss), 10 sacks, six interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. The 22-year-old will probably start off as the fourth off-ball linebacker on the depth chart, but his ability to play safety as well could make him more impactful earlier.
5. TE Will Kacmarek
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After spending three years at Ohio, Kacmarek transferred to Ohio State for the final two years of his collegiate career. In 53 games between the schools, he caught 59 passes for 713 yards and four touchdowns. Primarily a blocking tight end, he'll likely hold a similar role in the NFL. However, if he can catch the ball regularly, he could pass Ben Sims for the second spot on the depth chart.
4. WR Caleb Douglas
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Douglas, 22, played at Florida from 2022-23 and at Texas Tech from 2024-25. He earned All-Big 12 honors once and in 39 career games between the two schools, he caught 135 passes for 2,031 yards and 16 touchdowns. As the top drafted wide receiver for the Dolphins, he has the best shot of finding a role in a thin room right away.
3. LB Jacob Rodriguez
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Rodriguez began his collegiate career as a quarterback at Virginia before transferring to Texas Tech for the last four years and moving to linebacker. He earned All-Big 12 honors twice and All-American honors once, while also winning Big-12 Defensive Player of the Year, the Bronko Nagurski Trophy, Butkus Award, Lombardi Award and Chuck Bednarik Award in 2025. In 56 games, he recorded 317 tackles (25.5 for a loss), 13 forced fumbles, 12 passes defensed, six sacks, six interceptions and five fumble recoveries. The 23-year-old will probably begin his camp behind Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson, but it wouldn't surprise anyone to see him starting by Week 1.
2. CB Chris Johnson
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Johnson, 21, played at San Diego State from 2022-25, where he earned All-Mountain West honors once and All-American honors once. He was also named Mountain West co-Defensive Player of the Year in 2025. In 47 games with the Aztecs, he recorded 152 tackles, 14 passes defensed, six interceptions, five forced fumbles and one sack. After the team picked him in the first round, he's expected to be their top cornerback as a rookie, meaning he'll be on the field for most of their defensive snaps.
1. OL Kadyn Proctor
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Proctor, 21, spent the last three seasons at Alabama, earning All-SEC honors once and All-American honors once. The 21-year-old started 39 games at left tackle for the Crimson Tide, but with the Dolphins, he's moving to left guard, where he's expected to start in Week 1.
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Ranking Miami Dolphins rookies by impact in 2026
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