MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins added at least two players in the NFL Draft who should be immediate starters.
Offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor and cornerback Chris Johnson will enter the lineup as opening day starters, barring the unexpected.
Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez is also a realistic opening day starter. Tight end Will Kacmarek should be Miami’s No. 2 tight and and often on the field as the team’s top blocking tight end.
At some point this season, third-rounder receiver Chris Bell and fourth-round edge rusher Trey Moore should get starts.
The Dolphins figure to be the youngest team in the entire NFL.
There aren’t a ton of established veterans on the Dolphins, but here are the five most directly impacted by Miami’s draft.
5 Miami Dolphins veterans impacted by NFL Draft
Linebacker Tyrel Dodson
The Dolphins could cut Dodson after June 1 and roll with rookie Jacob Rodriguez as an immediate starter, alongside Jordyn Brooks. Or they could keep Dodson as a solid veteran and slow-roll Rodriguez into the starting lineup. Miami could also start Rodriguez alongside Dodson, trading Brooks. But Miami has made it clear their strong preference and intention is to extend Brooks as a core team leader. Miami also added inside linebacker Kyle Louis in the fourth round, although he can also play safety.
Cornerback Jason Marshall
Chris Johnson will be suited to start outside, likely opposite JuJu Brents. It is possible the second-year Marshall could beat out Brents. Marshall does not have the inside-outside versatility of Storm Duck, who figures to get a long look at slot, though Chris Johnson could slide there on some third downs. Darrell Baker and Marco Wilson could also enter the mix. But at the moment Marshall’s clear path to starting corner is no longer clear.
Guard/tackle Jamaree Salyer
Miami plans to start out with rookie Kadyn Proctor at left guard and veteran Austin Jackson at right tackle. The Dolphins have to give second-year guard Jonah Savaiinaea a look at right guard. He could certainly be beaten out by Jaramee Salyer. Or he could eventually give way to Salyer. But the clear path to starting is no longer available for Salyer.
Wide receiver Jalen Tolbert
The Dolphins did not use a first- or second-round pick on a wide receiver. This is good news for veteran Jalen Tolbert, who could still be a top Miami target for Malik Willis in 2026, along with Malik Washington. Third-round receiver Caleb Douglas may need some time to develop. And third-round receiver Chris Bell should need time to return from a serious knee injury that ended his last Louisville season.
Edge Josh Uche
We could have gone with a safety like Lonnie Johnson or Dante Trader here as Miami did not use a pick before the fifth round on a safety. But we’ll go with veteran edge rusher Josh Uche. This is a nice homecoming opportunity for Uche, who starred at Columbus High in Miami. The Dolphins added only Trey Moore in the fourth and Max Llewellyn in the seventh at his position. Miami just had to many needs to strike high on them all.
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins: Top 5 veterans impacted by NFL Draft decisions
Reporting by Joe Schad, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
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