The Miami Dolphins are set to enter the 2026 NFL draft with 11 picks to make, which is the second-most in the league behind the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have 12 right now.
With so many picks, Miami is looking to improve their roster for sustained success, and while they have so many holes, they could still attack some positions that they feel comfortable with for 2026.
One of those position groups could be running back, where the Dolphins boast a strong duo between De’Von Achane and Ollie Gordon II. If general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan wants to add to the room, here are seven options for him in the draft, one in each round.
Round 1 – Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame
Stats: 2,882 rushing yards and 36 touchdowns on 6.7 yards per attempt, 63 receptions for 594 yards and six touchdowns.
NFL.com Draft Profile: “Three-phase running back capable of stressing defenses with big-play speed and untapped pass-catching value. Love shared carries but was the heartbeat of Notre Dame’s offense over the last two years. He runs with a fierce tempo and processes the front with adequate eyes to find entry points and burst through them. Urgency works in his favor, but he’ll occasionally miss open lanes when he gets too deep too quickly. Outstanding speed erases pursuit angles to the corner and helps him pull away from tacklers once he opens his gait. He’s live-legged with violent cuts in segmented bursts that can elude tacklers but slow his momentum. He’s not a pile-mover but he runs through contact and squeezes out extra yards as a committed finisher. He’s a talented route runner and pass catcher who can work from the slot and mismatch linebackers. Love is a three-down, scheme-independent player who would benefit from a complementary back to preserve his big-play ability.”
Round 2 – Jadarian Price, Notre Dame
Stats: 1,692 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on 6.0 yards per attempt, 15 receptions for 162 yards and three touchdowns.
NFL.com Draft Profile: “Tempo-driven back with smooth hips, elite vision and a nose for the end zone. Price is a more natural runner than his heralded teammate, Jeremiyah Love, but Price lacks Love’s pure explosiveness and pass-catching talent. Price is highly instinctive, stacking moves to contour to run-lane spacing and avoid tacklers for as long as possible. He moves like a zone back but has average downhill burst for a one-cut runner. Price is an average run finisher, but he has the leg strength and contact balance to carry on when hits aren’t flush. His feel for finding the right path is rare and helps bolster his touchdown totals. Limited third-down value could cap his draft slotting, but his talent as a runner should make him an excellent complementary back.”
Round 3 – Jonah Coleman, Washington
Stats: 3,054 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns on 5.5 yards per attempt, 87 receptions for 838 yards and three touchdowns.
NFL.com Draft Profile: “Team captain and productive three-down back. Coleman has a clear understanding of run-blocking schemes and protection duties. He knows where blocks are likely to develop and finds those spots. However, he lacks speed as an outside runner and has average burst between the tackles. He’s more of a tackle-slipper than a tackle-breaker, so it’s imperative that Coleman plays at a brisker pace to stay ahead of closing defenders. He projects as a Day 3 option who can compete for a job as a three-down backup.”
Round 4 – Emmett Johnson, Nebraska
Stats: 2,460 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on 5.4 yards per attempt, 92 receptions for 702 yards and five touchdowns.
NFL.com Draft Profile: “Johnson is a hard-charging, gap-scheme runner. He brings a steady dose of urgency, decisiveness and fairly predictable run tracks. Johnson’s production and game-by-game consistency stand out despite average size and top-end speed. He steps on the accelerator once he touches the ball, but the run becomes segmented when he attempts to cut laterally. He struggles to create for himself when the point of entry is cloudy. Johnson can beat linebackers to the run fit but won’t usually run through them with power. He’s able to help as a pass-catcher and projects as a solid backup best suited for downhill concepts.”
Round 5 – Nick Singleton, Penn State
Stats: 3,461 rushing yards and 45 touchdowns on 5.6 yards per attempt, 102 receptions for 987 yards and nine touchdowns.
NFL.com Draft Profile: “Well-built back with explosive speed whose 2025 season was flat after a strong 2024. Singleton is a linear runner who plays like his brake lines have been cut, affecting his ability to gather and elude tacklers or cut on demand. He has the speed to make defenses pay but displayed a lack of vision and instincts to put himself in position to do so, relative to his teammate Kaytron Allen. His size and speed will get attention, but his ability to return kicks and play on third downs could ultimately earn him a roster spot as a RB3.”
Round 6 – Kaelon Black, Indiana
Stats: 2,261 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns on 5.1 yards per attempt, 52 receptions for 473 yards and six touchdowns.
NFL.com Draft Profile: “‘Get what is blocked’ runner with good size and above-average aggression as a finisher. Black split carries in Indiana’s downhill attack and generally kept the run on its designed track. He lacks ideal burst and utilizes too many stutter-steps in processing the run lane while headed to the hole. He’s not elusive inside but will add yards with his tackle-breaking and fall-forward running style. Black is a grinder with below-average third-down value, but he could create competition for a RB3/4 role in camp.”
Round 7 – Jaydn Ott, Oklahoma
Stats: 2,665 rushing yards and 24 touchdowns on 4.8 yards per attempt, 97 receptions for 746 yards and six touchdowns.
NFL.com Draft Profile: “Ott offers solid vision and a feel for setting up his blockers for success. His athletic profile, however, is lacking and his production declined sharply in his final two college seasons. He’s tight-hipped with slow change of direction and lacks the foot quickness/acceleration needed to elude closing tacklers in the NFL. He’s an adequate pass-catcher, but he’s not trustworthy in pass protection. Ott’s feel for lane choices along the interior doesn’t make up for his lack of quickness and burst.”
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This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: 1 running back the Dolphins could target in each round of the draft
Reporting by Mike Masala, Dolphins Wire / Dolphins Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
