The Miami Dolphins have 13 drafted rookies and are likely to be the NFL’s youngest team.
Coach Jeff Hafley will hope that he and his staff can get the most out of those rookies and numerous other young veterans.
The 2026 season is about finishing the season stronger than Miami starts it.
It’s about player development and pushing talent so it can ascend and reach ceilings.
The Dolphins could really, really use a few young veterans to take next step.
6 Miami Dolphins ready to break out in 2026
Edge Chop Robinson, 23 years old
Chop Robinson knows he must improve against the run. But last season was a pass-rush disappointment for Miami’s first-round pick in 2024. Chop had six sacks as a rookie and was targeting 10 or more last season but ended up with only four. Injuries were a factor. But Chop should bounce back in a big way in Jeff Hafley’s new defensive scheme.
Defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, 22 years old
Grant did not live up to his first-round billing in 2025. Grant started slow and did make some improvement in the back half of the season. Grant had two sacks, two tackles for loss and five QB hits according to Pro Football Reference. Grant is too big and too quick not to have a bigger impact.
Cornerback Jason Marshall, Jr., 23 years old
The Dolphins think Jason Marshall has a shot to compete with JuJu Brents as a boundary corner starter opposite rookie Chris Johnson. He’s tough. He’s athletic. He’s not afraid to go after the ball. The training camp battle between Marshall and Brents should be fascinating.
Left tackle Patrick Paul, 24 years old
Patrick Paul is a massive individual with a big smile off the field and a nasty temperament on the field. The thing about Paul is there is in fact another step to take. Paul can improve in run blocking. He is a very capable pass-blocker. There is Pro Bowl potential here.
Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips, 21 years old
Early in the season, Jordan Phillips was ahead of Kenneth Grant despite being a fifth rounder. Phillips has very good feet and athleticism. This is a player with room to grow. He is fully committed and dedicated to his craft and mature beyond his years.
Quarterback Malik Willis, 26 years old
Malik Willis is the oldest player on this list. Yes, Willis has four years in the NFL. But with only six career starts – six! – we can call him a young veteran. Big arm. Mobility. Play-making genes. Physical strength. Some fearlessness. It should be fun to see how this one goes. Miami is banking on Willis’ potential. And the former first rounder oozes potential.
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: 6 Miami Dolphins ready to break out in 2026, including Chop Robinson
Reporting by Joe Schad, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
