MIAMI GARDENS — From the beginning, it was a mantra.
This weekend at the NFL Draft, it became reality.
The new tandem of general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and coach Jeff Hafley arrived from Green Bay promising to make the Miami Dolphins a more physical, tough team. Nothing in 2026 would afford them a better chance to put brute muscle behind that than the opportunity to make 13 picks — the second-most this franchise has had in 32 years.
And when they began by choosing a player who stands 6-feet-7 and weighs 352 pounds, there could be no doubt that the era in which the Dolphins prioritized speed had come to a screeching halt.
“Physicality is a big part of what we’re trying to accomplish and build here,” Sullivan said.
“Yeah,” Hafley said. “If there’s one thing I told him when he asked me my opinion on things, it’s one thing I was not going to back away from: I just believe this is a physical game and you need tough guys to play this game and guys who want to be physical. And I think if you look at this list and you watch how hard these guys play, I think it’s impressive.
“And what that says to me — and I’ve said this before — you can find out if a guy loves football based on how hard he plays. You can find out how much a guy loves his teammates based on how hard he plays. And when you look at this, I think we’ve got the right type of guys and I’m excited to work with them.”
Will Dolphins hold their own vs. physical teams?
That’s when we’ll all get concrete answers. For now, all we can go on is the tape and what players such as first-round draft pick Kadyn Proctor, the 352-pounder, said shortly after being picked. Proctor said the Dolphins will run the (bleep) out of the football this season.
Dolphins fans tired of seeing their team wilt on the road, or on prime time, or against physical teams, are ready for a change, even if it means sacrificing some of the sprinters’ speed that netted the franchise zero playoff wins.
Sullivan is big on drafting the best player available vs. drafting for need, saying you’re only 1-2 injuries away from an area of strength becoming a major weakness. But since the Dolphins had needs at most positions, he was afforded the luxury of satisfying both approaches. He came away with seven offensive players and six defensive.
The first areas addressed were the line with Proctor and the secondary with cornerback Chris Johnson, both in the first round. But in terms of quantity, the largest influx of talent came with three picks each targeting linebackers (including inside linebackers and edge rushers) and wide receivers.
Dolphins GM Jon-Eric Sullivan dips heavily into Texas talent
But anyone looking for a pattern to Sullivan’s selections could spot it from 30,000 feet. Five draftees are from Texas universities, with the Texas Longhorns providing linebacker Trey Moore, safety Michael Taaffe and guard DJ Campbell; and the Texas Tech Red Raiders sending the Dolphins linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and receiver Caleb Douglas. It’ll be Hafley’s job to make sure these longtime rivals coexist in one locker room.
As for half a draft class coming from one state, Sullivan said it’s a coincidence.
“They play good football in Texas, so I think that’s probably a good thing,” he said. “There was nothing that was intentional. It’s just the way that it kind of fell.”
The Dolphins spent one of three third-round picks on a tight end: Ohio State’s Will Kacmarek, a 6-6, 258-pound blocker who said, “Mentality and aggression is 90 percent of the game,” which likely warmed Proctor’s heart.
French-born tight end ‘proof the dream is possible’
But it was the other tight end chosen — fifth-rounder Seydou Traore — who warrants special attention. That became clear as his selection was announced in Pittsburgh.
“This is not another name on a card,” the announcer said. “This is proof the dream is possible.”
Traore was born in France. He grew up in London (as a goalkeeper) and started began by playing nine-on-nine football in the UK, where he joined the NFL’s International Player Pathway Program.
It wasn’t until he moved to Clearwater in the early 2020s that he got his first taste of 11-on-11 play.
Traore began his collegiate career at Arkansas State, then transferred to Mississippi State. He was a three-year starter who played in 48 games, starting 37, with 131 receptions for 1,480 yards (11.3 average) and 10 touchdowns.
“He’s kind of a very raw, athletic ball of clay, if you will,” Sullivan said. “He can move. He’s an interesting athlete. He’s got twitch. He’s got speed. He’s got good hands. … We felt like a player who’s ascending and whose best ball is in front of him, and could be a problem for defenses in time.”
He’s also a 235-pounder known for an ability to get yards after the catch. So he fits the mold for these Dolphins.
“As I look at these names, these are not only good football players, but they’re smart football players, they’re tough football players,” Hafley said. “It’s going to be cool to see this group mixed together, because I think they all have a very similar mindset. And I think they all have a little bit of edge to them and that excites me to start coaching them.”
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins get physical with draft class: ‘You need tough guys’
Reporting by Hal Habib, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
