The Dolphins are about to dive headfirst into free agency, where a rookie general manager will try to add veteran talent to right the ship in Miami. And while they’re one of the favorites to shop for a new starting quarterback along the lines of Malik Willis, there are too many holes to fill with free agents alone, something GM Jon-Eric Sullivan has acknowledged.
Luckily the Dolphins have eight picks in April’s NFL draft, starting at No. 11 overall. Miami hasn’t picked that high since 2021, when it took wide receiver Jaylen Waddle out of Alabama with the sixth pick. Sullivan could use their first-round pick this year to take another top-of-the-line wideout to play opposite Waddle after Tyreek Hill’s release.
But it’s more likely Miami looks to the lines or the secondary, which were also points of emphasis in 2025. The Dolphins went big early last year with their first three picks being defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, guard Jonah Savaiinaea and DT Jordan Phillips. There are plenty of strong options along the offensive line who should be available when the Dolphins go on the clock, including a hometown hero, as well as a promising Florida Gator if they want to keep building up the defensive front.
But Miami’s biggest need for the second year running (at least) is at cornerback, and there are a few highly regarded options on the table. The team’s scouts got their chance to see them firsthand at the NFL combine; we’ll see what Sullivan’s team-building strategy is over the next month and a half.
The Palm Beach Post’s Hal Habib and Joe Schad have put together mock drafts for what the Dolphins will do with their first-round pick. Here’s a look at who other NFL draft experts think Miami will take at No. 11 in their recent mock drafts.
Francis Mauigoa
Offensive tackle | Miami
Mel Kiper, ESPN: “Right tackle Austin Jackson — the team’s last first-round pick on the offensive line back in 2020 — has struggled to stay on the field, and fill-in Larry Borom is a free agent. Mauigoa comes with 42 starts of experience and a mauling attitude. Plus, he’d be able to keep his parking pass at Hard Rock Stadium as he comes over from the Hurricanes. If Jackson stays healthy and takes ownership of the RT spot, Mauigoa could easily kick inside to guard. Some scouts think he’s a better fit there, and plenty of attention will be paid to his arm length measurements this week at the combine.”
Jordan Reid, ESPN: “Mauigoa has some of the cleanest film to evaluate of any prospect in this year’s class. He’s a model of consistency as a steady blocker who has the mauling power to generate movement and enough lower-body quickness. While there is talk of the 6-foot-5, 329-pound Mauigoa possibly kicking inside to guard at some point, drafting him here and pairing him with Patrick Paul would give the Dolphins’ new regime a pair of bookend offensive tackles to start their rebuild around.”
Mansoor Delane
Cornerback | LSU
Nate Davis, USA TODAY: “A rebuilding team could go in any number of directions, and free agency will certainly further shape Sullivan’s roster-altering strategy. But an All-American corner could be made to order – not only because much of Miami’s secondary is unsigned, but also because the Dolphins won’t avoid four annual games against Josh Allen and Drake Maye.”
Daniel Harms, Bleacher Report: “Delane has the prototypical size at 6’0″ and 187 pounds. He also shows off some impressive football IQ and scheme versatility while maintaining a physical presence on the boundary against any wide receiver and attacks the catch point aggressively. He’s exactly the type of player the Dolphins defense needs, with the potential to step in right away as an impact player.”
Bucky Brooks, NFL.com: “The talented technician would help the Dolphins match up with the high-powered offenses around the league. Delane’s instincts, awareness and versatility mesh well with Jeff Hafley’s vision-and-break scheme.”
Tom Fornelli, CBS Sports: “Mansoor Delane is my top corner in the class and will improve a Miami secondary in need of improvement. He’s the best pure cover corner in the class.”
Carnell Tate
Wide receiver | Ohio State
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: “Tate’s lack of top-end speed at the NFL Scouting Combine (4.53 40-yard dash) was a little surprising relative to the rest of the group, but the Ohio State product runs great routes and catches everything. He’s a baller.”
Ellis Williams, PFSN: “The Ohio State product recorded 14 touchdowns last season and is widely viewed as one of the top wide receivers in the 2026 class. While some evaluators question whether he can immediately function as a standalone WR1 at the NFL level, the projection pairs him with Waddle in what would become a new-look receiving tandem under first-year head coach Jeff Hafley.”
TJ Parker
Edge rusher | Clemson
Dante Collinelli, SI: “Parker’s 2025 season wasn’t as good as everyone hoped, but he’s had an excellent pre-draft process. He performed well at the Senior Bowl and had a solid combine. He measured in at 6-3, 263, with 33-inch arms, which should hit all of the Dolphins’ thresholds. His 1.61 10-yard split, 10-foot broad, and 34-inch vertical are all fine enough results, too. Edge is arguably Miami’s biggest need, and Parker has all the makings of a good addition. He’s strong, powerful, and has some upside as a pass rusher.”
Caleb Banks
Defensive tackle | Florida
Michael Haney, Phin Phanatic: “Cornerback may be a more pressing need than defensive tackle for the Dolphins, but there are only a few difference makers on the interior of the defensive line in this class. Caleb Banks is one of them. His jaw-dropping Combine measurements will push him up draft boards.”
Olaivavega Ioane
Guard | Penn State
Kyle Crabbs, A to Z Sports: “Sullivan told us they intend to build this team from the inside out. Here’s there chance to prove it. Dolphins fans who have grown weary of leaky pass protection on the inside of the offensive line should rejoice at this selection. Ioane is a prolific pass protector with enough mass and power to create displacement in the run game, too. He’s got a stout anchor and enough mobility to stay attached to bodies once he’s rolled defenders back on their heels. Consider him a scheme-diverse talent with the raw ability to be a top starter in the league at guard.”
Jermod McCoy
Cornerback | Tennessee
Charles Davis, NFL.com: “The potential lockdown corner’s pro day will be heavily scrutinized after he missed all of last season with an ACL tear and did not work out at the combine. If he aces the test, the Dolphins will have an immediate starter.”
Monroe Freeling
Offensive tackle | Georgia
Dane Brugler, The Athletic: “Over the last few months, I’ve been pushing Freeling as an ascending prospect with talent worth an early-pick investment. His combine performance was uneven (NFL scout: ‘His testing was good. His positional workout wasn’t good at all.’), but a 1.71-second 10-yard split in the 40 at his size is impressive. Freeling would be a great building block for a new general manager, Jon-Eric Sullivan, looking to revamp the roster.”
When is the 2026 NFL draft?
The NFL draft begins Thursday, April 23 with Round 1. The second and third rounds will take place Friday, April 24, and things wrap up Saturday, April 25 with Rounds 4-7. The draft will take place in Pittsburgh and be broadcast on ESPN and NFL Network, with streaming options including Fubo, which carries both channels and offers a free trial for new subscribers.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Who will Dolphins pick in NFL draft 2026? See the latest mock drafts
Reporting by Dan Rorabaugh, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
