Remember all that chatter about the Dolphins becoming Green Bay South or the Florida Packers?
While General Manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and Coach Jeff Hafley spent a lot of time with the Packers before relocating to Miami Gardens, it’s rather obvious after three days of the NFL draft that the pair also wear cowboy hats and boots when they are away from Hard Rock Stadium.
Of their 13 total picks, the Dolphins drafted five players from schools in the Lone Star State: linebacker Jacob Rodriguez and receiver Caleb Douglas out of Texas Tech, and Edge Trey Moore, safety Michael Taaffe and guard D.J. Campbell, who played for Texas.
Hook ’em Horns, indeed.
Of course, the Dolphins already had 10 players with Texas ties: running back De’Von Achane (Texas A&M), center Aaron Brewer (Texas State), offensive tackle Patrick Paul (Houston), tight ends Jalin Conyers (Texas Tech) and Ben Sims (Baylor), linebackers Jordyn Brooks (Texas Tech) and Tyrel Dodson (Texas A&M), defensive tackle Keith Cooper Jr. (Houston) and second-year quarterback Quinn Ewers (Texas).
Even long snapper Tucker Addington hails from the Lone Star State, having attended Sam Houston State in Huntsville, Texas.
How many of these Texas-pedigree players will make a difference in 2026? Perhaps we’ll know Amarillo by morning.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Why did Miami Dolphins load up on Texas players during NFL Draft 2026?
Reporting by Nick Pugliese, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
