C+
Miami Dolphins
Flashes of a plan, unevenly executed. Dolphins: C+.
by [email protected] ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 14 picks
· 2 steals
· 8 reaches
Boards are made to be trusted, and the Dolphins shredded theirs for Jalen Farmer. He came off 31 spots early, and the room will hear about it.
They will answer for taking cornerback early while edge rusher, interior defensive lineman and other spots went begging. The edge rusher spot stays a question, and it was the one they most needed an answer at. However the rest shakes out, Sarratt at that price is a win they earned.
A perfectly average weekend, for better and for worse.
Pick-by-Pick
In No. 30 they get a lockdown presence outside at fair value.
They went early on Max Iheanachor in the Round 2 slot, and the value did not follow. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.
Nice patience on Dillon Thieneman, who had no business lasting to slot 43. A minor itch, scratched.
Hard to square with the roster. With positions of obvious need still on the board, D'Angelo Ponds adds a cornerback and leaves edge rusher, interior defensive lineman and other spots untouched.
Jalen Farmer at pick No. 75 is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.
Elijah Sarratt at the 87th overall pick is the sort of value that quietly wins a weekend. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Ja'Kobi Lane in No. 94 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
A premium they did not need to pay, Isaiah World a notch or two before his time. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
They talked themselves into Aamil Wagner at the 147th pick, and the board did not agree. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
They paid up for Louis Moore at pick 151 when waiting would have done the job. Nice player, but the depth chart did not need him here.
Cole Payton at Round 5, Pick 39 is a steep price for a hunch, hard to square with any board. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
They reached a country mile for Riley Nowakowski at the Round 6 slot, and the board is aghast. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Aiden Fisher at the 227th overall pick is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
They jumped the gun on Fa'alili Fa'amoe, taking him earlier than his grade liked. The roster fit checks out.