B+
Miami Dolphins
The Dolphins let Stowers fall into their laps, and walked away with a B+.
by JBHANCOCK94 ·
2026 NFL Draft
· 13 picks
· 7 steals
· 1 reaches
Somebody in the Round 3 slot was going to get robbed, and it turned out to be the rest of the league. The Dolphins sat still while Eli Stowers, the No. 53 name on the board, slid all the way to them, then sprinted to the podium.
They will regret leaving quarterback for another day if the season turns on it. With quarterback, edge rusher and other spots unsolved, spending premium capital on cornerback is the choice that costs them. The Calen Bullock deal gives the class an established piece to lean on.
In sum, a sensible class that nudges the roster the right way.
Pick-by-Pick
They paid sticker price for Denzel Boston in the 28th overall pick, and that is fine. It also answers one of the loudest questions on the roster.
No edge and no loss on Chris Johnson in the 30th pick; it is a wash and a sensible one. It adds depth where they could use a little.
Blake Miller in the Round 2 slot is fair value, right on his grade. It shores up a spot that genuinely needed the help.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in pick 75 is a gift, value that borders on unfair. It thickens a room that could stand to be thicker.
Domonique Orange slid further than he should have, and Round 3, Pick 26 is lovely value for the interior defensive lineman. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
Circle this one: Eli Stowers at No. 91 is a fall that decides a draft. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
Hard to square with the roster. With positions of obvious need still on the board, Daylen Everette adds a cornerback and leaves quarterback, edge rusher and other spots untouched.
They robbed the room for Sam Hecht here, a fall nobody at the table saw coming. It fills a real need, too.
They went early on DeMonte Capehart in the 130th overall pick, and the value did not follow. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Rayshaun Benny at Round 5, Pick 11 is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
You do not let a wide receiver like Jeff Caldwell reach pick 220 and blink. They did not. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
They took Noah Whittington at par in the 227th pick, which is nothing to complain about. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
A cornerback of that caliber at slot 238 is the definition of value, full stop. Pure best-available; the position was not exactly begging.