Dolphins football is back baby!
That can be a good or bad thing depending on who you ask. But what better way to kick off the Dolphins’ umpteenth rebuild than with two solid selections in the 2026 NFL Draft?
I told you. I told you Miami needed to rebuild in the trenches and I guess Jeff Hafley and Jon-Eric Sullivan read my blog post.
This pick had me clappin’ my hands and kickin’ my feet.
Proctor has so much upside it’s hard not to turn away from him. A massive mauler that can line up on the interior or exterior line, Proctor’s flexibility on the line can get him a lot of experience in a short amount of time.
Miami is desperate for offensive line experience. With Austin Jackson underperforming and in the final year of his contract, Aaron Brewer and Patrick Paul need some help. Jonah Savaiinaea is still developing but…it looked ugly last year for the guard. Longtime non-contributor Liam Eichenberg was also told to hit the trail.
Bottom line, this was a great pick for Miami.
I love this pick. Proctor’s most likely going to need some time to develop in 2026, which should allow Hafley and Co. proper evaluation for the O-lineman from Alabama. Then he can be slotted into whatever fit the Dolphins need moving forward. Proctor himself admitted he needs to work on stamina; he’s not yet ready to “play all three downs” because of his weight issues. I ain’t too worried; that Miami humidity’s a real SOB and it’s not unlikely Proctor sheds some serious poundage.
Proctor’s pro comparison was Jordan Mailata. If one of the most imposing linemen in the 2026 class can come close to Mailata’s production, look out. We might have to start calling him IHOP.
Johnson’s got a tall order ahead of him. He’s no miracle worker, but Miami’s pass defense was the equivalent of swiss cheese last year.
Despite his inability to turn water into wine, Johnson boasts quick speed and acceleration in pass coverage. The cornerback from San Diego State came in first among all cornerbacks in the 2026 class in terms of athleticism. He also excels in route recognition and once the ball’s in the air, it’s either his or the ground’s. Johnson’s a high effort kid that can be a Pro Bowl caliber starter for the Dolphins.
Couple things Johnson needs to work on, however: his angle of approach and tackling ability.
Now look, I understand the whole story about Deion Sanders making business decisions, but the defenses Sanders served on were, y’know, good. Johnson’s already being asked to do a lot. It’s unfair to lump expectations on him this early, but he may need to help out in the run game. All-Pro linebacker Jordyn Brooks can’t do it all himself.
Johnson also tends to play the inside angle when guarding his man–which is fine. But at 6’0, he might have trouble on back-shoulder fades and sideline go routes against taller receivers.
He’ll slot in beside current cornerbacks Julius Brents and Darrell Baker, but besides that? 2026 is going to be a development year for Johnson, as will it be with Procter.
We’ve still got a long way to go before we can fully gauge how these picks are gonna pan out. For my money’s worth, I think Miami’s off to a solid start.
Let’s see where they go from here.
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