Miami gets a Jaylen Waddle replacement, DB upgrades in 7-round mock
· Yahoo Sports
The Miami Dolphins made one of the biggest moves in free agency by signing top quarterback Malik Willis. Eight days later, they made a blockbuster move to trade away top receiver Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos.
Visit asg-reflektory.pl for more information.
That’s been a theme of the 2026 offseason for the Miami Dolphins. A new coaching staff led by former Green Bay Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley replaces the offensive-minded Mike McDaniel’s staff from the last four seasons.
Miami’s defense has a new coordinator in 2026 under Hafley and will see plenty of new players. The secondary is set for new starters across the board as Miami brought in a host of veterans. On offense, Tutu Atwell and Jalen Tolbert are the experienced signees brought on to help with the losses of Waddle and Tyreek Hill.
The deal for Waddle means Miami now has seven selections in the first 100 picks of the 2026 NFL Draft, more than any team in the NFL. As the team begins Hafley's tenure, they could use this class to lay the foundation for a turnaround in the near future.
But how could they use their now expansive draft capital? Here’s what we think the Dolphins’ draft could look like come April:
Miami Dolphins mock draft
The specific fourth-round picks in the Jaylen Waddle trade have not been disclosed. For this mock draft, we are assuming Miami sent No. 111 overall to Denver and received No. 108 in return.
Round 1, No. 11 overall: WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle are gone, leaving a massive hole at the wide receiver position for Willis. Miami can draft the best player available at No. 11 now and that may very well be Tyson. The Arizona State star is a scoring machine who separates from coverage consistently with his suddenness. He may slip slightly in the draft due to injury concerns but is a top talent at the position.
Round 1, No. 30 overall: S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, Toledo
Hafley’s defenses got the most out of their safeties with the likes of Xavier McKinney thriving in Green Bay. Miami’s secondary needs a lot of help and getting a building-block player on the back end is critical for their rebuild. McNeil-Warren is a versatile safety with athleticism to cover well and the attitude and presence to hold up in run defense.
Round 2, No. 43 overall: CB Brandon Cisse, South Carolina
The Dolphins signed veterans to ensure the cornerback room isn’t a complete disaster and that will not prevent them from looking for more building blocks in the draft. Cisse’s speed and physicality are assets in press coverage, but he can often take too many chances. If Hafley and his staff can develop Cisse over time, he could be a long-term starter at outside cornerback.
Round 3, No. 75 overall: Edge Romello Height, Texas Tech
Miami’s edge rushing group is all about speed with the likes of Chop Robinson, Josh Uche, David Ojabo and Robert Beal. Height would add another name to that list of speedy edge rushers. He’s an older prospect and weighed in at 239 pounds at the combine. That’s a fit in this group with impressive production in 2025 (62 pressures). His burst and bend will make him a reliable edge rusher immediately.
Round 3, No. 87 overall: TE Jack Endries, Texas
The Dolphins retained Greg Dulcich in free agency but that shouldn’t keep them from investing in the position with a great tight end class. Endries is slightly leaner than Dulcich at 6-foot-4 and 236 pounds which could show up in run blocking scenarios. But he’s alignment-versatile with vertical speed to stress defenses, something the Dolphins will need with Waddle and Hill gone.
Round 3, No. 90 overall: WR Bryce Lance, North Dakota State
Lance put on a show at the NFL combine as one of the most explosive athletes at the position in the class. His speed and verticality in a 6-foot-3 frame could make him an ideal downfield complement to Tyson and slot wideout Malik Washington. His route running and releases need work but he’d have a role as a field-stretcher immediately.
Round 3, No. 94 overall: LB Jaishawn Barham, Michigan
Jordyn Brooks was a first-team All-Pro in 2025 after leading the NFL in tackles with 183. He’ll need more help for the Dolphins to contend in run defense and that’s where Barham can come in. The Wolverines’ linebacker is an explosive athlete with the size to stack or slip blocks. His coverage understanding needs work but that can come with time next to Brooks or rotating with Tyrel Dodson.
Round 4, No. 108 overall: CB Julian Neal, Arkansas
Neal could be another potential starter to develop in the secondary again. His size (6-foot-2) and physicality at the catch point make him a good developmental cornerback. He lacks high-end speed, which leads to some penalties from being too aggressive in coverage, but his tools are worth a chance.
Round 5, No. 151 overall: DT Albert Regis, Texas A&M
Regis is slightly undersized at 6-foot-1 but that helps him out-leverage many of his opponents thanks to his burst off the line. He has shorter arms compared to many of the other players in the class which may cap his overall pass-rushing effectiveness. But the tools are there for at least a rotational piece with the burst to disrupt and a tough mentality.
Round 7, No. 227 overall: Edge Mikail Kamara, Indiana
Kamara is a shorter edge rusher at 6-foot-1 but relies on his experience, motor and elite first step to disrupt opposing offensive linemen. His hand usage is very good for his draft position and he has a solid array of pass-rush moves already. His shorter frame packs power at 265 pounds.
Round 7, No. 238 overall: G Caden Barnett, Wyoming
Miami’s offensive line could improve in 2026 with center Aaron Brewer leading the way in the middle at center. The second-team All-Pro can’t do it all, though, and the Dolphins could use more depth around him. Barnett solidified himself as a right guard in 2025 for Wyoming and is at his best in the run game by delivering all of the power he holds in his 320-pound frame. His pass protection needs work but a depth role is more than worth the investment this late in the draft.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dolphins 7-round mock draft: Jaylen Waddle successor leads huge overhaul