The Miami Dolphins announced they had selected cornerback Chris Johnson with the 27th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Miami traded for the second time in the draft, as they moved from the No. 30 pick to 27, despite general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan previously indicating the team was unlikely to move up. Before the draft Sullivan said, “It’s more likely that we would move back and pick up picks than give up picks to go forward. If you walk in there Day 2 and all of a sudden there’s some players that you covet at the top, and you’re like, ‘Hey, maybe it makes sense to go burn a pick,’ to get – if something unlikely happened and a player that you didn’t expect to be there, those are conversations we’ll have. I’m not saying that I won’t do anything. Everything is on the table”
It appears that Chris Johnson was simply a player that Sullivan valued highly, so much so that he was willing to part ways with the No. 90 selection in order to move up three picks.
The Dolphins had already addressed one of their needs in the draft as the team selected Alabama offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor with the No. 12 pick.
While the move may have been seen as unpopular, due to the team opting to pass on Miami Hurricanes defensive end Reuben Bain, they have now addressed key positions with an offensive tackle and cornerback.
Miami Dolphins Select Chris Johnson in NFL Draft
Johnson was the 35th-ranked prospect by NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah. Regarding Johnson, Jeremiah wrote:
“Johnson has excellent height, bulk and movement skills for his position. In press coverage, he doesn’t use his hands to reroute the receiver, but he has very quick feet and he’s fluid to open up/run. He will mix in some bail technique, where he’ll turn his back toward the sideline, run and stay on top of wideouts. He’s at his best in off coverage, where he shows excellent eyes/instincts to trigger on throws in front of him. He’s natural in finding and playing the ball. Johnson is extremely tough and aggressive to fill versus the run. He’s a dependable tackler in space and he flashes burst/closing ability as a blitzer. He had an up-and-down week at the Senior Bowl, but he rebounded with an outstanding NFL Scouting Combine performance. Coaches at SDSU rave about his character and toughness.”
Johnson appeared in 47 games for San Diego State, registering four interceptions during the 2025 season. He fills a need for Miami as the team lost cornerbacks Rasul Douglas and Jack Jones Jr. in free agency.
Upcoming Dolphins Selections
With the Dolphins finishing up their Day 1 activities, the team will now look forward to the second day of the draft where the team currently holds four selections, including the No. 43 overall pick.
Miami has already addressed two important needs with their draft picks; however, they are yet to add a defensive end or wide receiver to complement quarterback Malik Willis. A possible option for the Dolphins at No. 43 is doubling down on Alabama players as wide receiver Germie Bernard remains available. Regarding Bernard, Jeremiah wrote:
“Bernard is a strong, sturdy wideout. He was utilized in a variety of alignments in the Crimson Tide offense, taking snaps out wide, in the slot, at running back and as a Wildcat quarterback. His quickness is a weapon off the line and at the top of routes. He can separate underneath and has strong hands to attack the ball. He tracks the ball well down the field, too. Bernard is at his best with the ball in his hands. He’s quick, elusive and strong to generate yards after the catch. His speed is good but not elite, and he lacks a home run gear to pull away from pursuit. I love his toughness and competitiveness as a blocker. Bernard should earn a spot as a quality starting slot receiver early in his NFL career.”
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