The Miami Dolphins have two first-round picks and could go in any direction as the team enters Year 1 of their rebuild after cutting ties with Tyreek Hill and Tua Tagovailoa, then trading Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos.
Miami has its own No. 11 pick and the No. 30 pick, which they received as part of the Waddle trade, on Day 1. When it comes to potential players that the Dolphins could take with that late first-round pick, it is former Miami Hurricanes star Akheem Mesidor.
Nonetheless, despite Mesidor being a familiar name in the South Florida area after he and the Hurricanes reached the national title game during the 2025 season, Bleacher Report’s Alex Ballentine believes that the Dolphins should avoid drafting the edge rusher.
“Everybody loves a homecoming, and seeing Miami Hurricanes edge-rusher Akheem Mesidor stay in South Beach would be a cool story,” Ballentine wrote in his April 19 article. “It just wouldn’t be the best bit of roster-building for the Dolphins. For one, the Dolphins are at the beginning of a full-on rebuild.
“They’ve ripped the roster down to the studs and will transition to Malik Willis at quarterback. The problem is that Willis doesn’t have what he needs to succeed on the roster. The Dolphins released Tyreek Hill and traded Jaylen Waddle. Neither tackle spot is secured in the long term.
“So, taking Mesidor, a 25-year-old prospect, just doesn’t line up with the team’s biggest needs or timeline. The Dolphins would be better off taking at least one offensive prospect or addressing their needs in the secondary with younger prospects.”
What Would Akheem Mesidor Bring to Miami?
Last season at Miami, Mesidor turned in one of the top defensive performances in the country. He posted a 92.5 overall PFF grade, ranking third among 852 qualified edge defenders. His pass-rush grade came in at 91.7, good for 13th, while his 90.5 run-defense grade also ranked third at the position.
As a pass rusher, he totaled 55 pressures, including nine sacks, 42 hurries, and four quarterback hits. He added 21 solo tackles against the run and forced three fumbles over the course of the season.
Who Could the Dolphins Target at No. 11?
With two first-round picks, could Miami decide to take a wide receiver with the No. 11 pick to give their new QB, Malik Willis, a target that could help him out this upcoming 2026 season? For ESPN’s Matt Miller, former USC Trojans star Makai Lemon makes sense.
“I’m a huge fan of Makai Lemon from USC,” Miller said during a March 17 appearance on the “Rich Eisen Show.” “I think he would be a fit at eleven if he’s still on the board. He is actually my number one receiver in this draft. Now, he’s a little bit smaller than Carnell Tate, but his middle-of-the-field toughness is exceptional. He’s a great route runner, a YAC player. He could play in the slot. He could play outside.”
Moreover, Miller delved deeper into why Lemon would fit the Dolphins’ philosophy. Miller notes that selecting the wideout would steer away from the old-school way of thinking that general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan might have brought over from the Green Bay Packers.
“He does give you a lot of juice after the catch,“ Miller added. “He created the most missed tackles of any receiver in this year’s draft with 21. So, he has that ability to make you miss, but then there’s that toughness in his game where he will try to run over you, try to run through you, and get to the end zone if he has that opportunity.
“If they go away from that old-school Ron Wolf strategy and want to draft a receiver at 11, I think he’s a tremendous fit with what they now have in Malik Willis and really an offense that’s going to be built around the run game. You’re going to be able to win with play action with a route runner like Makai Lemon.”
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