After a 7-10 season, the Miami Dolphins roster is in search of a much-needed infusion of talent. The previous Dolphins cycle led by players like Tyreek Hill, Tua Tagovailoa, Terron Armstead, Jalen Ramsey, and Bradley Chubb is coming to an end. Despite some great regular season moments, they failed to end Miami’s playoff win drought or capture a division title.
Now, after hiring a new general manager and a new head coach, the Miami Dolphins have ushered in a new era.While some of the old pieces still remain, what Miami’s core nucleus will be going forward remains to be seen. They do have some solid building blocks like Jordyn Brooks, Aaron Brewer, De’Von Achane, Patrick Paul, and Jaylen Waddle. However, all five of those players present some level of uncertainty regarding their long-term future with the team. With draft season ahead, the Dolphins will hope to select a player to join that core nucleus for years to come.
Miami Dolphins Select Caleb Downs in Mock Draft
With the NFL season nearing an end, coverage is shifting toward free agency and the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft. The Dolphins possess the No. 11 selection, which marks their highest since drafting Jaylen Waddle with the sixth overall pick in the 2021 draft. A new mock draft by NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah has Miami selecting Ohio State safety Caleb Downs with their first selection.
Jeremiah wrote, “Downs has the versatility to play multiple spots, much like his teammate — in this scenario — Minkah Fitzpatrick. Downs’ football intelligence and leadership are off the charts. Miami has to improve a defense that ranked 24th in scoring and 32nd in opponent completion percentage.”
Previously, Bleacher Report’s Daniel Harms had described Downs as, “The single best prospect for the 2026 draft cycle. With his experience in Matt Patricia’s defense, he’s going to hit the ground running for whatever NFL team drafts him.”
Jeremiah compared Downs to Minkah Fitzpatrick. However, it is unlikely the two would be teammates even if Miami drafted Downs. Miami Herald writer Omar Kelly stated that the likely course of action with Fitzpatrick is that he will get traded this offseason.
Dolphins’ Draft Needs
One could make the argument against selecting Downs, since safety is not one of the top priorities on an NFL team. However, selecting a player some view as the top prospect in the entire class may be too good to pass up regardless of positional value. Additionally, he would fill a need. As mentioned previously, Fitzpatrick is likely to be on the move, and the rest of Miami’s secondary is set to be free agents. That unit is the weakest on the team.
Aside from the secondary, the Dolphins have a plethora of needs on the roster. With the James Daniels free agent experience ending three plays into the season, and Jonah Savaiinaea struggling as a rookie, Miami will need better play out of their guards. Right tackle is also potentially a need, as Austin Jackson may be a salary cap casualty after a pair of injury-riddled seasons. With Bradley Chubb likely departing as well, Miami could go for a pass rusher, which would prioritize positional value. Offensively, they will need a receiver to replace some of Tyreek Hill’s production.
With so many needs on the roster, perhaps the best course of action is simply to take the best prospect available.
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