Colin Simmons Could Be Difference-Making EDGE for Dolphins in 2027
Three games in 2026 have made it clear that the Miami Dolphins lack the edge players need to get after opposing quarterbacks.
Combine that lack of pass rush with so much youth and inexperience in the secondary, and you get a bad pass defense.
That is what we have seen with Miami’s defense as they have routinely given up big plays through the air this season.
With not much expected in the way of reinforcements this season, I would expect more of the same, especially with the Dolphins facing quarterbacks like Joe Burrow, Josh Allen, Jordan Love, Justin Herbert, and Caleb Williams later in the year.
Miami is already 0-3, and they are likely headed to having a top-five pick in next year’s draft.
Miami has so many issues to fix if it wants a chance to be competitive going forward.
Do they trust Malik Willis enough not to take a quarterback with their first selection in April?
Will they want to see what Willis can do with more support around him and select someone like Jeremiah Smith?
Do they try to beef up the offensive line to protect Malik Willis?
Will they look to the back end of their defense and take Leonard Moore to potentially pair him with 2026 first-round pick Chris Johnson?
While these are all pretty strong choices and likely scenarios, I think General Manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and the rest of the front office staff might look to Austin, Texas for their first-round selection.
That would be edge rusher Colin Simmons
Every great defense is led by its ability to get to the quarterback, and right now, Miami just does not have the talent to consistently put fear into opposing offenses.
Third-year player Chop Robinson has shown glimpses of being impactful off the edge, but he needs to be more consistent down to down for Miami’s brass to include him in future plans.
Even if he turns out to be the player that Miami thinks he can be, the Dolphins will still need someone opposite of him.
That is where Simmons could come in.
A former highly touted high school recruit, Simmons has been a dominant pass rusher since his first season with the Longhorns.
In 2024, he recorded nine sacks and then followed that up with a 12-sack season.
This year, he is on pace to surpass that, with five sacks through four games, including a two-sack performance where he felt like he was all over the field in Texas’ recent win over Tennessee.
With his athleticism, Simmons could serve as more than just an edge player, though, as he is routinely moved around in the Longhorns’ defense.
More importantly, he could grow with the rest of Miami’s young defensive nucleus alongside players like Jordan Phillips, Kenneth Grant, Jacob Rodriguez, and Chris Johnson.
He would also have a few teammates from his college days with him in Miami: safety Michael Taaffe and off-ball linebacker Trey Moore.
If Miami wants to truly upgrade the pass rush heading into next season, selecting Collin Simmons with their first-round pick would be a good start.