March 2, 2026, 8:13 a.m. ET
The Miami Dolphins are entering a new era, going from a team that was hopeful to compete for the division to one that’s starting over with a new head coach and general manager.
With that, the Dolphins have several holes they need to address this offseason, and they can’t really afford to turn down the best players available when the 2026 NFL draft comes.
On Monday, USA Today’s Nate Davis released his post-combine mock draft, and he projects that Miami will use pick No. 11 on LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane.
“A rebuilding team could go in any number of directions, and free agency will certainly further shape Sullivan’s roster-altering strategy,” Davis wrote. “But an All-American corner could be made to order – not only because much of Miami’s secondary is unsigned, but also because the Dolphins won’t avoid four annual games against Josh Allen and Drake Maye.”
Delane, 22, was a three-star recruit out of Archbishop Spalding High School in Severn, Maryland, before spending three years at Virginia Tech and one at LSU.
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In 44 games between the two schools, Delane recorded 191 tackles, 27 passes defensed, eight interceptions, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He also earned All-ACC honors in 2024 and both All-SEC and All-American honors in 2025.
As Davis mentioned, Miami is expected to have Rasul Douglas, Jack Jones, A.J. Green III, Kader Kohou and Artie Burns all hitting the market this offseason. Taking the top cornerback in the draft could help speed up this turnaround.
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