March 22, 2026, 8:55 a.m. ET

Following free agency and the Jaylen Waddle trade with the Denver Broncos, the Miami Dolphins and new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan own 11 picks in the 2026 NFL draft. With seven being in the top-94 selections, Sullivan and the Dolphins have an opportunity to check off many boxes of need, which they have all over the field.

In a recent mock draft, where there were no mock trades, a best-player-available, mixed with important need prioritized, was the focus.

First Round (No. 11 overall): Miami OT Francis Mauigoa

Perhaps the best tackle prospect in the class, Miami’s Mauigoa can man the right side and has a massive build with outstanding anchor. He is an excellent pass blocker who would help the Dolphins have a terrific bookend tackle situation to protect new quarterback Malik Willis, with the option of kicking veteran Austin Jackson to the inside at guard.

Mauigoa can get to the second level and moves very well for his size, and would be a relative steal at pick No. 11 for Miami with his run blocking skills as well.

Expert NFL picks: Exclusive betting insights only at USA TODAY.First Round (No. 30 overall): Toledo S Emmanuel McNeil-Warren

Rookie head coach Jeff Hafley is a defensive backs specialist and loves his safeties. Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren is a top-three in the class, along with Caleb Downs and Dillon Thieneman. At 6-foot-4, he has tremendous size for the position and can create havoc, having forced nine career fumbles. He also has five career interceptions, 13 passes defensed, 11 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries.

Miami is extremely thin at this position, and McNeil-Warren would be a day-one plug-in starter who can be perfect for Hafley’s usage in the secondary, while also being effective against the run.

Second Round (No. 43 overall): San Diego State CB Chris Johnson

While the word is Hafley and Sullivan love size in their defensive backs, Chris Johnson is not so far off and has 4.40 speed from the combine and is a lockdown cover corner. His 2025 season at San Diego State was outstanding and held quarterbacks to an incredibly low 16.1 pass rating when targeted. His ball skills are fantastic, picking off four passes, creating nine pass breakups, making for a forced incompletion rate of 23.3% last season. He could be considered a top-five cornerback in this class.

Third Round (No. 75 overall): Georgia State WR Ted Hurst

The Waddle trade creates a major need for a wide receiver for an already thin group before the Broncos trade. Ted Hurst is 6-foot-4, combined with 4.42 speed, and brings a perfect mix of attributes for a team’s top potential target. Having an eye-opening NFL Scouting Combine, Hurst finished as the fourth highest at the position in Athleticism Score at 86.

A vertical threat who can create after the catch, he can fit well in the Z-receiver role, and be an immediate weapon for Willis. In his two seasons in college, he hauled in 15 touchdowns on 127 receptions and averaged 15.5 yards per catch.

Third Round (No. 87 overall): Penn State Edge Dani Dennis-Sutton

With Bradley Chubb gone and limited, true pass rusher on the roster other than Chop Robinson, Miami looks to Penn State again here with Dani Dennis-Sutton. A bit better overall as a run defender compared to Robinson, Sutton is a phenomenal athlete and scored a 9.93 Relative Athletic Score, which is ranked 15th at the edge position out of 2,046 players evaluated since 1987. He is in the 90th percentile or better at edge in his class in key metrics such as 40-yard dash, vertical leap, three-cone and broad jump.

DDS finished his Penn State career with 23.5 sacks, 34.5 tackles for loss, eight passes defensed, seven forced fumbles and two recoveries. Very important in a Hafley defender in the front seven, he can set the edge and be a factor against the rush.

Third Round (No. 90 overall): Kentucky G Jalen Farmer

The Dolphins need interior offensive line help desperately, and Kentucky right guard Jalen Farmer has strength and sneaky speed for a lineman. He plays with physicality and nastiness, which Miami now is seeking, and has 34.5-inch arms. He is effective against pass rushers, and in college, he had a pressure efficiency rate of above 97% over his 800 snaps over his last two seasons.

He is a better run blocker than pass protector and could help Miami’s ground attack. He had a solid combine, ranking fourth among guards in both Production and Athleticism score at 74 and 83, respectively.

Third Round (No. 94 overall): North Dakota State WR Bryce Lance

In his Green Bay Packers experience, as well as his father being a former wide receiver’s coach, with time in Miami at that, Sullivan can evaluate and identify mid-round targets very effectively. Bryce Lance is a carbon copy of Packers receiver Christian Watson and has a RAS of 9.94, the 23rd-ranked wide-out in this metric out of 3,926.

At nearly 6-foot-3, Lance would be a perfect pairing in this mock with Hurst and create multiple immediate options for Willis on the outside. His 4.34 speed and deep threat ability with his 41.5-inch vertical are elite. Additionally, Lance can find the endzone plenty, having scored 25 times on 127 receptions in college, and could be a monster in the red zone and on goal-line fades.

Fourth Round (No. 130 overall): Stanford TE Sam Roush

While Miami re-signed Greg Dulcich, it was for one year, and they do need to add to the room. Stanford’s Sam Roush is a huge target at 6-foot-6 and 267 pounds who can block well downfield. He was the combine’s third-best at tight end in Athleticism Score, moving extremely well for his size and frame.

His 38.5-inch vertical was third at the position, making him another viable target for Willis close to the endzone, as well as on 50/50 balls. As an in-line tight end with receiving ability, he makes for a very intriguing Day-3 selection if available, as he very well could be selected earlier than pick No. 130.

Fifth Round (No. 151 overall): Penn State QB Drew Allar

A polarizing prospect in this class coming off an ankle injury, Penn State’s Drew Allar has a big arm and good size and mobility, but needs development. At 6-foot-5 and a fine deep ball thrower, Allar could be a good option as a third quarterback in the Miami room behind Willis and 2025 seventh-round pick Quinn Ewers.

Seventh Round (No. 227 overall): Clemson DT DeMonte Capehart

At 6-foot-5 and 313 pounds, who can run a 4.85, DeMonte Capehart could be an upside flier pick in the seventh round, seen as a 3-tech defensive tackle. He finished the combine as the third-ranked Athleticism Scorer at 85.

Strong against the run, he also gets his hands on passes, having five career batted passes. Capehart spent six years at Clemson and, over his 57 games played, has 13.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and 72 total tackles.

Seventh Round (No. 238 overall): Missouri CB Toriano Pride Jr.

With the last selection in this process, Miami could benefit from adding another corner in a room that needs to get some depth. Toriano Pride Jr. has blazing speed at 4.32 and plays physically at the line in press coverage, and could even be considered to play a bit in the slot.

After two seasons at Clemson, he transferred to Missouri and played well against SEC competition, finishing his tenure in the power conference with four interceptions with two touchdown returns, eight passes defensed, a forced fumble and two recoveries. The Dolphins recently had a virtual meeting with him (per Justin Melo of NFL Draft on SI).

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