This is where things get… awkward.
Teams picking ninth through 12th usually don’t expect to be here — and for franchises like the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, and Dallas Cowboys, selecting this high signals a season that fell short of expectations.
These aren’t rebuilding rosters (other than the Miami Dolphins).
These are teams with established franchise quarterbacks, strong cores, and playoff aspirations. But something broke — whether it was injuries, defensive regression, cap strain, coaching turnover, or roster imbalance.
That’s what makes this range fascinating.
These front offices aren’t drafting for survival. They’re drafting to recalibrate. The goal isn’t to build a foundation — it’s to fix what prevented a deep playoff run.
And unlike the teams at the very top, these organizations must balance immediate impact with long-term cap sustainability. Extensions are looming. Core players are aging. Windows don’t stay open forever.
In this batch, we break down:
The biggest roster holes for each franchise
Contract situations and future cap implications
Which positions should be prioritized for veterans and rookies
Potential fantasy football implications
These are the teams that don’t want to be here — but could use this draft slot to reload in a big way.
Up next: the Kansas City Chiefs, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, and Dallas Cowboys.
Salary cap contract information provided by Spotrac.
2026 NFL Draft Team Needs & Predictions: Dolphins
2026 Free Agents:
QB: Zach Wilson
RB: Alexander Mattison
WR: Tyreek Hill, Nick Westbrook, D’Wayne Eskridge, Cedrick Wilson
TE: Darren Waller, Greg Dulcich, Julian Hill (RFA)
OL: G James Daniels, RT Larry Borom, G Liam Eichenberg, RT Kendall Lamm, G Germain Ifedi, G Daniel Brunskill, G Cole Strange, LT Yodny Cajuste, OT Obinna Eze (ERFA)
EDGE: Quinton Bell, Cameron Goode (RFA)
DL: Benito Jones, Matthew Butler (RFA)
LB: K.J. Britt, Willie Gay Jr., Caleb Johnson
CB: Kader Kohou, Rasul Douglas, Artie Burns, Jack Jones, A.J. Green, Ethan Bonner (ERFA)
S: Ifeatu Melifonwu, Ashtyn Davis, Elijah Campbell
ST: Jake Bailey, Joe Cardona, Riley Patterson
2027 Free Agents:
QB: Cam Miller (ERFA)
RB: Devon Achane
WR: Terrace Marshall, Theo Wease Jr. (ERFA)
TE: Cole Turner (RFA)
OL: OT Austin Jackson, C Aaron Brewer, G Kion Smith, RT Carter Warren (RFA), C Andrew Meyer (RFA)
LB: Jordyn Brooks, Tyrel Dodson, Jackson Woodard (ERFA)
CB: Julius Brents, Storm Duck (RFA), Ethan Robinson (ERFA), Isaiah Johnson (ERFA), Jason Maitre (ERFA)
S: Minkah Fitzpatrick, Jordan Colbert (ERFA)
ST: Jason Sanders, Alec Ingold
Team Needs: QB, CB, S, WR, TE, IOL, EDGE, DT
One of the first things new head coach and former Packers DC Jeff Hafley mentioned after being hired by the Miami Dolphins was his core beliefs: running the ball and being really physical upfront. Spoken like a true defensive-minded head coach. This also matched the tone from new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan.
“We want to build this team from the inside out.”
Seems pretty obvious that these two former Green Bay staffers have a clear, concise vision for how they want to shape this roster. Build an environment where a QB can succeed first… before diving headfirst into aggressively pursuing a specific QB.
Seventeen games of second-year Quinn Ewers to ensure a top draft pick in 2027? Buckle up.
Sullivan specifically mentioned that they will look to invest in QB every year. They will draft QBs every year, if not every other year. Make the QB room as deep as possible.
They do not want to put a QB in a position where he is getting killed behind a bad offensive line or has nobody to throw to.
Miami has already been busy getting ahead of free agency, cutting ties with multiple veterans to create more manageable salary-cap space.
Even though the new regime didn’t completely rule out Tua Tagovailoa as a QB option initially, the writing is on the wall that it’s time up in Miami for the southpaw passer. “Ideally,” they trade him.
Malik Willis is the buzziest free agent QB in this year’s crop after showing out in a limited capacity with the Packers. The new HC and GM are both coming from Green Bay.
Bobby Slowik is the new OC (promoted in 2026 from the Dolphins’ pass game coordinator).
They want to establish the run, which both the Packers/Dolphins offenses did last year at a top-six rate. Throw the return of the fullback and a dual-threat QB…Well, Willis could be a fun offensive piece in South Beach.
Slowik was in Houston before spending last season wth Miami (with San Fran before that). There’s a connection with Davis Mills as a potential trade target, given how well he played last year, filling in for an injured C.J. Stroud. He is also a free agent in 2027.
Jimmy Garoppolo could also be a stopgap option for the Dolphins. Familiar with the Kyle Shanahan scheme. Slowik was with SF from 2017 to 2022 (overlapping exactly with Jimmy G’s tenure with the Niners).
Kevin Patullo spent last year with the Eagles as their OC (yikes) and is the new passing game coordinator for Miami. Another connection could be to look at acquiring Tanner McKee.
Bush Hamdan is the new QBs coach (former Kentucky OC, Boise State OC, and Missouri coach). Obviously spent a lot of time in the college game.
Some draft-eligible prospects that overlapped with Hamdan include Seth McGowan, Eric McAlister, Taylen Green, Jalen Farmer, Jager Burton, DeaMonte Trayanum, Dane Key, and Barion Brown.
Miami has also reportedly been looking at CBs in this year’s draft class (Tony Pauline). This is a no-brainer considering the current state of the Dolphins’ secondary. They have massive holes all over the secondary at both CB and safety. They are also floating Minkah Fitzpatrick in trades as he enters the last year of his contract.
Miami traded Jaelan Phillips before last year’s trade deadline and already cut Bradley Chubb (third and first, respectively, in pressures generated). That might create some need for more defensive line help, but the Dolphins have a decent young defensive front, headlined by Kenneth Grant and Chop Robinson.
Still, their struggles versus the run last season suggest that defensive tackle will remain an option. It’s not that they have pressing roster needs at defensive line, but rather a desire to make that unit just better. I still think EDGE is the most pressing, given that defensive tackles Grant, Zach Sieler, and Jordan Phillips are under contract for the next two seasons.
Across the offensive line, it’s mostly the interior that needs the most work. They need a starting guard, without much depth at that position, currently on the roster. Aaron Brewer and Austin Jackson will hit FA in 2027.
Also, according to PFF, rookie guard Jonah Savaiinaea earned a 14.1 PFF pass-blocking grade, which ranked dead last among all guards this season.
WR/TE are obvious, given the lack of depth on the offensive roster. They essentially have no tight end of note…and Jaylen Waddle is the last man standing among the WRs.
Subscribe: YouTube | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | iHeart | Castbox | Amazon Music | Podcast Addict | TuneIn