New Dolphins General Manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and Head Coach Jeff Hafley spent part of their first day at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine speaking with reporters. They shared their vision for the football team, not just for 2026, but the long-term approach.
Both Sullivan and Hafley acknowledged the process the team will have to undergo to get back to competing with the Bills, Patriots and the class of the AFC. But just because the team is heading into the new league year with several unrestricted free agents, which comes with questions on the roster, doesn’t mean the expectation is anything less than competing every time the Dolphins take the field.
“When we line up to play, we’re here to compete,” Sullivan said. “[We may be labeled] Week 1 as the underdog, but understand, we’re here to compete and we’re here to win and that has to start immediately, regardless what the roster looks like.”
Culture, toughness and playing the game the right way has been at the forefront of the vision detailed by Hafley and Sullivan. It’s important to establish that drum beat in Year 1 of the program to set the tone for the long term. That process begins at the combine when teams begin to meet with the upcoming draft class.
When it comes to the on-field drills, all the metrics are accessible to coaches and decision makers whether they are on-site for the combine or back at their respective football facilities. Hafley said there’s more to the evaluation process than how high a player jumps or how fast he runs.
“Is the guy jumping out first in the drill, does the guy have a little bit of edge to him? Is he standing straight up? Is he paying attention? Is he cheering the other guys on? Like what’s his make-up all about?” Hafley said. “Sometimes you can’t see that on the tape, but you can see it when you observe a guy and you can kind of get a feel for what he’s all about… So there’s nothing better than a live evaluation.”
The plan is clear. The Dolphins want tough, smart football players who prioritize winning. The process requires some reconfiguration of the roster as they embark on this new horizon.