March 13, 2026, 6:01 p.m. ET
It was a busy week for the Miami Dolphins and new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan during the opening of NFL free agency. The big splash was signing quarterback Malik Willis to a three-year deal valued at $67,500,000 that was structured rather well by salary cap guru Brandon Shore.
Having limited salary cap to maneuver beyond the Willis move, Sullivan was savvy with a slew of one-year deals to help fill out a roster with some much-needed depth across all phases of the game. The signings were, predominately back-end of the roster players, some of whom may even be borderline practice squad candidates.
Over a dozen new players will enter Miami and compete for depth chart positioning, while nothing really changed in terms of what the Dolphins’ NFL Draft needs will be come April’s selection process.
When mocking what Sullivan and the Dolphins could do, having so much need across virtually every position, a “best player available” mindset should be in play. However, there are positions in this draft class that are much deeper than others, such as safety, as well as wide receiver and tight end.
The Dolphins have five picks in the top-90, and hold three third-rounders at the moment. They have a total of nine selections right now, as they added a seventh by trading safety Minkah Fitzpatrick to the New York Jets earlier this week.
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Starting at pick No. 11, let’s look at a post-free agency mock draft, taking into account the type of physical traits Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley seem to covet.
First Round (No. 11 overall): Penn State G Olaivavega Ioane
The Dolphins need physicality and protection added to the offensive line, and guard Vega Ioane is the best interior lineman in the class. He has the perfect build for a professional guard at 6’4’’ and 320 lbs. and could man either the right or left side, and is an outstanding pass protector.
In 2025, for the Nittany Lions across his 613 snaps, he didn’t allow a sack or a quarterback hit, and just four hurries on the way to being named an All-American. He can certainly help with the power aspect of a rushing attack as well. A clean prospect who can help create a new identity of toughness that the Dolphins desperately need in the trenches.
Second Round (No. 43 overall): San Diego State CB Chris Johnson
A scheme-versatile cornerback who improved his stock during the NFL Scouting Combine with an impressive 4.40 40-yard dash, Johnson may not last until pick No. 43. At 6’0’’, he checks the box in height and length that Hafley and Sullivan seem to aim for. From an athletic standpoint, he fits the bill here too, coming in as the combine’s second-ranked corner in overall Athleticism Score at 84 and had a Relative Athletic Score of 9.71, which is ranked 83rd out of 2,781 cornerbacks evaluated since 1987.
He had a stellar 2025, and didn’t allow a touchdown against while quarterbacks had just a 16.1 passer rating when targeting receivers that he covered. He also picked off four passes, taking two back for touchdowns.
Third Round (No. 75 overall): Texas Tech EDGE Romello Height
Miami needs pass-rushers as they cut Bradley Chubb, who is now with the Buffalo Bills. At 6’3’’ with 4.64 speed and an explosive first step, Romello Height out of Texas Tech can be an effective sack producer, but he will need to add some mass to his frame. He has been well-traveled collegiately, but proved his ability to get home to the quarterback in 2025 with 10 sacks for Texas Tech.
He graded out very well according to PFF, with a 96.1% pass rush grade, and had a college career that produced 16.5 sacks and 69 pressures. He can also help when dropping back into coverage, but does need to improve his rush defense. Athletically, he had the sixth-best RAS among edge rushers in this class at 9.03.
Third Round (No. 87 overall): Penn State S Zakee Wheatley
Safety is a much-needed area for Miami with the Fitzpatrick trade, as well as losing several free agents at the position. Going back to Penn State in this mock, Zakee Wheatley has a terrific blend of size and speed at 6’3’’ and a 40-yard dash time of 4.40. His elite speed and length, as well as field area versatility, could make him a prime pupil of Hafley, who specializes in defensive backs.
He is excellent against the run to match his coverage ability and can get his hands on the ball with six career interceptions, as well as two forced fumbles and three recoveries. He must improve on his tackling, but he has shown progress in that regard over the last few seasons. He can be a free safety in Hafley’s defense, with the ability to handle work in the slot against inside receivers and tight ends.
Third Round (No. 90 overall): North Dakota State WR Bryce Lance
A clone of the Green Bay Packers Christian Watson, Bryce Lance has size and speed at 6’3’’ with an impressive 40-yard dash time of 4.34. He was the NFL Combine’s top-ranked wide receiver in Athleticism Score at 99 and has a RAS of 9.93, which placed him at 7th out of 3,844 at the position since 1987.
A deep-threat and a perfect complement on the outside to Jaylen Waddle, the Dolphins need size, physicality, and a go-up-and-get-it type of wide out, and Lance has all of these attributes in his repertoire. He had a 62% contested catch rate to go along with a 41.5-inch vertical, which could make him an immediate favorite target for Willis. He can also get into the endzone with his 25 touchdowns in college on 127 receptions, making him a legitimate red zone threat.
Fourth Round (No. 111 overall): Texas A&M OT Dametrious Crownover
A very skilled run blocker with massive size at 6’7’’, Dametrious Crownover could play right tackle immediately if the Dolphins want to get creative and slide Austin Jackson inside to guard. Even if Crownover needs to play behind Jackson and develop, he could eventually man the right side.
A very good athlete at his size with elite arm length, he still has some work to do in his technique, but a very good foundation. The pass protection needs work, but he will make his money in his ability to help the rushing attack.
Fifth Round (No. 150 overall): Texas TE Jack Endries
The Dolphins re-signed Greg Dulcich for one year and inked blocking specialist Ben Sims in free agency, so finding a pass-catching tight end is a need, and Texas’ Jack Endries could be a late steal. At 6’5’’ and a “F” tight end, he could be another target for Willis with excellent hands and the ability to make the tough catch in traffic.
He can line up in the slot, inline, and even split outside as a tall target, and can play with a basketball mindset in boxing out defenders to go with his good hands. He can be a weapon down the seam and stretch the defense, and has been compared to Dalton Schultz as well as Tucker Kraft, who, of course, is a Packer that Sullivan could try to find a Miami version of. The blocking needs some work, but it isn’t detrimental within his overall game, and can help in the run game.
Seventh Round (No. 227 overall): Florida EDGE Tyreak Sapp
Doubling up on the edge position, Florida’s Tyreak Sapp is very solid against the run, which Miami could also use from the outside of the defensive line. A South Florida product from St. Thomas Aquinas, Sapp excels at setting the edge and has scheme versatility that Hafley can work with in having him mix with inside work. He needs refinement in pass-rushing and doesn’t have elite explosiveness, but for a late Day-3 pick, Sapp can add depth to the line and develop into a rotational player.
Seventh Round (No. 238 overall): Illinois QB Luke Altmyer
With the final pick, and the added one from the Fitzpatrick deal with the Jets, Sullivan mentioned the desire to draft a quarterback yearly, and takes a flier on Luke Altmyer to fill out Miami’s room as a third stringer behind Willis and Quinn Ewers. Solid size at 6’2’’ with mobility, Altmyer can fire the ball downfield with good touch and plays with confidence. He has toughness in the pocket and is a kid who can be fine with learning a system while studying film to develop into a potential backup.
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