{"id":792947,"date":"2026-03-05T04:45:32","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T04:45:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/792947\/"},"modified":"2026-03-05T04:45:32","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T04:45:32","slug":"dolphins-7-round-2026-nfl-mock-draft-nfl-combine-risers-find-their-way-to-south-florida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/792947\/","title":{"rendered":"Dolphins 7-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft: NFL Combine risers find their way to South Florida"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Miami Dolphins<\/a>‘ free agency agenda<\/a> is probably going to be pretty light. <\/p>\n

Perhaps the Dolphins make a splash with a familiar face at quarterback via QB Malik Willis<\/a>. If not, Miami may end up stuffing more dead money into 2026 and pushing forward with the draft fully in frame. The 2026 NFL Draft<\/a> moved a step closer on the calendar with the closing of the NFL Combine this past weekend \u2014 and the dust is settling on some athletic testing that changed the way we think about many prospects. What could the Dolphins’ eight draft selections look like now, with the fallout from the Combine settled? Here is a 7-round 2026 NFL mock draft for the Dolphins to explore one of the endless possibilities.<\/p>\n

Miami Dolphins 2026 7-round NFL mock draft lands fresh faces after 2026 NFL Combine\"Dec<\/p>\n

Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Miami Hurricanes offensive lineman Francis Mauigoa (61) blocks the rush during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

(Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)Round 1, pick 11 \u2013 Francis Mauigoa, OL, Miami Hurricanes<\/p>\n

Mauigoa didn’t do anything to tank his stock and affirmed his length with 33 and 1\/8″ arms. He just may have been surpassed by some defensive players at the top of the order and now has some fresh competition for the top tackle spot with Georgia’s Monroe Freeling. He’s long enough to play tackle \u2014\u00a0although for Miami in 2026, he may play guard depending on what the Dolphins end up doing with RT Austin Jackson. It sounds like Jackson is leaning towards a return in 2026 but Mauigoa marks the perfect heir while affording the Dolphins a physical, athletic presence in the short term inside, a la rookie year Laremy Tunsil.<\/p>\n

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\"Jan<\/p>\n

Jan 29, 2026; Mobile, AL, USA; American defensive lineman Gabe Jacas (52) of Illinois lines up during American Senior Bowl practice at Hancock Whitney Stadium.\u00a9 Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

(\u00a9 Vasha Hunt-Imagn Images)Round 2, pick 43 \u2013 Gabe Jacas, EDGE Defender, Illinois Fighting Illini<\/p>\n

6-foot-4, 260 pounds. 30 reps on the bench. And played like the Tasmanian Devil at the Senior Bowl in January. It’s been a great winter for Jacas, who plays with the kind of frantic energy that is hard to miss. There’s good juice and explosiveness here \u2014 and the Dolphins could certainly use some more of that off the edge as Chop Robinson tries to re-gain his rookie form this season. The well will run dry here quickly, as it will with the top-tier offensive lineman. The Dolphins get one of each in the top-50 to help “build inside out”.<\/p>\n

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\"Nov<\/p>\n

Nov 28, 2025; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats defensive back Treydan Stukes (2) intercepts the ball against Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Jaren Hamilton (16) in the second half during the 99th Territorial Cup at Mountain America Stadium.<\/p>\n

Round 3, pick 75 \u2013 Treydan Stukes, CB, Arizona Wildcats<\/p>\n

Stukes is a great story. Walk-on to sixth-year senior, runs a 4.33s 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. So why is he on the board in this range? He’s older and he’s got a medical background with a 2024 knee injury. But Stukes is unquestionably a riser and the Dolphins already have an assembly of physical players at cornerback with Jason Marshall Jr., JuJu Brents, and Storm Duck. Stukes gives them athleticism, versatility, and the ability to play in the nickel to go on top of nearly 1,000 perimeter snaps early in his career.<\/p>\n

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\"Sep<\/p>\n

Sep 27, 2025; Stanford, California, USA; Stanford Cardinal tight end Sam Roush (86) stiff arms San Jose State Spartans linebacker Noah McNeal-Franklin (9) during the first quarter at Stanford Stadium. Stan Szeto-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

(Stan Szeto-Imagn Images)Round 3, pick 87 \u2013 Sam Roush<\/a>, TE, Stanford Cardinal<\/p>\n

All aboard! I am all-in on Roush as a target for the Dolphins. This dude is a brick house and handled pro-level assignments as an in-line tight end. The receiving profile would look better if Stanford were more effective at…*squints*…the forward pass. But I digress. This guy feels like someone destined to be a better pro player than a college player and thanks to where he excelled at Stanford, he’ll be well-prepared for the rigors of NFL assignments early in his career.<\/p>\n

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\"Oct<\/p>\n

Oct 11, 2025; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; South Carolina Gamecocks defensive back Jalon Kilgore (24) tackles LSU Tigers tight end Trey’Dez Green (14) during the second half at Tiger Stadium.<\/p>\n

Round 3, pick 90 \u2013 Jalon Kilgore<\/a>, SAF, South Carolina Gamecocks<\/p>\n

Kilgore is a pretty dynamic nickel\/safety hybrid. His selection, plus Stukes earlier in the draft, give new Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley a lot of versatility to operate with as he tries to instill his vision into Miami’s defense. The nickel\/safety players in Green Bay were the catalyst of much of the defense, and the Dolphins don’t have a lot to work with in this regard just yet. But picks like Kilgore, who ran 4.40s in the 40 at 210 pounds, and Stukes change that in a hurry.<\/p>\n

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\"Sep<\/p>\n

Sep 13, 2025; Stanford, California, USA; Boston College Eagles offensive lineman Jude Bowry (71) blocks against Stanford Cardinal linebacker Ernest Cooper (44) during the second quarter at Stanford Stadium.<\/p>\n

Round 4, pick 111 \u2013 Jude Bowry, OL, Boston College Eagles<\/p>\n

Speaking of Jeff Hafley, one of his offensive linemen from Boston College gets the call here. Tackle depth is a concern for Miami, especially if Mauigoa ends up landing at guard as a starter for 2026 while overlapping with Austin Jackson. Bowry has experience at both left and right tackle from his time at Boston College and would be a strong candidate to serve as a developmental swing player. If Miami is serious about building the roster up front, they can’t seriously be one-and-done on the offensive line.<\/p>\n

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\"Sep<\/p>\n

Sep 20, 2025; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks quarterback Taylen Green (10) runs with the ball against the Memphis Tigers during the second half at Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium.<\/p>\n

Round 5, pick 150 \u2013 Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas Razorback<\/p>\n

Green’s workout had everybody buzzing in Indianapolis. Rightfully so. It was electric. But his throwing session was a reminder of some of his warts as a player. Green is rough around the edges as a quarterback. His accuracy isn’t always consistent. But the traits? Wow. He’s the perfect flier to take in the middle of Day 3 at quarterback \u2014\u00a0and if someone else grabs him before we reach this juncture of the draft, then we can shift our eyes to Cole Payton from North Dakota State or someone else. But he feels like a developmental project; that’s a tough sell with Miami’s earlier picks given his needed growth.<\/p>\n

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\"Gary<\/p>\n

Gary Cosby Jr&period;-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

(Gary Cosby Jr&period;-Imagn Images)Round 7, pick 226 \u2013 Justin Jefferson, LB, Alabama Crimson Tide<\/p>\n

Jefferson is a speedy, undersized backer who thrives in space but could be a strong special teamer for the Dolphins. Green Bay has had a player like this on the roster in recent years via Isaiah McDuffie. Jon-Eric Sullivan gets his South Florida version late in this mock.<\/p>\n

Related: Five quarterback trade targets to know for the Miami Dolphins as a Tua Tagovailoa split inches closer<\/a><\/p>\n

Related: The NFL’s first blockbuster of the offseason doesn’t include the Dolphins, but it could still complicate things for Miami<\/a><\/p>\n

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This story was originally published by A to Z Sports<\/a> on Mar 5, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL<\/a> section. Add A to Z Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Miami Dolphins‘ free agency agenda is probably going to be pretty light. Perhaps the Dolphins make a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":792948,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[2049],"tags":[930,375,2283,7101,10084,952,11227,217,7,7779,23926,41,4728,2004,5349,32192,6054,5001,2780,594,7211,4097,216,251,2972,2087,6,927,15,453,4278,1923,7565,20703,3235,87759],"class_list":{"0":"post-792947","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-miami-dolphins","8":"tag-alabama-crimson-tide","9":"tag-arizona","10":"tag-arizona-wildcats","11":"tag-arkansas-razorback","12":"tag-austin-jackson","13":"tag-boston-college","14":"tag-chop-robinson","15":"tag-dolphins","16":"tag-football","17":"tag-francis-mauigoa","18":"tag-gabe-jacas","19":"tag-green-bay","20":"tag-illinois-fighting-illini","21":"tag-indianapolis","22":"tag-isaiah-mcduffie","23":"tag-jalon-kilgore","24":"tag-jason-marshall-jr","25":"tag-juju-brents","26":"tag-justin-jefferson","27":"tag-laremy-tunsil","28":"tag-lsu-tigers","29":"tag-malik-willis","30":"tag-miami","31":"tag-miami-dolphins","32":"tag-miami-hurricanes","33":"tag-miamidolphins","34":"tag-nfl","35":"tag-nfl-combine","36":"tag-nfl-draft","37":"tag-offensive-lineman","38":"tag-south-carolina-gamecocks","39":"tag-stanford-cardinal","40":"tag-storm-duck","41":"tag-taylen-green","42":"tag-the-dolphins","43":"tag-treydan-stukes"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":"Validation failed: Text character limit of 500 exceeded"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/792947","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=792947"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/792947\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/792948"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=792947"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=792947"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=792947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}