Newly hired general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan was tasked with rebuilding the Miami Dolphins after the team parted ways with a multitude of players this offseason including quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, wide receivers Jaylen Waddle and Tyreek Hill, pass rusher Bradley Chubb and more. Of course, a total rebuild cannot be completed in one offseason, but according to some around the National Football League, what Sullivan was able to do during the 2026 NFL Draft has laid the foundation for the team’s future quite nicely.
On Wednesday night, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN released an article in which he spoke with coaches, executives and league scouts about each team’s draft class — and high praise was given to what the Dolphins accomplished during the annual selection process.
First-year GM Jon-Eric Sullivan earned high marks in league circles for his first draft. “They killed it,” an NFC executive said. “They got a mix of talent and culture guys, and all of the moves made sense.” Among the notable additions were fourth-round linebacker Kyle Louis out of Pitt (“He’ll be a good starter in the league,” the exec said) and Louisville receiver Chris Bell as a third-round steal. The team considers first-round cornerback Chris Johnson (San Diego State) and second-round linebacker Jacob Rodriguez (Texas Tech) to be culture-builders. And No. 12 pick Kadyn Proctor, the massive Alabama left tackle, is widely considered a top five talent in the draft, though questions persist about whether he’ll maximize it. It’s up to the Dolphins to help him do so.
A culture reset is underway in South Florida, and the 2026 draft class looks to be rife with players who can eventually become leaders for the club. If the Chris Grier and Mike McDaniel led Dolphins were all about speed, trickery, and a relaxed, player-friendly atmosphere, the Sullivan and Jeff Hafley led Dolphins look to be about size, toughness, and no-nonsense business.
It will take some time to produce results, but if the team stays true to Sullivan’s vision, the Dolphins look like an organization headed in the right direction.
