The Miami Dolphins have executed a seismic shift in franchise philosophy, trading out of the top half of the first round to launch a dramatic, draft-centric rebuild under the new regime of General Manager John Eric Sullivan and Head Coach Jeff Hafley. In a stunning move that signals a complete departure from past strategies, the Dolphins traded the 11th overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to the Philadelphia Eagles.

In return, Miami acquired a haul of premium selections: the 23rd overall pick, a high second-round choice, and the 68th overall pick in the third round. This aggressive trade-back provides the capital-poor franchise with the ammunition to address numerous roster holes with cost-controlled, young talent, fully embracing a “Green Bay” model of team building.

With their first selection at 23rd overall, the Dolphins selected Oregon tight end Kenyan Sadi, a dynamic vertical threat many analysts had pegged to Miami at number 11. Securing a player of his caliber after moving down 12 spots is viewed as a masterstroke, immediately providing a cornerstone weapon for the offense.

The draft strategy then turned to fortifying both sides of the ball with high-ceiling athletes. At pick 43 in the second round, Miami selected Indiana cornerback D’Angelo Pon, a national champion known for his elite instincts and tenacity despite a 5’9” frame. Later in the second round, with the pick acquired from Philadelphia, the team added Tennessee pass rusher Joshua Josephs, an analytics darling with a top-tier pass rush win rate.

The Dolphins continued to add playmakers in the third round, selecting towering 6’5” Tennessee wide receiver Chris Brazelle to add a massive red-zone target and complement the existing speed on the roster. The front office then executed another trade, moving the 75th overall pick to acquire additional future capital, including a 2027 third-rounder.

With subsequent picks, Miami focused on building in the trenches and adding defensive physicality. At picks 87 and 90, they selected Clemson offensive tackle Blake Miller and Michigan defensive lineman Jaawn Barum, respectively. Barum epitomizes the tough, versatile defender Head Coach Jeff Hafley desires.

The draft’s middle rounds yielded potential steals, headlined by Georgia Tech offensive lineman Kelan Rutled in the fourth round. A Senior Bowl star, Rutled’s versatility and streak of not allowing a sack in two years made him a coveted target. Miami also added Pittsburgh linebacker Kyle Lewis, whose historic coverage performance at the Senior Bowl addresses a critical modern NFL need.

As the draft concluded, the Dolphins addressed depth at wide receiver with Missouri’s Kevin Coleman Jr., added Ohio State defensive back Germaine Matthews for secondary versatility, and with their final pick, took a developmental swing at quarterback Cole Payton from the FCS ranks.

In total, the new leadership team made two major trades and selected 11 players, fundamentally reshaping the roster’s identity with an emphasis on youth, athleticism, and contractual control. This draft class represents the bold, uncompromising first step of the Sullivan-Hafley era, a clear declaration that the franchise is building for sustained success through the draft, with an eye toward long-term championship contention. The dramatic trade of a top-10 pick will be debated for months, but the vision for a new, self-sustaining Dolphins future is now undeniably in motion.