The Miami Dolphins are aggressively targeting top-tier edge rushing talent at the NFL Scouting Combine, holding formal meetings with two of the draft’s most prominent prospects, while a sobering financial reality appears to have ended any speculation of a blockbuster quarterback signing.
Wednesday’s combine proceedings confirmed the Dolphins’ urgent need to rebuild their defensive front. The team conducted formal interviews with Miami Hurricanes star Reuben Bane Jr., a consensus top-10 pick, and Auburn’s Keldric Faulk, a physically imposing but more polarizing first-round talent. Both players represent potential solutions to a position group now considered among the league’s most depleted.
Head Coach Jeff Hafley underscored the crisis, stating, “We need to fill that room up. There’s not many left on the roster right now.” The impending release of veteran Bradley Chubb leaves only Chop Robinson and several reserve/future contract players on the depth chart, signaling an organizational imperative to invest multiple draft picks and free-agent dollars into the edge rusher position.
The evaluation of the two prospects reveals a stark contrast. Bane, despite concerns over his shorter arm length, is lauded for elite college production and a pass-rush win rate of 23.5%, making him a potential dream selection if he were to fall to the 11th overall pick. Faulk possesses the prototypical size and frame but posted significantly lower production and pass-rush metrics, leading to analyst projections that place him more comfortably in the late teens or early twenties of the first round.
In a parallel development, the Dolphins’ pursuit of high-profile free-agent quarterback Malik Willis seems definitively closed. NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported Wednesday that Willis, due to immense market demand, is expected to command a contract worth at least $30 million annually. This figure places him far outside Miami’s current financial strategy.
General Manager John Eric Sullivan emphasized a need for fiscal responsibility, telling reporters the franchise must “get back into a healthy state within our salary cap” and is not seeking “quick fixes.” With approximately $5 million in effective cap space and numerous roster holes, committing such a sum to a single player, especially at quarterback, is viewed as functionally impossible for the Dolphins’ front office this offseason.
The quarterback conversation now shifts to potential cost-effective alternatives. One name generating intrigue is veteran Andy Dalton, whom the Carolina Panthers are reportedly fielding trade calls for. Dalton’s manageable $4 million salary for 2026 could provide experienced mentorship for Quinn Ewers, who is expected to receive a legitimate opportunity to win the starting job in training camp.
Ewers, entering his second season, is seen internally as possessing the raw tools—a strong arm and size—to operate in an offense influenced by Hafley’s and Sullivan’s backgrounds. The organization’s current trajectory suggests a commitment to developing Ewers while using limited resources to fortify the roster elsewhere, rather than engaging in a high-stakes bidding war for a veteran signal-caller.
As the combine continues, the Dolphins’ war room is clearly focused on a foundational rebuild. Securing a blue-chip pass rusher like Bane would represent a monumental first step, while the public pivot away from Willis clarifies a disciplined, budget-conscious approach to team construction. The coming weeks will determine if Miami can maneuver within these constraints to add the depth and talent necessary to compete in a loaded AFC East.
