Miami Dolphins already repeat major mistake of previous regime in latest ESPN mock draft

The approach simply has to change moving forward, and one draft analyst didn’t get the memo.

Mauricio Rodriguez — Dallas Cowboys News Writer
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Oct 5, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (1) is sacked by Carolina Panthers defensive end A’Shawn Robinson (94) and linebacker Patrick Jones II (91) in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

Repeat after me: the Miami Dolphins have to build an offensive line. Repeat it 1000 times. Write it on the chalkboard 100 more.

No, Dolphins fans, I’m not talking to you. You know this in spades by now after watching the team get flat-out whipped at the line of scrimmage by playoff-caliber teams game after game, year after year. Preaching, meet choir.

If you couldn’t get my point by now, it’s that the Miami Dolphins’ new regime has to start building the team from the inside out. That’s how championships are won, and the Dolphins have a long way to go to get there.

But every run has its start, and for Miami, it will be at the 2026 NFL Draft, where — with seven picks in the first three rounds — they have a golden opportunity to start to build the foundation for a winner.

And speaking of foundation, again, it comes back to line play. With two first-round picks, the options are there to find some intriguing options quickly.

However, ESPN’s Matt Miller does not see the Dolphins going that way in his latest mock draft. He has the Dolphins taking USC WR Makai Lemon with pick No. 11. And frankly, I can’t abide.

ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller has Miami taking USC WR Makai Lemon over OL options with pick No. 11 in latest mock draft

“The Dolphins implemented a hard reset at wide receiver this offseason, releasing Tyreek Hill and trading Jaylen Waddle,” Miller wrote. “That opens the door for my top-ranked wide receiver. Lemon had 79 receptions for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. He is an elite middle-of-the-field receiver who will immediately help new quarterback Malik Willis in his first stint as a full-time NFL starter. Lemon’s yards-after-catch ability is elite and second only to his hands — he dropped only one pass in each of the past three seasons.”

Look, I’d love to see Lemon on the Dolphins’ roster — as a final piece where they’re a more complete team. But going wide receiver instead of plugging in either Penn State OL Olaivavega Ioane or Utah OL Spencer Fano is painful, given either would be a plug and play starter on the line for years to come.

Ione is a people mover who could start to give the Dolphins a physical identity they have to find. Fano has the ability to play tackle, but he could start off inside at guard and shift over to right tackle when the Dolphins and Austin Jackson part ways.

I do like some of Miller’s other picks here through Round 3. Tennessee CB Colton Hood is starting caliber, and Vanderbilt TE Eli Stowers will be a weapon for someone in the middle of the field. Indiana WR Elijah Sarratt has good height at 6-2 and was a touchdown machine last year for Indiana (15 rec TDs). And Trey Zuhn III was one of the best pass blocking tackles in college football despite likely moving inside to guard.

But when you’ve got the chance to start to really do a big makeover on your offensive line if you’re Miami, it’s something that truly, finally, needs to be prioritized. We’ll find out if that’s the case in April, when the Dolphins lay the groundwork for what fans hope is finally the start of a terrific era of Dolphins football in the years to come.

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