Dolphins 7-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Miami goes all-in on shedding the ‘soft’ label with their top-100 riches
If the Miami Dolphins are going to successfully rebuild this team from the ground up, they’ll need to change the tone of the roster. What better way to do exactly that than by drafting big and physical on all levels?
The road to a better tomorrow for the Miami Dolphins starts today. Technically, it starts next Thursday with the kickoff of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Miami is currently loaded to the brim with draft capital to work with — a complicated luxury that has come at the cost of several talented players from the past regime’s build. But that’s all water under the bridge. Here we are now and the Miami Dolphins are going to try to build a winning foundation next week. How could it look?
If the Miami Dolphins want to strip the ‘soft’ label, they should be rooting to see a handful of prospects fall into their clutches. Conveniently enough, several of them did in my latest 2026 NFL Draft 7-round simulation with the A to Z Sports mock draft simulator.
Miami Dolphins 2026 7-round NFL mock draft helps to shed the ‘soft’ label in South Florida
11th overall – EDGE Rueben Bain Jr., Miami Hurricanes
Momentum is not on Bain Jr.’s side as we creep towards the finish line of the 2026 NFL Draft. Teams have continuously echoed their concerns over Bain’s un-traditional arm length for the position. This past weekend saw a report emerge about Bain’s involvement in a fatal car accident from two years ago as well.
The incident was news to the public, but apparently not to NFL teams — and his projection has forecast him in the first half of the first round for months. It does not appear to be something that will greatly influence his stock. For Miami, Bain can serve as a 5-tech and play front-side defensive end on even fronts before moving around on passing downs. He’s a three-down player despite his unorthodox build. And he plays the game with a raw power that would be welcomed to the Miami Dolphins’ defensive line.
Key players not on the board in this simulation: OT Francis Mauigoa (Miami), SAF Caleb Downs (Ohio State), LB Sonny Styles (Ohio State), CB Mansoor Delane (LSU)
30th overall – OL Max Iheanachor, Arizona State Sun Devils
Iheanachor bec0mes the long-term heir at right tackle for Austin Jackson in this scenario. Iheanachor is a bit raw — he got a late start in football. But Iheanachor was terrific at the 2026 Senior Bowl, offers dominant flashes of athleticism, and is just scratching the surface of how good he can become. I’m not sure about his forecast as an interior player in the short term, but Jackson has played guard as well. Miami could have some flexibility here. Either way, they get an athletic tone-setter with this pick.
43rd overall – SAF AJ Haulcy, LSU Tigers
Jeff Hafley is looking for smart, instinctive, versatile safeties. If you’re familiar with Haulcy’s game at all, you see the vision. Haulcy has developed a reputation as a ball-hawk and offers sledgehammer hits from his safety position in run support. This feels like the perfect Tier 2 option at safety for Miami — who desperately needs some new blood in the safety room amid the departure of Minkah Fitzpatrick and how important the position is to Hafley’s defense.
75th overall – SAF Kamari Ramsey, USC Trojans
We’ve mentioned how safeties are important to Jeff Hafley, right? We said that? Okay good. I’m just checking. The Miami Dolphins get a double-dip at safety in this mock, landing another versatile player in Kamari Ramsey to help formulate Hafley’s secondary. Ramsey had a better 2024 season than he did in 2025, but that was in part due to being forced into the nickel.
Ramsey and Haulcy would give the Miami Dolphins a young duo for Jeff Hafley to work with and grow together on the back end.
87th overall – WR Skyler Bell, Connecticut Huskies
I didn’t forget about you, Malik Willis! Here come the reinforcements! Skyler Bell is a name trending up. He had an explosive season this past year and now looks to be on the rise as a prospect — ESPN, Pro Football Focus, Bleacher Report, Pro Football Network (and me!) all have Bell now as a top-100 player. He’s a good run after catch weapon with explosiveness and, as of 2025, greatly improved hands.
90th overall – CB Julian Neal, Arkansas Razorbacks
The safety infusion was fun but what about the cornerback position? Miami has collected big, physical corners like infinity stones and they get another one here with the infusion of Julian Neal. Neal is tall, powerful and disruptive in the contact window. He would serve as an excellent continuation of the physical perimeter players Miami has pooled thus far at cornerback.
94th overall – WR De’Zhaun Stribling, Ole Miss Rebels
I told you I had support coming, Malik Willis! Stribling is another riser at wide receiver. Some analysts think he could be long gone by this pick but hey, I’m not going to get picky here. Stribling is a height/weight/speed weapon at 6-foot-2, which gives Miami some sorely needed size on the perimeter at wide receiver.
130th overall – TE Will Kacmarek, Ohio State
The Dolphins’ in-light tight end position is a work in progress. Getting Greg Dulcich back into the fray is a big win for Miami’s pass catchers but he’s better suited as a pass catcher. Kacmarek is a bulldozer as a blocker and can help to create more added physicality on the edges.
151st overall – OL Drew Shelton, Penn State Nittany Lions
Miami simply needs more positional flexibility and depth on the offensive line. The addition of Max Iheanachor is a great long-term starter add. But Miami’s top-8 offensive linemen still need more juice. Shelton is a former starting left tackle at Penn State, but he is built to possibly be developed into a swing/utility player in the trenches.
227th overall – TE/FB Riley Nowakowski, Indiana Hoosiers
If the Dolphins are going to add a fullback onto the roster, sign me up for Nowakowski. He’s a First Team All-Grit prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, blocks with relentless effort and can be a nifty option in the passing game as a check down option to help blur the lines between 12 personnel and 21 personnel.
238th overall – LB Wade Woodaz, Clemson Tigers
Woodaz projects as a special teams option for the Dolphins early on. This team would benefit from a few picks to play on teams and help stabilize the bottom third of the roster — otherwise the churn of veterans will persist for years to come. Miami has shown some interest in Woodaz pre-draft, so I’m connecting some dots here to close out the mock.
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