Everyone may be asking the wrong question about the Miami Dolphins’ defense
Despite all of the questions around the Miami Dolphins’ roster, one unit may have a very legitimate claim to be near the top of the league.
The Miami Dolphins defense carries plenty of question marks into the 2026 season. The secondary is young and unproven, while the defensive line features a trio of second-year defensive tackles who are still finding their footing. You’ll find a very different kind of question in the team’s off-ball linebacker position, though.
Hear me out. But I think this Dolphins linebacker group has a legitimate chance to be one of the most dynamic linebacker rooms in the NFL. This season.
A diverse group of linebackers serves as the main event for the Miami Dolphins’ defense
Jordyn Brooks doesn’t need an introduction. On a unit that often struggled last season, he was a first-team All-Pro and a sensational performer. His running mate last season, Tyrel Dodson, will lock horns with rookie Jacob Rodriguez to compete for the second-primary starter. It’s going to be one of the most exciting battles of training camp. That trio offers an all-around player, a dynamic youngster, and a veteran who is at his best thumping in the box.
There’s some complementary skills here and the unit is going to be pushed with the competition to start opposite Brooks.
Beyond that trio, there’s no shortage of contributors who could carve out roles within specific personnel packages. Hybrids like Kyle Louis, Ronnie Harrison, and Trey Moore can all add something extra to the unit. Should we expect all of them to hit big? Of course not. But we know what the Dolphins have at the top. And the bottom half of the room offers situational appeal, too.
It’s going to come down to Jeff Hafley. Miami’s defensive philosophy under Hafley will need to be able to pivot week to week to get the most out of a diverse collection. The Dolphins appear poised to play heavy up front, using bigger defensive fronts to clog interior blockers. That could spur plenty of space for these guys to run, hit and tackle.
You don’t have to look far for inspiration. Hafley’s defense in Green Bay got plenty of run from a former 1st-round pick in Quay Walker, a dynamic 2nd-round pick in Edgerrin Cooper, and a special teams demon/role player in Isaiah McDuffie. Green Bay created an environment where off-ball linebackers could thrive as difference-makers, and the results were tangible. So look for Hafley to do the same in South Florida.
The linebackers won’t fix every problem on this defense. But if Hafley’s scheme clicks in the way it should, this group has the tools to be a legitimate strength for the 2026 Dolphins. That, despite some of the anticipated growing pains elsewhere on this defense. So allow me to plant the flag: the off-ball linebacker room in Miami will be one of the best in 2026 — questions everywhere else be damned.
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