Miami Dolphins Fan Mailbag: A surprise cut candidate, Chop Robinson’s expectations, and the starting secondary
The latest check-in of the Miami Dolphins fanbase is hoping for clarity on Chop Robinson and a surprise cut candidate.
The Miami Dolphins‘ wait until June 1st is nearly over. When we flip the calendar to next month, the worst of the Dolphins’ salary cap crunch will be over.
The team is scheduled for over $20 million in cap relief. That comes thanks to the release of Bradley Chubb. Although, to be fair, the team is not currently expected to spend big with any of that money. The exception may be perhaps a contract extension for someone already on the roster. With the 2026 NFL Draft over and June lingering a few weeks away, now makes a great time to check in with the pulse of the fanbase.
Miami Dolphins Post-2026 NFL Draft Fan Mailbag
Q. What type of year would Chop Robinson and Jonah Savaiinaea have to have for Hafley to feel they are an answer for the future and not a sunk cost from the previous regime?
A: This is a good question. I can tell you this — neither can afford a repeat of 2025. Chop Robinson should be afforded more splash play opportunities under Hafley. That’s the good news. But can he develop more consistency with his pass rush plan? It felt like he was overly reliant on trying to run the outside arc and didn’t offer enough speed to power or inside counters in his second season.
If Robinson is healthy, I’d be hopeful for 50 pressures this year. If it’s less, we’ll need to explore the ‘why’ behind it.
Questions in the Miami Dolphins secondary
Q. Who is the biggest sleeper for getting snaps on the roster for 2026?
A: Hearing this group talk about fifth-round rookie safety Michael Taaffe, I would not be surprised if he ends up starting at some point this season. Between Lonnie Johnson and second-year safety Dante Trader Jr., I think Miami has two guys to start with. But if Taaffe catches on with the playbook, I can see him seizing more playing time as this year unfolds.
Q. Who do you see as the starting secondary on this team Week 1?
A: Speak of the devil. My best guess for the starting secondary in Week 1 of the 2026 season would be cornerbacks Darrell Baker Jr. and Chris Johnson (R), with safeties Lonnie Johnson and Dante Trader Jr. holding down the back end. When Miami goes to nickel, I would say JuJu Brents is the third outside corner (with Johnson pushing inside) and Kyle Louis (R) manning the nickel as the third safety.
Miami Dolphins Roster bubble questions
Q. Who is the cut candidate that will be the “I’m not messing around here” move a la Mike Vrabel cutting 2024 draft picks?
A: I don’t expect that the team releases LB Tyrel Dodson, but he feels like the candidate who has seen his footing get worse amid the results of the 2026 NFL Draft. Jacob Rodriguez and the aforementioned Louis will make life harder for Dodson and there is some cap savings to be found with that move if the veteran doesn’t hold his starting job through training camp.
Q. Do you think Tutu Atwell is the odd man out at wide receiver after the 2026 NFL Draft?
A: I don’t think so. Miami guaranteed nearly all of Atwell’s scheduled compensation this season. That’s a big deal for a Dolphins team that didn’t hand out anything in the way of guaranteed money this spring. (Malik Willis is the exception.)
Jalen Tolbert and Atwell both got north of $1 million guaranteed — I think that locks them into roster spots unless they are horrifically bad this summer.
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