One Miami Dolphins defensive rookie should stand above the rest in chance for some hardware this upcoming season
Which Miami Dolphins defensive rookie has the best chance to claim the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award in 2026?
The Miami Dolphins‘ chances for some 2026 hardware may be rooted in their rookie class.
Miami is going to have a ton of snaps this year claimed by rookie players. Some will play well and, potentially, give the Dolphins an argument for a rookie of the year. Defensively, Jeff Hafley’s unit may be tailored to a handful of rookie players. The veteran building blocks include LB Jordyn Brooks and DT Zach Sieler — but other than that? Rookies hand-selected by this staff could serve as centerpieces. Which of them should have the best odds to be the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2026?
Linebacker Jacob Rodriguez should be considered Miami Dolphins’ best candidate for Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2026
The path for rookie linebacker Jacob Rodriguez has been re-paved by Cleveland Browns linebacker Carson Schwesinger. The Browns standout won the award last year with a productive year, returning the award to a prior standard. About 20 years ago, off-ball linebackers were locks for the award. Brian Urlacher, Jonathan Vilma, DeMeco Ryans, Patrick Willis, Jerod Mayo, and Brian Cushing all won the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year between 2000 to 2010. But in the 15 years since, only Shaq Leonard (2018) and now Schwesinger have been able to claim the award for off-ball linebackers.
Should the Miami Dolphins end up starting Rodriguez over veteran linebacker Tyrel Dodson to start the year, I believe he should be considered Miami’s favorite for the award in 2026. He’s going to be a productive player. Dodson posted 129 tackles, 5.0 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and an interception in 2025 playing opposite Jordyn Brooks. So it’s not like a veteran linebacker in Brooks is going to eat all the tackles and plays. And Rodriguez, based on his college resume, has the play-making gene.
First round defensive back Chris Johnson will undoubtedly have something to say about Miami’s best defensive rookie. But cornerbacks winning the award have been even more rare than off-ball linebackers in recent years. We’ve seen just three cornerbacks (Marcus Peters, Sauce Gardner, and Marshon Lattimore) win AP Defensive Rookie of the Year since Charles Woodson claimed the award in 1998.
Plenty more snaps will go to rookies. But Rodriguez brings the early draft pedigree, the college accolades, and the production opportunity. Those can help him to stand apart as Miami’s best candidate. That is, of course, assuming he wins the job over Dodson.
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