One NFL analyst’s pick for a Miami Dolphins’ 2026 breakout player would be a massive win for the long-term outlook in South Florida

If this NFL analyst is right about the Miami Dolphins’ 2026 breakout player, it will be a huge win for their long-term outlook.

Kyle Crabbs — NFL National Writer
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Oct 12, 2025; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Kenneth Grant (90) reacts after making a sack against the Los Angeles Chargers during the first quarter at Hard Rock Stadium. Rich Storry-Imagn Images

The Miami Dolphins‘ list of breakout candidates in 2026 is plentiful. Robust, even.

There’s no shortage of candidates for a player who could take “the leap”. Some of them are rookies, like CB Chris Johnson or OL Kadyn Proctor. Others reside on the defensive line, where a trio of second-year defenders are going to have major snaps available to them. And don’t forget key players like Chop Robinson on the edge. If you polled ten people, you may get six or seven different answers. But one breakout candidate in particular would be a major, major win — and one analyst is hitching their wagon to him this summer.

NFL analyst Steve Palazzolo tabs Kenneth Grant as the Miami Dolphins’ 2026 breakout player

“I’m taking Kenneth Grant. We said the Dolphins were strange last year because we thought year two of Chop Robinson should have been pretty good, he was a very good pass rusher. Was okay against the run, just didn’t finish plays…so he took a step back. Kenneth Grant, I thought, would be okay. (I thought he) wouldn’t be as bad as he looked at times last year, but I thought he got better as the year progressed as well. So I’ll take that second-half bump from Grant. New system, new everything.”

— Check The Mic’s Steve Palazzolo

Why would Kenneth Grant breaking out be such a big deal? Well, remember, he was a top-15 pick just one year ago. The Dolphins have plenty of young players on rookie contracts, but Grant has an extra year of cost control amid the holdovers from the prior regime — he’s got that fifth-year option awaiting him down the road. So yes, a Chop Robinson breakout would be great. But he’s only got one (or two, including a potential fifth-year option) year left on his current deal after this season.

Rookie contract picks who weren’t first round players, like Dante Trader or Patrick Paul, will have two or one years respectively left on their current deals. Grant is the only one who could have three among the non-rookies. That would make his breakout a big, big win for a big, big man. And, of course, the Miami Dolphins.

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