One second-year Miami Dolphins player who you should be buying stock in as a breakout candidate in 2026
There’s no shortage of breakout candidates for the 2026 Miami Dolphins. Here’s one name I think you should be buying.
Breakout players are unpredictable. That’s part of the beauty of the game of football. For the Miami Dolphins, there will be no shortage of options to see someone seize the moment — there’s going to be a lot of new players getting expanded roles in 2026.
Between the rookie draft class, free agency, and returning young players from the past few seasons? Expect a few new standouts to emerge. And as this offseason unfolds, I do have a name that I’m ready to buy stock in being among them.
Miami Dolphins safety Dante Trader Jr. feels like a strong option to be among 2026 breakouts
Count me in on Miami Dolphins safety Dante Trader Jr. Trader Jr. was one of the Dolphins’ three fifth-round draft choices from the 2025 NFL Draft. It didn’t take long for him to garner praise from those around the team last year for the way he carried himself as a rookie. Trader Jr. earned early praise from special teams coordinator Craig Aukerman and defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver last year before the middle of September. His endorsement from Weaver was telling.
“Elite instincts. Very good quicks and he takes direct angles to the ball,” said Weaver last fall. “He’s a ball guy. I think he has an incredibly bright future. He’s one of those guys eventually you’re going to talk about being a coach on the field because he just puts so much time into his craft, so really excited about his trajectory.”
That was on September 11, 2025. In the time that’s passed since, Trader Jr. provided the team with consistent contributions on special teams (nearly 265 snaps). And he played 25 or more defensive snaps six times in the second-half of the 2025 season. With the increased playing time, Trader Jr. was credited with just 5 missed tackles (8.3%) on the season.
Looking ahead
Fast forward to today. Trader Jr. is captured on behind the scenes work with both Jeff Hafley and Jordyn Brooks throughout the first week of Organized Team Activities. He appears to be getting run with the ones from afar. And the safety room is a wide open canvas for someone to lay claim to a starting job.
He physically looks like he’s been busy in the weight room, too. I think Trader Jr. will seize the moment. So consider me buying stock in the early infancy of the summer. I’ll have Trader Jr. on my 2026 breakout shortlist this fall.
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