The Miami Dolphins’ strong belief in Kadyn Proctor reportedly stems from some unique intel given to Jon-Eric Sullivan
Someone with the Alabama Crimson Tide program apparently played a large hand in the Miami Dolphins’ belief in Kadyn Proctor.
Some eyebrows raised when the Miami Dolphins selected offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor with their first pick of the 2026 NFL Draft.
The move wasn’t considered “chalk”, but it also was the range that Proctor was expected to challenge and reach for. Simulations and mocks had Proctor as a common pick in the teens. Sometimes he even landed higher thanks to some rumored ties to the Cleveland Browns. The Dolphins grabbed him at No. 12 overall and, per head coach Jeff Hafley, they’d have picked him at No. 11, too.
Proctor is a player with some questions on his resume regarding his playing weight. But according to Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer, part of Miami’s belief in Proctor was shaped by a contact with the Alabama Crimson Tide program.
Miami Dolphins’ belief in Kadyn Proctor shaped by Alabama intel
“(GM Jon-Eric) Sullivan’s background in Green Bay, and in particular on the college trail, became a commodity. Through a trusted, longtime friend of his at Alabama, a different picture of Proctor was painted for the Dolphins. The words “competitive” and “prideful” kept coming up. Yes, Proctor had gained weight, and it bothered him that he let it happen. But most importantly, he did something about it.
Proctor went to Miami on a 30 visit and acknowledged and took responsibility for what happened. And promised he wasn’t going back to that weight. Which bolstered Miami’s feeling that it was a one-time problem, and Proctor was the kind of guy who’d respond when challenged.”
— Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer
And so here we are. Proctor is the hallmark piece of Jon-Eric Sullivan’s first draft in Miami. The team elected to draft him and move him to guard instead of drafting a natural guard like Penn State’s Vega Ioane, who went 14th overall. It’s a bet. They’re all bets in the NFL Draft. But it is a bet with several storylines spiraling off of it to watch nonetheless.
If the Dolphins end up being right about Proctor, Jeff Hafley’s words on the Richard Sherman podcast from a few weeks ago will ring true.
It was there that Hafley remarked that in a few years, we may look back on a player as big and gifted as Proctor, being as young as he is and playing a premium position, going at No. 12 as a steal. Here’s hoping he’s right. Because such a development would mean a hell of a whole lot for Miami’s aspirations for an impactful offensive line. Proctor will be a building block. Whoever Sullivan found his connection with at Alabama can be credited with a major assist on the pick. But now we know where the staunch belief in Proctor stems from and why. Here’s to them being right.
Miami Dolphins News