‘There’s talent there’ — Miami Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley isn’t hearing buying one of the biggest criticisms of his team’s 2026 roster
The Miami Dolphins’ 2026 roster has plenty of questions. Head coach Jeff Hafley doesn’t seem too worried about one of them.
It’s fair to ask questions about plenty of positions on the Miami Dolphins‘ roster as 2026 training camp gets underway.
We’re looking for separation at a series of positions — as proven starters aren’t necessarily in place. That doesn’t mean Miami won’t have effective play, but it does mean the forecast is murky. For one position in particular, cornerback, head coach Jeff Hafley’s background is going to need to do some heavy lifting to get this group where it needs to be. And Hafley, on an appearance this week on ‘The Joe Rose Show’, doesn’t seem to be buying the concern.
Jeff Hafley offers vote of confidence for his cornerback room on ‘The Joe Rose Show’
“You’re going to have a bunch of guys, right? (Jason) Marshall’s out there. He’s going to play more outside than he played inside (last season). Chris (Johnson), we’re certainly going to put out there, but you’re going to see him go inside…JuJu (Brents) is back. We got a bunch of guys right now, that’s kind of like every other position…I just think it’s going to sort itself out. And I think what we have to look at is if we find two guys we feel great about on the outside then maybe Chris plays inside more and if we don’t then maybe Chris plays outside more and we put someone else on the inside. So, this is going to be fun for us as coaches, too…I think there’s talent there. We just got to get them in the right spot.”
— Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley on the team’s cornerback situation
I’ll say this about Hafley’s perspective. He’s right to point out the team’s plethora of options. The pool could be even deeper, too, if not for PUP list designations for both CBs Storm Duck & Darrell Baker Jr. this summer.
But as is, Miami has a lot of competition, including a former high draft choice in Brents who has flashed every time he’s been on the field. He just simply can’t stay on it with any consistency. That will be Brents’ big task, especially as he enters into a contract year with the Miami Dolphins in 2026. With so many players competing to start, I believe Hafley’s perspective is the right one. “It’s going to sort itself out”.
The question for the Miami Dolphins is what happens if injuries hit the room and attrition takes hold? I’d be confident the Miami Dolphins find two or three viable starters. But would the “next man up” be a liability? Maybe the group will stay healthy all season? You just never know, and that’s why you play ’em all and see what happens. At least we know now that Hafley thinks his cornerback group has got what it takes to compete.
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