Three 2026 NFL Draft prospects who the Miami Dolphins should avoid in the first round

The Miami Dolphins have a plethora of 2026 NFL Draft picks at their disposal. Here are three prospects who they should avoid early at all costs.

Kyle Crabbs — NFL National Writer
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Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor (3) celebrates after a sack against the Indiana Hoosiers in the third quarter during the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

The 2026 NFL Draft plans for the Miami Dolphins could best be described as “fluid”.

There’s no shortage of draft selections currently in the queue for Miami and the current state of the roster has almost any and every position in play. But based on this year’s class and Miami’s long-term building outlook, there are some players who should be considered “out” for the Dolphins in the early chapters of this year’s NFL Draft.

Here are three players that the Miami Dolphins should, under no circumstances, draft in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.

Three first-round 2026 NFL Draft prospects who the Miami Dolphins should avoid drafting

Sep 20, 2025; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4).

RB Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame Fighting Irish

This is no shade at all to Love, who is one of the best players eligible for this year’s NFL Draft. And, in a different timeline, he’d be a compelling option for the Miami Dolphins IF he made it to pick No. 11. The key wording there is “different timeline”.

The Miami Dolphins appear to be on the cusp of extending RB De’Von Achane this offseason. With the other holes on the roster, a double dip at running back is a tough sell. Even if the Dolphins didn’t appear to be intent on paying Achane, this is still a tough fit for the 2026 Dolphins.

Trading Achane could yield a strong return. Using the marquee asset to draft a running back? This team needs to “build infrastructure”, as GM Jon-Eric Sullivan put it. That means trenches. Pass rushers. Corners. And that makes a running back in the top-12 a no-go for me. No matter the intentions with Achane.

Jan 19, 2026; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Hurricanes defensive lineman Akheem Mesidor (3).

EDGE Akheem Mesidor, Miami Hurricanes

Look, I love Mesidor as a prospect. I really do. But for a team that is probably two years away from an optimized window to compete, a 25-year old rookie pass rusher is a tough sell. Mesidor turned 25 years old last week. Even if he’s a success story, we’re talking about a 30-year-old player by the time he takes the first snap of his rookie contract.

WR Jaylen Waddle was traded in part due to concerns over his “timeline” as a player. Waddle, by the way, is two and a half years older than Mesidor and going into his sixth NFL season this fall.

There’s also a ceiling versus floor debate to have with Mesidor. He was phenomenal this past season for the Hurricanes. But how much better will he become as a pro considering he’s a physically mature player? It all just adds up to, in my opinion, a poor fit in the first round for a rebuilding Miami Dolphins team.

Dec 6, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson (15) looks to pass during the fourth quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs during the 2025 SEC Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Dec 6, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Ty Simpson (15). Brett Davis-Imagn Images

QB Ty Simpson, Alabama Crimson Tide

Miami’s put their flag in the ground for a quarterback this offseason already. Double-dipping with Simpson as the QB2 in a bad class feels…unnecessary? Wasteful? The messaging out of Miami is that they do, in fact, see Malik Willis as a viable long-term answer.

Drafting a quarterback this month? Sure. Using a first-round pick on one? In THIS economy? No thanks.

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