As stated previously in my offensive preview of Miami as the 2026 draft approaches, the Dolphins are a team that no one is expecting much of but could surprise many. Miami on the offensive side of things has a ton of potential but also a ton of question marks as I highlighted in my offensive preview of the team heading into the 2026 draft which is linked here: Miami Dolphins 2026 Pre-Draft Offensive Team Preview – C Sportz
On the defensive side of things, Miami is led by new defensive minded head coach Jeff Hafley. The Dolphins also have a new rookie defensive coordinator in Sean Duggan who was a defensive assistant under Hafley with both the Packers and Boston College. With the hire of Hafley, who has a defensive background, Miami is switching to having a defensive identity and the expectation of consistently elite defensive play will be the standard. However, the Dolphins will likely see their growing pains on defense with Hafley being a rookie head coach, the Dolphins having a rookie defensive coordinator, and the Dolphins’ defensive roster being questionable as of now. As Miami has holes from a defensive personnel standpoint as the Dolphins have moved off multiple strong veteran players this offseason in Minkah Fitzpatrick and Bradley Chubb in particular. While also moving off the very talented Jaelen Phillips in the middle of last season as well.
From a personnel perspective, I can offer the following assessment of Miami on the defensive side of things as the 2026 draft approaches, starting with the defensive front seven of the team. At the first of the starting edge rusher spots, taking the place of the now departed Bradley Chubb, is Chop Robinson. Robinson was a first-round pick in the 2024 draft and had a very strong rookie season. As a rookie, Robinson ranked in nearly the top 25% of qualified edge rushers in terms of an overall defense grade according to Pro Football Focus, despite being a rookie. However, Robinson regressed in his sophomore season ranking in the bottom 20% of that same department. Robinson did however struggle with injuries over the duration of last season and struggled to stay on the field, and his level of play when on the field was clearly negatively affected as well. If Robinson can build off his strong rookie season and live up to his high draft billing, Miami could have a very strong foundational piece on the defensive front who could be a borderline elite to an elite player. However, it is a very big if as Robinson really struggled this past season and has been below average in half of his time in the league so far, although playing very well the remainder of the time.
Zach Sieler is slated to start at one of the two interior defensive line spots and is an above average to a well above average player. Sieler has graded in the above average to well above average range in terms of an overall defense grade according to Pro Football Focus in every season he has played in the NFL. Sieler will provide Miami with some veteran stability on the interior of the defensive front this upcoming season. At the other interior defensive line starting position, Miami has 2025 5th round rookie Jordan Phillips currently slated to start. Phillips had a respectable rookie season but still graded slightly below average among players at his position. Phillips was, however, a rookie and could become a solid but likely not spectacular starter for the Dolphins up front. Cameron Goode is currently listed as the starter at the other defensive end position for now. Goode in limited time on the field has looked solid and maybe can prove to be a capable NFL starter with more reps.
The team has some talent in their linebacking unit that cannot be overlooked as well. Currently slated to start at the will linebacker spot is former first round pick Jordyn Brooks. Brooks as a first rounder struggled in his first NFL stint with the Seahawks ranking below average in four seasons there. But Brooks in the past two seasons with the Dolphins has come into his own and has started to live up to his draft selection as a first-round pick. Brooks has been among the better linebackers in the sport for the past two seasons, which have been his first two with Miami. But Brooks seemingly came into his own with defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, so it remains to be seen how good he will be without Weaver as his defensive coordinator.
At one of the other starting linebacker spots is veteran Tyrel Dodson who is very inconsistent, but who has shown a very high ceiling in the NFL. Similar logic applies to veteran Joshua Uche who is slated to start at the last of the linebacker spots. Uche, just like Dodson, has been very inconsistent in his career but has shown a very high ceiling. All three of Miami’s current starting linebackers are very talented and have shown a very high ceiling in the NFL, but all struggle to stay consistent.
From a reserve standpoint in the defensive front seven, the big name that highlights the group is 2025 first round pick rookie Kenneth Grant who is an interior defensive lineman. Grant as a first rounder had his struggles as a rookie but still showed some promise. If Grant can come into his own and live up to his high draft billing, he will likely assume a starting role and Miami could have another high-level player up front. The likes of former 2nd rounders Willie Gay Jr and David Ojabo could provide Miami with some strong depth, as both players have shown they are capable of living up to their high draft billing from time to time despite both struggling with consistency.
Overall, in Miami’s front seven, one cannot deny the raw talent that the team has but for the most part, the players in totality are far too young/unproven/inconsistent. If the young/unproven/inconsistent players can come into their own and play to their potential, Miami could have a formidable but likely not elite front seven in terms of talent.
Miami’s secondary is a big question mark however, and as of now the Dolphins’ secondary is amongst the most questionable in the sport. As the unit has some talented players but for the most part is filled with guys who have not proven to be surefire NFL starters. Miami will need to address the secondary of the team as the season approaches otherwise the Dolphins backend defense will be weak, unless some young unproven players really come into their own.
At the first of the two starting corner spots listed on the team’s depth chart is former second round pick Juju Brents. Brents has had his ups and downs in the NFL thus far, but last season started to show he was indeed worthy of being selected as high as he was. Brents, albeit in limited snaps, ranked in the top 15% among qualified corners at his position in terms of an overall defense grade according to Pro Football Focus during the 2025 season. Brents ranked top 5 among qualified players at his position in terms of coverage grade according to Pro Football Focus this past season as well. Given Brents’ high draft selection and his outstanding production in limited snaps last season, he could be one of the breakout NFL players next season. If Brents can come into his own, then the Dolphins could have a very strong potential star number one cornerback.
The two starting safety positions for the Dolphins as of now are concerning although a bit promising. 2025 fifth round rookie Dante Trader Jr is currently in line to start at strong safety but could very well see someone take his starting job. Trader Jr was below average as a rookie and was drafted late in the fifth round and perhaps Miami would be better suited acquiring or promoting another player to take his spot. However, Trader Jr could still be a legitimate starting caliber safety if Miami cannot find any better options. At the other safety spot former undrafted free agent Zayne Anderson is set to start with Anderson playing under Hafley with the Packers for four seasons. Anderson in the only season he logged noticeable snaps in ranked among the best safeties in the sport, albeit appearing in just 122 snaps. Anderson, however, was poor in the 22 snaps he played in during the 2024 season. Anderson could end up being very good or even a star, but there is just far too small of a sample size to say anything as of now.
The other two starting cornerback spots for Miami are a huge question mark as of now as Lonnie Johnson Jr and Jason Marshall Jr are listed as starters on the Dolphins’ depth chart as of now. Both of those players have graded in the below average to poor range in the NFL for the vast majority of their careers, and Miami will likely need to address the remainder of their starting secondary as a result. However, Miami has several reserve secondary players who are capable starters who could step in and start for the team if the above listed players end up disappointing.
Former first round pick cornerback Artie Burns is still listed on the Dolphins’ roster and is still potentially a starter in the NFL. Burns will be 31 years old when the season starts and has shown elite capabilities over the years and has consistently been an above average player. Similar logic applies to veteran Rasul Douglas who has also shown elite capabilities and has been for the most part consistently above average in the NFL. Douglas is also still listed on the Dolphins’ roster and will be 30 years old next season. AJ Green III in limited snaps during his first full season in the NFL graded as the best overall cornerback in the league. Green III, however in limited snaps the following season, graded among the worst cornerbacks in the sport. 2022 4th rounder Jack Jones consistently graded in the above average to well above average range among players at his position in his first two NFL seasons but has been below average for the past two seasons since then. Elijah Campbell at safety has been solid at times but also struggles with consistency, 2020 third rounder Ashtyn Davis has shown a very high ceiling at safety but has not been able to consistently maintain it, with almost that same exact logic applying to 2021 third rounder Ifeatu Melifonwu at safety as well.
Overall, the Dolphins have a lot of talent on the defensive side of things, but a lot of question marks as well. Almost everywhere you look the Dolphins have a talented player on defense, but that talented player has some question marks in regards to consistency. The Dolphins could have an above average defensive roster or a below average if not a poor defensive roster next season, depending on how the inconsistent but talented players pan out next year.
If Jeff Hafley is the defensive mastermind that the Dolphins hoped to get, then he should be able to get the best out of the talented but inconsistent players scattered across Miami’s defense. If Jeff Hafley was the correct hire as a defensive minded head coach, then there is no reason that Miami cannot field a top 10 if not a top 5 caliber defense next season. As Miami is not bereft of talent on defense, although the talent they have is inconsistent, and Miami certainly does not have an elite caliber talented defense.
