The Miami Dolphins continued their radical makeover this week. After previously dispatching GM Chris Grier, head coach Mike McDaniel and longtime quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, among others, the Dolphins traded away top wideout Jaylen Waddle.
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Miami dealt Waddle to the Denver Broncos for several draft picks. The deal details:
Miami trades:
WR Jaylen Waddle
4th-round pick (No. 111)
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Denver trades:
1st-round pick (No. 30)
3rd-round pick (No. 94)
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4th-round pick (No. 130)
The Broncos gave up a bounty to acquire Waddle, who instantly adds more sizzle and speed to Denver’s offense. For Miami, trading away its top remaining receiving threat is the latest step toward overhauling a roster firmly in rebuilding status. The Dolphins now have four third-round picks, as well as a bonus first-rounder.
Those picks from the Broncos provide new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan and defensive-minded head coach Jeff Hafley with a lot more draft firepower. Here’s one way they could use all that newfound draft ammunition to accelerate the radical makeover in Miami.
1st round, No. 11 overall: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU
Aug 30, 2025; Clemson, South Carolina, USA; LSU Tigers cornerback Mansoor Delane (4) celebrates. Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
The Dolphins have many needs, but none appear more critical than outside cornerback. Delane would instantly upgrade the coverage with his savvy instincts, toughness and playmaking mindset. Delane offers enough athleticism and size to fit the Dolphins’ needs.
1st round, No. 30 (from DEN): Emmanuel McNeill-Warren, S, Toledo
McNeill-Warren offers outstanding length, athleticism and reactionary quickness as a safety capable of playing in the box or over the slot against tight ends or bigger receivers. An emerging talent with high upside but some need for patience in coverage, McNeill-Warren projects as an instant starter in the new-look Miami secondary.
2nd round: Zion Young, EDGE, Missouri
Dec 27, 2025; Jacksonville, FL, USA; Missouri Tigers defensive end Zion Young (9) warms up before the Gator Bowl against the Virginia Cavaliers at EverBank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Travis Register-Imagn Images
Young brings some baggage, but his on-field skill is very impressive. His effective power-based game worked quite well at both Michigan State and Missouri, and Young’s size and style should translate well to the NFL. He could easily remind Hafley of his former Packers first-round EDGE, Rashan Gary, albeit in a slightly smaller package.
3rd round: 4 picks
No. 75: Keylan Rutledge, IOL, Georgia Tech
No. 87 (from PHI): Skyler Bell, WR, UConn
No. 90 (from HOU): Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State
No. 94 (from DEN): Trey Zuhn, OL, Texas A&M
While it seems quite plausible that the Dolphins trade away some of these picks to move up, in this projection, they keep all four picks.
Rutledge projects as the top interior reserve for 2026 with definite starting potential down the line, if not right away. The Yellow Jackets’ right guard offers toughness, NFL-ready run blocking and a hard-nosed mindset.
Bell lit up the NCAA for the Huskies as a prolific outside receiver. His burst off the line, strong hands, and ability to win at all levels of the defense would fit nicely with new QB Malik Willis and his strong arm.
Doubling up at wideout with Lance, a highly athletic vertical threat, helps Miami recover from losing both Waddle and Tyreek Hill this offseason. Trey Lance’s younger brother needs some polish, but the high-end deep ball speed and ball tracking are there to contribute as a rookie.
Zuhn played tackle for the Aggies, but his optimal NFL fit could be at center. That gives the Dolphins some insurance if incumbent C Aaron Brewer prices himself out of their market reality as a standout on an expiring contract. Zuhn offers enough at tackle to handle being the swing reserve as a rookie, too.
4th round (from DEN): Bryce Boettcher, LB, Oregon
Boettcher is a plucky, intense inside backer with good power and decent instincts for his position. He’s a little undersized and lacking dynamic athleticism, Aside from holding starting LB upside, Boettcher should immediately step in as a core special teams standout for a Dolphins team that sorely needs bolstering on the punt and kick units.
5th round: Landon Robinson, DT, Navy
Navy Midshipmen
Navy Midshipmen defensive tackle Landon Robinson (96) runs on na fake punt during the second half against the Army Black Knights at Commanders Field. Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Extremely undersized (5-11/293) for a college nose tackle, Robertson wins by being quicker and craftier than the guys trying to block him. His instant burst and leverage off the snap can cause fits on the interior. Robertson shone at the Shrine Bowl, and the “poor man’s Aaron Donald” label is worthy of a fifth-round dart throw for a defense that figures to transition to Hafley’s more college-friendly style of defense.
7th round: 2 picks
No: 227: Cade Klubnik, QB, Clemson
No. 238 (from LAC): Jacob Thomas, S, James Madison
Klubnik could very well be long gone by the time Miami picks in the seventh. Here, the Clemson QB is worth a late-round flier as an athletic, strong-armed QB with experience but also some serious warts in decision-making and handling pressure.
Thomas is a good athlete with impressive reactionary skills and decent coverage instincts. A good-not-reat athlete, Thomas offers experience playing all over the secondary for the Dukes. He needs to clean up some tackling and pursuit angle issues, but the coverage versatility and special teams upside make the 6-foot-1, 212-pound Thomas draftable.
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