[Editor’s note: The following article is from Athlon Sports’ 2026 NFL Preview magazine. Order your issue online today, or grab a copy at newsstands and retail racks nationwide.]
The Miami Dolphins would possibly as effectively begin calling themselves “Green Bay South.”
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An entire franchise makeover passed off in 2026. The Dolphins introduced in folks related to the Green Bay Packers, and now we’ll begin to see if their long-term imaginative and prescient can replicate the constant success and competition seen in Green Bay.
Longtime normal supervisor Chris Grier was let go throughout his tenth season and changed with Jon-Eric Sullivan, who has been with the Packers for greater than 20 years.
Then got here the teaching search after Mike McDaniel’s firing. And Sullivan obtained his man from Green Bay, Jeff Hafley, who was the defensive coordinator there the previous two years.
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Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley works along with his gamers throughout rookie minicamp at Baptist Health Training Complex. (Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images)
The new regime wasn’t going to maintain Tua Tagovailoa’s contract on the books, so when Miami launched him, the brand new reply at quarterback, Malik Willis, got here from — you guessed it — the Packers.
It’s not solely about having the GM, coach and quarterback. The Dolphins need to pivot from the large free-agent contracts they have been shelling out in latest offseasons for a build-through-the-draft strategy. On the sector, they need to set up physicality and toughness as core rules, veering from the velocity and finesse of the McDaniel-led squads.
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Offense
A crew can nonetheless have electrical velocity whereas taking part in with physicality. It’ll be tough to discover a sooner quarterback-running again tandem within the NFL than Willis and De’Von Achane. It’s unknown what precisely Bobby Slowik has in thoughts as he takes over as offensive coordinator, however Willis and Achane may kind a fierce read-option tandem. Slowik comes from the identical Shanahan teaching tree as McDaniel and Hafley, and one directive from Hafley is that he needs an offense that may set up the run. Achane will thrive off that, constructing on his 1,350-rushing-yard season and Pro Bowl look in 2025, particularly when Miami runs outside-zone ideas to get him out into area. Jaylen Wright and Ollie Gordon II can spell Achane to run between the tackles and punch the ball ahead in short-yardage conditions.
Willis, after two years by which he couldn’t lower it with the Tennessee Titans and two extra spent studying behind Packers quarterback Jordan Love, will get his shot. His athleticism and elusiveness, mixed with a giant arm that may ship the deep ball, give him an opportunity to succeed. Sullivan has seen his improvement over two seasons in Green Bay, and Hafley has referenced the robust appears to be like Willis gave his protection on the scout crew there.
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Willis could have a restricted receiving corps after the Dolphins launched Tyreek Hill and traded Jaylen Waddle. Tutu Atwell is small and speedy. Jalen Tolbert joins him as a 6-foot-1 goal who can stretch the sector and hopes to regain the shape he confirmed in 2024 with the Dallas Cowboys. Malik Washington can work beneath routes out of the slot, and a trio of rookie draft picks — bigger-bodied third-rounders Caleb Douglas and Chris Bell and shifty slot receiver Kevin Coleman Jr. — ought to see alternatives.
Dolphins working again de’von Achane (Credit: Mark Konezny-Imagn Images)Mark Konezny-Imagn Images
Tight finish Greg Dulcich skilled a late-season surge as a pass-catcher within the center final 12 months and may construct off that in 2026. Miami chosen a bulldozer of an in-line blocking tight finish in Will Kacmarek within the third spherical.
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The offensive line has two pillars in left deal with Patrick Paul and middle Aaron Brewer, and Sullivan appeared so as to add one other with the infusion of the uncommon measurement (6-foot-7, 352) and velocity of Kadyn Proctor, the first-round deal with out of Alabama who might begin off as a tall guard.
Miami wants a greater second season out of 2025 second-round decide Jonah Savaiinaea, and a change again to the appropriate aspect, the place he performed in faculty, may assist. Right deal with Austin Jackson must show he can keep wholesome after coming again on a restructured deal.
Defense
Hafley will need to base his unit out of extra four-man fronts, a rarity for latest Dolphins defenses beneath Anthony Weaver, Vic Fangio, Josh Boyer and Brian Flores. Hafley will name defensive performs and brings with him a trusted assistant from Green Bay, Boston College and Ohio State, Sean Duggan, as his defensive coordinator.
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The Dolphins are strongest within the center, the place All-Pro Jordyn Brooks, final 12 months’s tackles chief within the NFL, ferociously cleans up all the things from the Will linebacker place. The Dolphins deliver again Brooks and Tyrel Dodson, final season’s starters, however drafting Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez brings intrigue to that dynamic, as Rodriguez is considered as a future chief and green-dot helmet communicator from the Mike spot. That was Dodson’s job, and there are questions over whether or not all three may play collectively or if Dodson’s position will probably be diminished.
Hafley and Duggan additionally inherit a stable group of defensive tackles, although Zach Sieler is likely to be dropping a step on his go rush after back-to-back 10-sack seasons in 2023 and ’24. Around him is a trio of second-year defensive tackles in Kenneth Grant, who wants his size-athleticism mixture to flourish as a first-round decide; Jordan Phillips, who earned a beginning position final 12 months; and Zeek Biggers.
Chop Robinson, a 2024 first-round choice, should proceed to have an effect on the quarterback whereas enhancing at setting the sting towards the run. He will put his hand on the bottom after beforehand standing up virtually completely. There’s a giant alternative for Josh Uche to reclaim his effectiveness from 2022, when he had 11.5 sacks as a New England Patriot.
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Hafley has a background in teaching defensive backs, and he’ll have to develop a unit that has loads of uncertainty. The Dolphins drafted cornerback Chris Johnson within the first spherical, they usually like his protection in any respect three ranges whereas taking part in both on the boundary or as a nickel. Darrell Baker Jr. obtained beginning expertise in Tennessee, however he had a 124.1 passer ranking towards in 2025. He’ll vie for a spot with the likes of second-year cornerback Jason Marshall Jr., in addition to Storm Duck and JuJu Brents, who’re coming off accidents final season. Veterans Alex Austin and Marco Wilson will even compete for a roster spot.
Safety Dante Trader Jr. is cerebral for a second-year participant, however Zayne Anderson is a special-teamer who has performed defensively beneath Hafley in Green Bay. Meanwhile, the Dolphins drafted security Michael Taaffe, who went from undersized walk-on to All-American at Texas, and veteran Lonnie Johnson Jr. can also be within the combine.
Specialists
When Sullivan says he needs competitors at each place, he’s not kidding. Riley Patterson, who made 27-of-29 subject objectives final 12 months, has to beat out Zane Gonzalez, who has been with new particular groups coordinator Chris Tabor at two earlier stops. Bradley Pinion and Seth Vernon will duke it out for the punter job. Tucker Addington and Taybor Pepper are the choices to realize the long-snapping position. As a returner, Washington can be the incumbent favourite, however the rookie Coleman will push him.
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Final Analysis
The 2026 Dolphins embark on a rebuild. This crew gained’t be judged on wins and losses however on establishing the appropriate tradition for the longer term whereas making ready to be extra aggressive in free company in 2027 (as soon as the almost $182 million lifeless cap hit is within the rear-view mirror) and stacking one other draft class with the present group.
Related: Athlon Sports 2026 NFL Preview Magazine Now Available
This story was initially revealed by Athlon Sports on Jun 30, 2026, the place it first appeared within the NFL part. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.