AFC East
Miami Dolphins NFL Draft Profile
How the Dolphins draft: the front office running the board, the needs shaping the next class, and every draft class we cover.
Front office and philosophy
General manager: Jon-Eric Sullivan · Head coach: Jeff Hafley
New regime focused on defensive restructuring and building around a franchise QB. Hafley's defensive background drives emphasis on coverage specialists and pass rushers, while the offense needs reliable weapons.
Jeff Hafley brings a defensive coordinator's mindset from his time at Boston College and as an NFL DB coach. Expects an emphasis on coverage cornerbacks and safety depth. Sullivan is a new GM without an established draft track record, likely to follow Hafley's defensive priorities while shoring up skill positions.
These tendencies are encoded directly into the simulator: when you run a mock and the Dolphins are on the clock, the engine applies this regime's positional biases and its balance between best-player-available and need-based drafting. See how the simulator works for the full methodology.
Inside the simulator, this regime splits evenly between taking the best player available and drafting for need, and is more likely to trade back and collect picks than to move up (30 against 25). Its clearest positional preferences are wide receiver, edge rusher, cornerback, which the engine applies on top of the needs list above. It also weights testing numbers more heavily than most, so athletic outliers rise on its board.
Current draft needs
Our needs assessment for the Dolphins entering the 2027 draft cycle, ordered by priority. These weightings are what the simulator uses when it evaluates this team's board.
Team needs were researched for this class from current rosters. They predate free agency and will be revised after March 2027.
A needs list is a judgement, not a fact, so it is worth saying how this one is built. We read the current depth chart rather than last season's production: a position counts as a need when the projected starter is a stopgap, is out of contract, or is the reason a unit underperformed, and it stops counting when the roster has an answer even if that answer is unspectacular. Contract structure matters as much as talent, which is why a position can appear here a full year before it looks like a problem on the field.
The 2027 class
The 2027 draft has not been held. On the projected order the Dolphins hold 8 picks, opening at No. 3. 2 came from other teams. 1 of their own have been traded away. The needs shaping that class are wide receiver, quarterback, interior offensive line.
The full 2027 Miami Dolphins outlook breaks down every projected pick, the weighting behind each need, and which prospects are currently projected into the range where they pick.
Draft classes
| Class | Picks | First selection | First player | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 8 proj. | No. 3 | Not yet drafted | 2027 needs and picks → |
| 2026 | 13 | No. 12 | Kadyn Proctor | Full 2026 class → |
Division rivals
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