Dolphins 7-Round NFL Mock Draft: February 2026

The Miami Dolphins are officially in teardown mode. Tyreek Hill is gone. Bradley Chubb is gone. James Daniels and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine are gone. Tua Tagovailoa is probably not far behind. Oh, and there’s a new general manager and head coach in town, too. Rebuild SZN has arrived.

Miami has eight selections in the 2026 NFL Draft, but five of them are top-100 picks. How can the Dolphins use those picks to start the process of rebuilding? We’ve conducted a Dolphins seven-round mock draft using our Mock Draft Machine.

Dolphins 7-Round NFL Mock Draft

Round 1 (No. 11 overall): Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

Jeff Hafley needs a true CB1, and the top corner in the class falls right into his lap here at No. 11 overall. Mansoor Delane was the most complete draft-eligible cornerback in college football this past season, consistently using his physicality and elite football IQ to neutralize receivers. He can excel in both man and zone coverage, stepping in immediately as a starter for Miami. Dolphins fans will love how Delane plays the game.

Round 2 (No. 43 overall): Dillon Thieneman, SAF, Oregon

Dillon Thieneman is starting to generate first-round buzz, but I still think he ends up making it into Round 2, fortunately for Miami. Thieneman can play any safety role due to his strong football IQ, instincts, and effort. He’s gotten better every year he’s played. He and Delane will really help the Dolphins rebuild their secondary.

Round 3 (No. 75 overall): Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State

After seeing him in person at the Panini Senior Bowl, I’m putting my stamp of approval on Ted Hurst as a day-two pick. Hurst pairs his size (6-foot-3, 207 pounds) with surprising short-area agility. He’s a strong route-runner with the catch radius and contested-catch ability you desire from a receiver of his size. He’s not a burner and needs to work on playing to his size with the ball in his hands, but he can develop into the complementary option to Jaylen Waddle that the Dolphins need.

Round 3 (No. 87 overall): Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State

Cole Payton is one of the most intriguing players in the 2026 NFL Draft class. He brings an interesting toolbox to the table, including the desired arm strength and touch you want to see from an NFL quarterback prospect. He’s physical on the run but makes an effort to keep plays alive inside and outside of the pocket before escaping. However, he’s only a one-year starter, and it’s at the FCS level. Limited reps and even more limited exposure against top competition mean he’ll be a project for whichever team drafts him. But with a trio of third-round picks, it’s a gamble the Dolphins could take. Maybe they strike gold.

Round 3 (No. 90 overall): Vincent Anthony Jr., EDGE, Duke

The Dolphins need to add to their pass-rush group, and spending their final third-round pick on Vincent Anthony Jr. makes sense. While he’s got work to do against the run, he’s shown his pass-rush upside with 12.5 sacks over the last two seasons at Duke. He can play all over the defensive line, too. He has to become more consistent in all phases of his game to become an unquestioned starter, but he should be able to make an impact on pass-rushing downs as a rookie.

Round 4 (No. 111 overall): Jeremiah Wright, IOL, Auburn

Miami is in the midst of a culture change, and Jeremiah Wright is someone who can set the tone. He’s a physical, violent s**t-talker who can overwhelm the opposition with his power and mass. He’s unafraid of competition, and his battles with Alabama’s LT Overton at the Senior Bowl went viral.

Round 5 (No. 149 overall): John Michael Gyllenborg, TE, Wyoming

The Dolphins need a new starting tight end for 2026, but I expect that to come via free agency. But it would be a good idea to add a young player to the mix for the future. John Michael Gyllenborg didn’t really get to show his full potential in Wyoming’s offense. He’s primarily a receiving tight end and strong special teams player. He’s a smooth route-runner and looks very comfortable split out as a receiver.

Round 7 (No. 228 overall): Jeffrey M'ba, IDL, SMU

Jeffrey M'Ba is as physically intimidating as his facemask choice. M’ba has a strong upper body and is a good tackler in traffic. He has some experience moving along the defensive line in college. The major issue with M’ba is his age, as he will be 27 years old on draft day. Pair that with his limited production at Auburn and Purdue prior to SMU, and he’s sitting on the Round 7/UDFA fringe. However, he should be able to provide early-down depth on Miami’s defensive line. Fun fact: He’s originally from France.