BY MIKE RIFKIN
The goal for the 2026-27 Miami Dolphins should be different than a lot of teams across the NFL. While most teams have expectations to make the playoffs or in other cases the Super Bowl, the Dolphins need to establish who they are as a football team.
Whenever I hear new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan or new coach Jeff Hafley speak I feel they were the right choices for their respective jobs. They weren’t afraid of the financial ramifications of cutting Tua Tagovailoa and allowed other stars to leave via trade or free agency. One of the things Sullivan was able to accomplish was being able to keep certain players he viewed as building blocks for the team. The Dolphins extended Center Aaron Brewer, Linebacker Jordyn Brooks and Running Back De’von Achane. Brooks led the league in tackles with 183 (99 solo) and had 3.5 sacks. Brooks has been a big time leader on the defensive side. Achane, who is one of the fastest players in the league was fifth in the league in rushing yards (1,350) and had eight touchdowns. He is also a threat catching the ball, he had 67 receptions for 488 yards and four touchdowns. Aaron Brewer has become one of the best Centers in the sport.
The 2026 Quarterback draft class left a lot to be desired, and 27 will be loaded and the Dolphins will probably be near the top of the draft, the question is will they need a quarterback? The Dolphins signed Malik Willis from the Packers, where he knew Hafley and Sullivan. The Dolphins didn’t pay an outrageous price for a starting Quarterback, but the question on Willis is, is he a starting QB? Willis has played in 22 career games and has a 67.7 completion percentage, 1,322 yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions. He also has 405 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns. Last year in four games for the Packers, Willis had an 85.7 completion percentage, 422 yards, three touchdowns and zero interceptions. This will be the first time Willis will be viewed as “the guy”. And if he struggles Miami could look ahead to the loaded NFL Draft.
One thing about establishing a culture is that you have to draft players that fit what you are trying to build. The culture the Dolphins are trying to establish is being a tougher football team. And in the draft they did just that by selecting Kadyn Proctor and are moving him to Guard, Chris Johnson and Jacob Rodriguez are physical defenders. The Dolphins also added some size at receiver including Chris Bell, who just returned to practice and Caleb Douglas, who has had a great camp.
The Dolphins don’t have the luxury of an easy schedule. Three of their first four games are on the road. They play seven teams who made the playoffs last season including their division rivals Patriots and Bills plus a trips to Denver and Lambeau in December. And while the schedule isn’t easy, the thing I want to see out of this team is compete, I want them to be competitive, too many times over the years they folded when times got tough. I’m not going to be bold and say this is a playoff team (it’s not) but if they can establish the culture and do what they have to do, I’m not going to be shocked if they win 5-6 games.
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