Chris Perkins: Dolphins have one job in this year’s NFL draft

We’ve all seen how badly things can go for the Dolphins when they have the wrong players whether it’s showing up late for team meetings, not showing up for player-only video sessions, coming up short in the most competitive games on the schedule, or, at the extreme end of the spectrum, having a bullying scandal.

Of course, you need quality players. After all, this is the NFL, and talent is essential.

So, let’s talk about talent.

At No. 11, if the Dolphins select Delane, they potentially get a shutdown cornerback, which is a rare skill in this league. McCoy, who missed 2025 with an ACL injury but doesn’t have an injury history aside from that, offers a similar talent. I like both of these guys.

I’ve always favored having a pair of top-notch cornerbacks in the Sam Madison-Patrick Surtain mold, who I covered with the yesteryear Dolphins. I was excited about the prospect of the Dolphins cornerback duo of Jalen Ramsey-Xavien Howard in 2023, but injuries wiped out their effectiveness.

Delane or Cook, perhaps, starts Miami on a promising path.

If Mauigoa is there at No. 11, that’s a great selection because he’s the best offensive lineman in the draft, a guy who could play guard as a rookie and then slide over to right tackle in 2027, assuming this is the final year for veteran right tackle Austin Jackson.

Mauigoa is probably the only offensive lineman that makes sense at No. 11. It’s a bit too high for Utah’s Spencer Fano, a swing tackle who has spent the last two seasons on the right side.

As for wide receivers, No. 11 is probably too high for anyone except Ohio State’s Carnell Tate, who will likely be gone. I’d definitely scoop up Tate if he’s available. Arizona State’s Jordyn Tyson could be an option, but his injuries (knee as a freshman, collarbone as a junior, hamstring as a senior) are troubling.

At No. 30, perhaps Washington’s Denzel Boston is available, and he’d provide a big-bodied (6-3, 212) player who can go up and get the ball, which immediately offers situational options ranging from third down to red zone.

Also at No. 30, Young and Lawrence are pass-rushing specialists, which is a big need, while Faulk is a big (6–foot-5, 276 pounds), physical run-stuffer/space-eater, and this defense could use physicality.

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Doubling up on defense makes sense considering the Dolphins might not have a starting-caliber defensive back on the roster right now (safeties Lonnie Johnson Jr., and Dante Trader are promising, as are cornerbacks JuJu Brents and Storm Duck), and among the defensive linemen only Sieler is reliable. And he’s coming off a disappointing season statistically.

So, that’s the talent part of the draft.

But if I’m Sullivan and Hafley, I’m focusing on the person.

If an organization has the right type of people, top to bottom, it can be more than the sum of its parts.