Dolphins signal rebuild with 13-player draft class overhaul

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Jon-Eric Sullivan and Mike McDaniel show Miami Dolphins are resetting Roster in 2024 NFL Draft

The Miami Dolphins did not approach the 2024 NFL Draft as a team looking to paper over one or two weaknesses. They drafted like an organisation accepting that the squad needed to be rebuilt from the middle out. That’s why this class is significant. It was a reset, and that’s what the first offseason with Jon-Eric Sullivan has been all about.

Actions spoke loud even before the draft

Miami’s intentions were clear long before the first pick was made. Following Tyreek Hill’s release, as ESPN highlighted, the Dolphins entered 2026 with a new general manager, a new head coach and a plan to put more emphasis on building through the draft rather than chasing big-name signings.

The focus was clear from the start

That direction was reflected in the way Miami built its draft class. The Dolphins added players like Kadyn Proctor, Chris Johnson, and Jacob Rodriguez, along with two third-round wide receivers, more linebackers, a safety, a guard, and extra depth at tight end. This wasn’t about swinging big on one or two players. It was about filling out the roster with affordable talent still under team control.

The picks reflected Sullivan’s blueprint

Leading up to the draft, ESPN reported that Jon-Eric Sullivan was focused on building around youth and value as Miami went through a roster overhaul. The selections reflected that approach. Proctor provides size on the line, Johnson adds athleticism to the secondary, and the rest of the class is built to offer depth rather than banking on star power.

How Miami’s draft says more than the old approach