The Miami Dolphins made two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL draft, selecting offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor at No. 12 and cornerback Chris Johnson at No. 27. Expert opinions on the selections are mixed, reflecting a divided fan reaction.
Key points
Miami Dolphins had two first-round picks in the 2026 NFL draft
Dolphins selected Kadyn Proctor at No. 12 and Chris Johnson at No. 27
While the fan reaction was mixed after the two selections, NFL experts were feeling the same way when they released their draft grades for the first round.
Let's go through some of the top experts and see what they had to say about both selections.
"The first true upset of the draft and a real roll of the dice, similar to the gamble general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan made in paying big money to quarterback Malik Willis. At his best, Proctor can be dominant. But even his former head coach, Nick Saban, has publicly talked about Proctorās struggles with maintaining his weight. This is a risky pick that could wind up busting. With the local superstar Rueben Bain Jr. still available, taking Proctor is especially head-scratching."
"Proctor has the most prodigious power in this tackle class with special movement skills for a 350+ pounder. His weight will be worth monitoring, but when he was at his trimmest, Proctor was dominant at the end of the season. He can start inside at guard or stick at tackle."
Q&A
What positions did the Miami Dolphins draft in the 2026 NFL draft?
The Dolphins drafted an offensive tackle, Kadyn Proctor, at No. 12 and a cornerback, Chris Johnson, at No. 27.
What were the reactions from experts regarding the Dolphins' draft picks?
Experts had mixed opinions on the Dolphins' selections, with varying draft grades reflecting their divided views.
How did the Dolphins acquire their first-round picks in the 2026 NFL draft?
The Dolphins traded down early and then traded up later, which allowed them to acquire additional capital for their first-round picks.
What was the fan reaction to the Dolphins' first-round draft picks?
The fan reaction was mixed, similar to the responses from NFL experts regarding the selections of Proctor and Johnson.
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"The recent track record on 350-plus-pound offensive tackles isnāt great, but Proctor has a ways to go in terms of conditioning and technique. The upside is crazy here, but heās still a big project for a team that doesnāt have many sure bets in terms of startable players right now. If he can stay focused and be the player everyone is hoping for, he could form a great long-term duo withĀ Patrick PaulĀ at tackle."
"A Miami team facing an extensive rebuild looked to be in prime position to address its front. Proctor, however, is a somewhat surprising target for the team. At his best, the 6-7, 352-pounder can be a devastating enforcer in the run game and engulf edge rushers to safeguard his quarterback. But weight management has been an issue, and he's one of the draft's more volatile prospects. High-risk, high-reward move for new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan."
"This is tough. As an athlete, Proctor is one of the best prospects in this class, regardless of position. A mutant at 6-8, 350, Proctor could blossom into a dominant force in the NFL. Right now, however, heās a long way from it. He was very inconsistent on the field at Alabama and might have to move inside to guard in Miami. Heās also had weight concerns in the past ā he has pushed well north of 350 pounds in the past, so this might be messy for Miami if its new OT canāt mature quickly.
We could look back on this as a great pick, but thereās bust potential, too."
"After making one of the biggest gambles of the first round with the selection of Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor at No. 12, the Dolphins did the exact opposite here with Johnson. He may lack elite measureables, but he's one of the cleaner prospects in this class. His athleticism and instincts jump off the tape. He is so smooth in coverage and makes plays on the ball. This is one of my favorite players in the draft.Ā "
"The Dolphins just got another cornerstone piece at pick 27. Johnson's tape was incredibly clean last fall as he dominated the Mountain West. The cherry on top was his Senior Bowl performance, where, in my opinion, he was the most impressive cornerback in attendance. Miami agreed. While Johnson doesn't "wow" physically, he impresses with his reliability and technical prowess."
"This is a pick to get on base, which a rebuilding team like the Dolphins needs. Heās not the flashiest cornerback prospect, but he still should project as a solid starter. It feels like a little bit of a reach, but itās hard to say a roster with this many holes is really reaching on anyone. Time to keep adding talent and building this thing out."
"This feels like a move straight out of the Packers playbook for Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley, who both came over from Green Bay. In the pre-draft process, Johnson carved out a place as one of this class' most polished cornerbacks. His composure is sure to come in handy for a Miami defense that has been in trouble at the position since moving on from Jalen Ramsey."
"The Dolphins have a crater-like hole in their secondary and needed to grab a cornerback or safety. New coach Jeff Hafley saw his chance here at a physical corner with terrific ball skills, so they traded up to grab Johnson. Itās strange to see the No. 2 cornerback going this late in Round 1, but Johnson (6-0, 193) was a good value at this point.
He broke up eight passes and picked off four last year for the Aztecs, bringing back two for touchdowns. He was named a second-team All-American and Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year."