Meet Will Kacmarek: The Dolphins' newest weapon in the run game

The Miami Dolphins took Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek with pick No. 87 overall in the third round of the 2026 NFL draft after losing Darren Waller and Julian Hill in free agency.

While Miami signed veteran Ben Sims and brought back Greg Dulcich, taking Kacmarek should help Bobby Slowik's offense going into his first year as offensive coordinator in South Florida.

Before Kacmarek is officially signed and gets on the practice field, here are four things that Dolphins fans should know about him.

Statistics

In his collegiate career, Kacmarek caught 65 passes for 751 yards and four touchdowns. Though in his last two seasons at Ohio State, he recorded only 253 receiving yards. This raised some concerns for Dolphins fans, but the reality is Kacmarek is going to be an essential blocker Miami needs in the run game.

Size

Listed at 6-foot-6 and 261 pounds, Kacmarek ran a solid 4.74 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Many times last year, De'Von Achane had to make something out of nothing. This pick was made to help address that problem and to draft a position of need. His quick twitch and big body frame are a huge part of his success in the run.

Awards and recognition

In 2024, Kacmarek contributed to a national championship win. His tenacity and hard work led to him earning Big Ten honors in 2025 and recognition as one of the best blocking tight ends in college football.

Background

Kacmarek started his high school career at St. Louis Country Day School, where he played on the defensive line all the way up to college. After redshirting his first year with the , he transitioned into a tight end before transferring to Ohio State for his final two seasons.