Fins Rookie Preview: Preseason in the books
The Dolphins rookie preview covers key players and expectations as the 2026-2027 season approaches. Discover rookie insights.
With the 2026-2027 season officially getting underway tomorrow, it is as good a time as any to look at both the expectations for the rookie class heading into Week 1 as well as digesting what we liked (and perhaps didn’t) from the preseason action.
With seven of the eight highest hits to the cap playing in colors other than teal and orange, this year’s draft picks will be immediately tossed into the deep end and are expected to see significant snaps and the opportunity to cement themselves into the lineup for years to come.
Outside the franchise, the Fins are penciled in for a bottom-of-the-barrel rebuild year, but that does not mean some first-year athletes can’t make an immediate splash.
Kadyn Proctor, OL- Alabama
Headlining this year’s draft class, Proctor made a somewhat surprising shift for a man of his stature (6-foot-7, 360 pounds): a move inside to guard. That means Patrick Paul, the 2024 second-round pick who started all 17 games at left tackle in 2025 and is a team captain heading into 2026, can remain in his comfort zone.
With Proctor in at left guard, that instantly makes them one of the beefier duos defensive fronts will have to navigate.
At just 21 years old, he is considered highly mobile/shifty for his size. As seen during his time at the University of Alabama, any type of downhill momentum makes him resemble Marvel’s Juggernaut.
With a solid preseason showing, an area of improvement looks to be the nuances of the schemes, pulling for example, but those are the issues coaches will happily deal with and nail down as the season progresses.
His size will clearly help clog up the interior and when he gets good hand placement, he shuts down rushers in their tracks.
Proctor should be expected to look good early as soon as Week 1’s matchup against Las Vegas and see his stock rise quickly throughout the season.
Kyle Louis, LB/S- Pitt
While Jacob Rodriguez has garnered more attention as an incoming defender, Louis could fly under the radar early. His 2024 season provided more highlights than 2025, flashing box safety greatness after recording 101 tackles and hawking his way into a quartet of interceptions.
A touch undersized, defensive coordinator Sean Duggan could be best served finding ways to utilize him as an X-factor in nickel packages and 3rd-down situations.
He has shown consistency in correctly reading his keys. If he can continue to be comfortable downhill and improve against the run game, specifically at the point of attack, his coverage skills could make him an integral part of the Dolphins’ defense sooner rather than later.
Jacob Rodriguez, LB- Texas Tech
Rodriguez falls under the ‘prototypical’ tag of the modern NFL inside linebacker. Coming off an AP All-American 1st-team year, he has the accolades to support his expectations as one of the nation’s top defenders and even finished fifth in the Heisman voting.
His early career on the offensive side of the ball seems to have put him on an accelerated course as a defender, as seen by the coaches placing their trust in him by giving him the starting nod over Tyrel Dodson.
He can misdiagnose a coverage here and there but when it comes to forcing the ball loose, recovering in space, getting to the point of attack and having a high motor, Rodriguez is already checking boxes.
Rodriguez should be expected to have some growing pains but as he gets more comfortable diagnosing offenses and anchoring the Dolphins defense, his ability to sniff out the ball could life the entirety of the front seven along with him.
Chris Johnson, CB-San Diego State
Like Rodriguez, Johnson is penciled in as a starter heading into Week 1 as the team’s nickel cornerback. He is rare in the fact that coming out of college, he is considered comfortable in both man and zone coverages. On top of that, he has shown great hand placement and redirection when asked to press at the line.
Often, cornerbacks that are deemed ‘handsy’ have a rough time translating into the pro game but Johnson is smooth and rarely seems out of control. Along with being a willing tackler, he sets himself up for success with everything from his hips and footwork to anticipation and breaking on the ball.
With that, he can have a hard time recovering when he does make a mistake or has to high point a ball. Thankfully he is disciplined and smart enough to avoid those situations consistently.
