The Dolphins are entering a new phase under Jeff Hafley, and the list of young players Miami can truly build around is not all that long. A lot of the obvious names are either rookies or players who have already gotten to their second contract, which leaves a thinner pool when you start looking at the second-, third- and fourth-year guys.
That’s why Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox singled out Chop Robinson as Miami’s most promising building block heading into the 2026 season.
"Edge-rusher Chop Robinson might not draw the attention that Achane does, but the third-year defender is shaping up to be a defensive building block," Knox wrote. "A first-round pick out of Penn State in 2024, Robinson made just four starts in his first two seasons, but Miami is hoping for more.
"With 10 sacks and 32 quarterback pressures already on his resume, Robinson is poised to be the new headliner of Miami's pass rush."
Robinson has not fully met expectations across his first two seasons, but the opportunity in front of him is much bigger now. With Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips now with the Buffalo Bills and Carolina Panthers, respectively, he’ll be Miami’s top edge option in 2026.
That puts real pressure on the former first-round pick to take a step forward this season. If he doesn’t, the Dolphins’ defense could be in for a rough year, and Robinson could also be staring at the possibility of missing out on the fifth-year option next offseason.
In Other News...
Dolphins Receiver Battle Suddenly Has One Surprise Name To Watch
The Dolphins receiver room is one of the more open competitions on the roster this spring, and Caleb Douglas has quickly become a name worth tracking. Miami used a third-round pick on the wideout, a move that caught some attention because many around the league expected him to be more of a day-three selection, but the team clearly saw enough to make him part of a class that included three drafted receivers.
Now the question is whether that investment translates into a real path to a starting job. With no clear answer yet on who will line up first at wide receiver, Douglas is in the mix, and the fact that coaches Jon-Eric Sullivan and Jeff Hafley have seen something in him only adds to the intrigue as Miami tries to sort out its passing game around a roster built to chase bigger goals. [Read more 🡒]
Tua Just Reached The Moment Dolphins Fans Knew Was Coming
Tua Tagovailoas next chapter has already become one of the more watched storylines of the offseason, and not just because of where its happening. After years of debate in Miami over whether he could stay healthy and sustain the level he flashed before the regression set in, he has landed in a setting where every throw is being weighed against the version of him Dolphins fans kept waiting to see again. The early buzz out of Atlanta has been encouraging, with Tagovailoa standing out in practices and forcing the conversation to shift from what went wrong in Miami to what might still be possible.
The bigger question now is whether this is the start of a real rebound or just another stop in a career that has already invited plenty of labels. Fans and analysts have been split on the outcome for months, with some expecting a short-term bridge role and others still holding out hope that he can get back to his earlier form. Atlantas quarterback situation gives him a path to prove it, but the pressure is obvious: if he keeps building on this start, he can change the narrative around his future, and if he doesnt, the league may decide it has seen enough. [Read more 🡒]
Mark Gronowski Could Force A Tough Dolphins Quarterback Decision
The Dolphins quarterback room for 2026 already looks very different, with Tua Tagovailoa now in Atlanta and Malik Willis projected to take over as the starter. Quinn Ewers is expected to settle in as the No. 2 option, which leaves the final spot in the room to a younger competition that could matter more than it first appears.
Mark Gronowski, an undrafted rookie with a dual-threat rsum and plenty of college success behind him, is pushing Cam Miller for that third quarterback job. Miami may not want to carry more than three passers, but if Gronowski doesnt make the active roster, the practice squad is the other obvious path, and even that comes with a risk if another team decides it likes his upside enough to make a move during the season. [Read more 🡒]