When it comes to the 2026-2027 Miami Dolphins, the answers from readers split pretty cleanly into a few familiar buckets: linebackers, running backs and the defensive front drew plenty of confidence, while wide receiver, the secondary and pass rush kept showing up as trouble spots.
Some readers weren’t interested in predicting anything at all. Yarganaught said they’d rather “keep their sanity and not guess; just wait and see how it works out year to year.” They pointed to past examples of how misleading the paper version of a roster can be, noting that the secondary once looked All-Pro on paper but struggled all season, that last year people were wagering on which edge rusher would get to double-digit sacks first, and that Achane’s first season came with missed games and the usual “too small” label.
Others found lighter ways to answer the question. JKBMia praised the women who feed and keep the team happy, while Dolfanjoe said the strongest unit was “Of course the Cheerleading Unit” and the weakest was the “1st year Scouting team.”
On the football side, running back came up again and again as a strength. cyberflea put RB near the top, along with DT and LB, while listing WR, DB and Edge as the biggest weaknesses and calling quarterback a question mark “until otherwise proven.” That same theme showed up in several other responses: the backs look strong, but the passing game and coverage units have a lot to answer for.
JUK also had linebackers as the clear strength, describing the group as featuring “an all pro, a serviceable veteran starter and backup plus a bunch of high upside rookies including J Rod who I think will be a stud.” They also expected decent play from the RBs, DTs and, health permitting, the offensive line. Their biggest concern was the receiver room, along with the secondary and pass rush.
Ejplaya liked the backfield as well, saying the RB room was the best unit because “Achane is by far the most talented player on this team. Easy.” But that optimism stopped at safety and edge, which they called the worst spots because of the lack of proven starters.
Pass rush was a recurring worry. StanleyDoyle1 called it the most glaring weakness and added quarterback to the list, though they said Malik Willis would at least keep things “interesting/entertaining with his athleticism.” krammm sounded just as uneasy, saying this season could bring “a record low in the amount of sacks we get,” and quoting Bill Walsh: “Your team is only as good as it’s 4th quarter pass rush.”
Several readers zeroed in on the offensive line, especially depth and pass protection. PA phinphan said the central defense - DT and LB - were strengths, along with RB and QB on offense, but pointed to o-line depth, the DBs and the WRs as weaknesses because of the number of unknowns.
MiamiItaliano also named linebackers and running backs as strengths, while listing WR, linemen who can’t pass block well, and DBs as the weak spots. They added that some people would point to quarterback, but they believed Malik had matured since his Titans days and would be above average.
Phoenix6 echoed the concern about wide receiver and secondary, calling both the weakest areas, “especially after a great turnover.” They listed linebacker and offensive line as the main strengths, with Jordyn Brooks leading the way and Aaron Brewer helping anchor the trenches.
Dave21 saw the overall balance a little differently, saying the offense would be the weaker side of the ball while the defense would stand out. They expected the run game to settle in by midseason once the line gelled, but noted that the WR corps is not great and the quarterback is unproven.
On defense, they liked the front seven, expected growth from Grant, and thought the pass rush would be solid. The secondary, they said, would need time, with hybrid looks likely to help cover for it.
finfanfromsiam didn’t weigh in on the strengths and weaknesses, but did manage to get in a jab at the coach: “Coach in his crocs?”
Taken together, the answers paint a pretty clear picture of where Dolphins fans see this roster heading: strong in the middle and on the ground, still waiting on answers out wide, on the back end and off the edge.
In Other News...
Dolphins Offensive Line Is Turning Heads Before A Bigger Test Arrives
The Dolphins starting offensive line has started to settle in just as the preseason ramps up, and the early signs have been encouraging. Limited reps against the Washington Commanders offered a first look, and the group carried that momentum into later practices, where Jonah Savaiinaea and Austin Jackson drew praise for both run blocking and pass protection. For a unit that has been under the microscope all summer, showing clean work in practice matters as much as any single snap.
Behind the starters, the depth chart is also taking shape in a way Miami needs it to, especially with the bigger tests still ahead. Caeden Wallace has been standing out since the trade, giving the Dolphins a useful backup option while the coaches sort through the rest of the interior mix. And with Jamaree Salyer now out for the season, the room has even less margin for error, which only raises the importance of every strong practice rep between now and the next real game. [Read more 🡒]
Quinn Ewers Suddenly Faces A Real Dolphins Question
The Dolphins got their first preseason look at 2026 in a loss to Washington, and the more revealing part may have been what happened behind the starter. Quinn Ewers, working through a groin injury, never found much rhythm in the opener, finishing with one completion on eight throws for 27 yards and an interception as Miami continued sorting out the backup quarterback picture behind Malik Willis.
For a team trying to build around Willis and clarify its long-term depth chart, Ewers uneven showing adds another layer to a decision that already mattered. Preseason is still early, and one game is only one game, but Miami now has a real question to answer about how much trust it can place in Ewers if it needs him to be more than just an arm in camp. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Keep Sending A Clear Message About Their Pass Rush Depth
The Dolphins are again adding to their edge-rush group as they continue to sort through the bottom of the roster ahead of Preseason Week 2. Seth Coleman-Lyles is back in the picture, bringing some familiarity to a unit that has seen a steady stream of recent signings and some notable absences along the defensive line as Miami keeps looking for workable depth.
Coleman-Lyles has already spent time with the Seahawks and Colts, and his return gives the Dolphins another body to evaluate in camp as they try to stabilize a position that can change quickly in August. For Miami, the move fits a broader pattern of keeping the competition open and making sure there are enough options on hand if the defensive front is tested again in the coming days. [Read more 🡒]