Week 1 is here, and the Miami Dolphins are stepping into it with a fan base that’s already got its eye on the soft spots.
The 2026 NFL regular season gets rolling Wednesday night with a Super Bowl rematch between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, but Miami opens on Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas against the Raiders. The calendar says the season is finally here. The bigger question, at least for Dolphins fans, is whether this roster is ready for the full 18-week, 17-game grind.
That concern showed up loud and clear in a recent SB Nation Reacts survey. When asked which position group worries them most after last week’s roster cuts, fans landed on the defensive secondary in a landslide. Cornerbacks and safeties pulled in 60 percent of the vote, making that the clear front-runner.
Offensive line came next, but it was nowhere close. The unit that has long been a point of unease in Miami finished with 15 percent of responses. Edge checked in at 13 percent, wide receiver got 8 percent, and special teams finished with 5 percent.
Fans were just as decisive when the question shifted to second-year players. Asked which one they believe will make the biggest leap this season, Jonah Savaiinaea drew the strongest support by far. After a rookie year that saw him struggle at left guard, he has moved to right guard this season, and 65 percent of voters expect him to take off there.
Safety Dante Trader, Jr. came in second with 15 percent. Defensive tackle Kenneth Grant received 9 percent, Zeek Biggers got 7 percent, and running back Ollie Gordon II finished with 4 percent.
It all adds up to a familiar picture for Miami: a team that will need improvement from young players and real answers from the secondary if it wants to make anything of 2026. The betting market isn’t exactly handing the Dolphins much hope either. According to FanDuel Sportsbook oddmakers, Miami sits at +75,000 to win the Super Bowl, the second-longest odds in the league.
In Other News...
Dolphins Week 1 Plan Could Feature An Unexpected Rookie Factor
The Dolphins are leaning into a Week 1 plan built around the run game, with De'Von Achane and quarterback Malik Willis expected to carry much of the load behind a thin offensive line and plenty of multiple-tight-end looks. In that kind of setup, every extra blocker matters, which is why undrafted rookie DJ Herman has quickly become a name worth watching after making the 53-man roster as a converted linebacker turned fullback.
Hermans path makes him an unusual piece in the offense, but the coaching staff has already shown trust in his toughness and movement, traits that fit the role Miami seems ready to use. If the Dolphins want to protect their front and keep the ground game on schedule early in the season, Herman could wind up being more than just a developmental story. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Have 4 Injury Risks That Could Break This Season
The Dolphins enter 2026 with very little margin for error, and that starts with how much theyre leaning on a handful of players who sit right at the center of everything they want to do. A thin roster and a difficult schedule already make the season feel precarious, and the list of key names says plenty about where the pressure is coming from. DeVon Achane gives the backfield its spark, Malik Willis is central to the offenses direction, Austin Jackson anchors the right side, and Chris Johnson is one of the pieces the defense cannot afford to lose under Jeff Hafley.
For Miami, the concern is not just whether those players can produce, but whether the team can keep them available long enough to matter. Each one carries a different kind of importance, from protecting the quarterback to stabilizing the secondary, and that kind of dependence can turn a promising plan into a fragile one very quickly. With so much riding on a small group of difference-makers, the Dolphins are built more like a team trying to survive the season than one with much room to absorb a hit. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Quietly Added A Few Names Fans May Need To Know
The Dolphins 2026 season-opening roster against the Raiders has a few late additions that might not have grabbed much attention at the time, but they could become relevant quickly once the games start. Miami brought in nine players during the final stretch of the preseason and after roster cuts, filling out the roster with under-the-radar options whose value may come from flexibility more than name recognition. For a team that usually has to juggle depth across the season, these are the kinds of moves that can look minor in September and suddenly matter in a hurry.
Among the newcomers are edge defender Herring, quarterback McCord and tight end Joly, along with several others who were added to help wherever the need pops up. Their roles will likely depend on injuries, matchup demands and how Miami wants to piece together certain spots as the year unfolds. The broader picture is clear enough even if the final answer is not: the Dolphins quietly stocked the back end of the roster with players who may not be household names yet, but could end up being part of the conversation sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]