The Miami Dolphins are heading into the 2026 NFL Draft with a new decision-maker at the helm, and the pressure is on. Jon-Eric Sullivan, the franchise’s recently appointed general manager, is facing a pivotal first-round pick-and the margin for error is razor-thin.
After years of draft-day swings and misses, especially under former GM Chris Grier, Miami needs more than just potential. They need production.
Right now.
Enter Jermod McCoy, the top-rated cornerback in this year’s draft class out of Tennessee. In a recent mock draft, he’s projected to land with the Dolphins at pick No.
- On paper, it’s a logical match.
Miami’s secondary is in need of a reset, and McCoy, when healthy, looks every bit the part of a lockdown corner. But there’s a wrinkle-McCoy missed the entire 2025 season recovering from a torn ACL.
Now, that’s the kind of red flag that could make some front offices hesitate. But will it make the Dolphins pause?
That’s the million-dollar question. If Grier were still calling the shots, this would almost feel like a lock.
Grier had a long history of betting on high-upside players with injury concerns. Sometimes it worked.
More often, it didn’t. Sullivan, however, is more of a mystery.
We don’t yet know if he leans toward risk or reliability. But one thing’s clear: whoever Miami selects at 11 needs to be a day-one contributor.
McCoy’s talent is undeniable. Before the injury, he was a dynamic playmaker with the size, instincts, and physicality to thrive in man coverage.
He checks a lot of boxes for a defense that’s trying to re-establish its identity. And if Sullivan brings over any influence from his time in Green Bay, where the Packers consistently invested in cornerbacks and offensive linemen early in the draft, McCoy fits that mold.
Still, there’s more to consider than just the injury. McCoy is a junior who only played two full seasons in college.
That’s not necessarily a deal breaker-plenty of NFL stars have come in with similar resumes-but it does add another layer of uncertainty. The Dolphins aren’t in a position to take many gambles.
Not with the roster needing immediate help and not with the fanbase still smarting from past mistakes.
And then there’s the board itself. In this particular mock draft, linebacker Sonny Stiles goes one pick later to the Cowboys.
Stiles is a tone-setter-an enforcer who could give Miami’s defense the kind of edge it’s lacked in recent seasons. If the Dolphins want to play a more physical, aggressive brand of football, Stiles could be the guy to lead that charge.
Two picks after Miami, the Rams scoop up Utah offensive lineman Spencer Fano. That’s another name worth watching.
Fano has allowed just one sack in two seasons, and with right tackle Austin Jackson potentially on the way out, Miami could be in the market for a reliable, long-term option up front. Protecting Tua Tagovailoa has to remain a top priority, and Fano fits the bill as a plug-and-play lineman who brings both consistency and toughness.
So where does that leave the Dolphins?
If McCoy is still on the board at 11, the Dolphins will have a tough choice to make. Do they take the best corner in the draft and trust the medicals?
Do they pivot to a linebacker like Stiles who brings a different kind of impact? Or do they shore up the trenches with a lineman like Fano?
There’s also the trade-down option, which might be the smartest play of all. If Miami can slide back a few spots and still land a starter while picking up extra draft capital, that’s a win.
Sullivan’s job isn’t just to hit on this pick-it’s to build a foundation. And the best way to do that might be to maximize value, not just chase upside.
One thing’s for sure: whoever the Dolphins take at 11, they can’t afford another miss. The Grier era was marked by too many what-ifs and injury gambles that never paid off.
Sullivan’s first pick needs to be a player who can step in, stay healthy, and make an impact from day one. Whether that’s McCoy, Stiles, Fano, or someone else entirely, the Dolphins are on the clock-and the future starts now.