The Miami Dolphins are entering a new era, and it starts at the top. With former Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley now installed as head coach and Jon-Eric Sullivan stepping in as general manager, Miami is doubling down on a fresh identity-one rooted in defense and built with a long-term vision.
And with that new brain trust comes big decisions. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and star wideout Tyreek Hill are the headline names, but make no mistake: the defense is about to be front and center in this rebuild. Hafley’s background on that side of the ball isn’t just a footnote-it’s likely to shape how this team approaches free agency and the draft.
According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Dolphins are poised to use their first-round pick-11th overall-on the defensive side, targeting one of the most dynamic cornerbacks in the 2026 NFL Draft: LSU’s Mansoor Delane.
Let’s break that down.
Delane isn’t just a name climbing draft boards-he’s been one of the most lockdown corners in the college game. In 2025, he broke out in a big way, putting together a season that turned heads across the league.
He racked up 11 passes defended, picked off two passes, and allowed just a 27.8% completion rate when targeted-third-best in the FBS. That’s elite territory, especially in today’s pass-heavy college game.
For a Dolphins team that had to duct-tape its secondary together last season, Delane would be more than a luxury-he’d be a cornerstone. With Jack Jones and Rasul Douglas both set to hit free agency, the cornerback room is dangerously thin. And while free agency could bring in a veteran or two, landing a young, high-upside corner on a rookie deal is the kind of long-term win teams covet.
Delane fits that mold perfectly. He’s physical, instinctive, and brings a level of polish that suggests he could step in and start from Day 1. For a defensive-minded head coach like Hafley, a player like Delane is the kind of foundational piece you can build a scheme around.
Drafting a corner that high isn’t always the flashiest move, but for Miami, it might be the smartest. With so many offensive weapons already in place, the Dolphins need to shore up the back end of their defense if they want to make a real push in a loaded AFC. Delane gives them a chance to do just that.
If this prediction holds, and Delane does land in Miami, it could be the first major step in reshaping the Dolphins' identity-one that leans on shutdown defense to complement an already explosive offense.