Jeff Hafley doesn’t have many good answers right now, but he may have one hiding in plain sight.
The Miami Dolphins’ pass defense has been getting picked apart in 2026, and the bigger issue is what isn’t happening up front. The run defense has held up reasonably well, but the secondary is taking on water, and there’s almost no pass rush to help clean it up. Through three games, Miami has zero sacks.
That leaves first-round rookie cornerback Chris Johnson in a tough spot. He’s already making the jump to playing nickel far more often than he did in college, and he’s doing it with very little support around him. Johnson was drafted for what he can do on the perimeter at San Diego State, but he’s also a strong tackler in space, which gives Hafley a possible way to use him more aggressively.
The idea is simple: borrow a page from Steve Spagnuolo.
Kansas City’s defensive coordinator isn’t afraid to get creative, and Sunday offered a reminder of why. According to Next Gen Stats, Chiefs nickelback L’Jarius Sneed had five pressures on eight pass rush snaps against Miami. Like Johnson, Sneed has shifted from being primarily a boundary corner to working more in the slot, and that kind of hybrid role has clearly helped him.
Johnson has that kind of versatility in his game, too. He can run, close, and hit, which makes him a natural fit for fire zone looks and slot blitzes. If Miami is going to be short on pressure anyway, Hafley might as well try to manufacture some with a player who can actually get there and make a play on a quarterback.
That would also give the Dolphins a chance to vary their approach. Right now, the standard conservative zone looks aren’t doing much to stop anyone, and they certainly didn’t hold up in the 24-10 loss to the Chiefs in Week 3. Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy have carved up Miami’s defense over the last two games, and the numbers have been ugly enough to make the point on their own.
The concern, of course, is whether Miami has the talent or the execution to handle more complex pressure packages. But when the current plan isn’t working, the risk of staying the same starts to look bigger than the risk of changing.
And with Jacob Rodriguez showing real ability in coverage, there’s another wrinkle to consider. He could be the one to replace Johnson when the rookie comes off the edge, or he could help hold a receiver long enough for Johnson to get home.
Either way, Miami needs someone on that front seven to start making quarterbacks uncomfortable. Johnson just might be the best bet to help make that happen.
In Other News...
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Marvin Harrison Jr.s NFL start has been quieter than many expected, but the possibility of a change in scenery is now drawing attention across the league. The Cardinals wide receiver has reportedly landed on the trade radar, and ESPN insiders say teams are keeping tabs on his situation as Arizona weighs its options. For a Dolphins team always looking for more explosive playmakers, the fit is easy to see.
Miamis receiver room could use another high-ceiling target, and Harrison would bring the kind of upside that can change the complexion of an offense. The question is how far the Cardinals are willing to go, since some around the league believe a mid-to-late draft pick could be enough to get a deal done. For the Dolphins, it is the kind of opportunity that does not come around often, even if the price and timing still have to line up. [Read more 🡒]
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Jacob Rodriguez Is Giving Dolphins Fans A New Reason To Believe
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The buzz has followed him beyond the locker room, with betting markets now treating him like a serious Defensive Rookie of the Year contender. Rodriguez has welcomed the attention, but he has kept the focus on the bigger picture and the kind of team success Miami needs if his early rise is going to mean anything in the long run. For the Dolphins, the encouraging part is not just the numbers, but how quickly he has become someone they can trust in the middle of it all. [Read more 🡒]