The Dolphins didn’t land their premier cornerback in free agency, so they went to the draft and came away with San Diego State’s Chris Johnson at No. 27 overall. For Miami, that was the swing. Johnson was the second cornerback selected, and even with questions about the level of competition he faced in college, he still put together a ridiculous season, finishing with a 16.1 passer rating allowed.
Now comes the hard part.
Johnson is projected to open the year as Miami’s starting nickelback, even though he spent most of his college snaps on the boundary. That alone makes Week 1 a serious assignment. And the matchup doesn’t get any friendlier: the Dolphins are lining him up in the path of Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers.
That’s a tough first test in any setting. In an NFL debut, it’s a lot.
Miami is asking Johnson to handle a major load, but he won’t be working in a vacuum. The Dolphins have thinned out the cornerback room, yet they’ve also made a couple of moves that could help him survive the opening exam.
Releasing Tyrel Dodson opened the door for Jacob Rodriguez, a player who brings ball production, coverage ability and a knack for punching loose fumbles. As a former quarterback, Rodriguez reads route concepts well and can drive on the ball in a hurry.
The other key piece is rookie fifth-round safety Michael Taaffe, who is set to start at free safety. Taaffe brings a lot of reps from Texas, and Miami clearly believes that getting him on the field now is the better play than leaning on its stopgap veterans.
Together, Rodriguez and Taaffe give Jeff Hafley some options around Johnson. If Hafley wants to get creative, Rodriguez can line up across from Bowers on some snaps, while Taaffe can help over the top or jump into bracket looks when the Raiders try to push the ball downfield to their star tight end.
Hafley’s background matters here, too. As Green Bay’s defensive coordinator last year, he leaned heavily on Cover 3, using it on 32% of snaps, while Cover 2 showed up just 18% of the time. With Rodriguez’s range and coverage skills, Miami could mix in more unconventional Tampa Cover 2 looks than usual.
That kind of approach could make life awkward for a Raiders passing game that may not be built to overwhelm Miami outside of Bowers. Las Vegas does not have a wide receiver group that jumps off the page, and new head coach Klint Kubiak is likely to lean on 12 personnel with Bowers and Michael Mayer on the field together.
Kubiak wants to run the ball, but there are questions there, too. Bowers and Mayer are not exactly sure things as blockers, and the offense is also learning a new system. On top of that, feature back Ashton Jeanty’s status for Week 1 is in question.
So while Johnson’s debut is the headline, the real story is how Miami tries to build the rest of the coverage around him. If Hafley gets the structure right, the Dolphins may have enough help in place to make Bowers’ first meeting with Johnson a much tougher fight than it looks on paper.
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 🡒]