The Dolphins left Sunday with something bigger than a box score win over the Raiders: a clearer look at the rookie class that’s supposed to help shape this roster. The group wasn’t flawless, and Miami still has plenty of work ahead, but there were enough encouraging first impressions to show why the team is leaning so hard on the draft.
Not every rookie was active for the opener. Miami put DJ Campbell on the inactive list, and tight end Justin Joly, a fifth-round pick of the Broncos who the Dolphins were awarded off waivers, also did not play.
For the rookies who did get their first NFL snaps, the debut was a mixed bag with a few bright spots that stood out immediately.
Jacob Rodriguez was at the center of it all. The second-round linebacker wore the green-dot helmet and handled the responsibility without looking overwhelmed.
He was out of position on a few plays, but he still finished with 14 tackles, including five solo stops, and was on the field for every defensive snap. Miami clearly trusts him already, and the debut backed that up.
First-round corner Chris Johnson had his moments too. He totaled 11 tackles and broke up two passes, but he also was involved in two of the Raiders’ three touchdowns.
He, like Rodriguez, played every defensive snap. The overall picture was solid rather than spectacular, and there’s obvious room for growth.
On offense, Caleb Douglas had the kind of day that gets attention fast. He caught five of eight targets for 94 yards, moved the chains three times, and looked sharp working routes in tight coverage. He was able to create space downfield to give Malik Willis a target, and he played 91% of the offensive snaps.
Kadyn Proctor also came away with a strong opening showing. Miami’s first pick in last April’s draft held up well inside against steady pressure from the Raiders’ defensive front. He played every offensive snap and was flagged only once, for a false start, which made for a promising start.
Chris Bell’s debut came with a much smaller sample size, but there was still something to like. He got two targets, caught one pass for 25 yards, and returned after a December knee injury faster than expected. Bell was on the field for 29% of the offensive snaps.
Will Kacmarek’s first game was similarly limited. Coming off a week of light work because of injury, he was eased in and played 25% of the offensive snaps. He had one catch for no yards and spent most of his time blocking.
Kevin Coleman had just two targets and didn’t come down with a catch. Miami never really gave him a shot downfield, as both targets came with a negative 3 average depth of target. He played 29% of the offensive snaps.
The Dolphins also got a look at D.J. Herman, though it was hard to draw a big conclusion from 15 offensive snaps.
He was mostly used as a blocker, and the line’s struggles put extra pressure on the fullback to do more. Still, he wasn’t bad in his limited work.
Michael Taaffe made one of the day’s biggest plays, becoming the first player to record a turnover in 2026 when he picked off Kirk Cousins after breaking inside on a crossing route. He added four tackles and played a little more than half the snaps, giving Miami a debut that showed both range and physicality.
Kyle Louis saw a much quieter opening. He logged only three defensive snaps and 14 on special teams, and nothing in his debut really popped one way or the other.
Seydou Traore was used only on special teams, where he played 15 snaps. He did not take a snap on offense against the Raiders.
There was enough here for Miami to believe the rookie class can matter, even if the finished product is still a long way off.
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