The Miami Dolphins are heading into 2026 with a cornerback group that looks very different, and the whole room has a clear message attached to it: prove it.
At the top of the depth chart are rookie first-round pick Chris Johnson, JuJu Brents and Jason Marshall Jr., a trio that gives Miami a young, high-upside starting setup. Johnson, the second cornerback taken in the 2026 NFL Draft, arrives with the kind of expectations that usually follow a first-round selection.
He also brings the kind of college résumé that makes those expectations easy to understand. At San Diego State last season, Johnson finished with four interceptions and nine passes defensed, production that points to a player who can step in and make an immediate impact.
Brents is the more established name of the group, and he enters his fourth NFL season with a chance to turn a strong stretch into something bigger. The 2023 second-round pick played exceptionally well for Miami last year, including a sharp outing against the Buffalo Bills when he gave up only two catches on five targets.
A foot injury cut that season short, but he’s back healthy and set to start the year in a prominent role. At 6-foot-3, Brents has the size and physical profile to create problems for receivers on the outside, and if he stays on the field and keeps trending up, he could become one of the most important pieces in the secondary.
Marshall is the swing factor. More than anyone else in the room, he could shape how good this group really is.
His rookie year in 2025 was a rough one. Marshall posted a 40.8 overall defensive grade, according to Pro Football Focus, and when quarterbacks threw his way, they produced a 109.5 passer rating.
Even so, head coach Jeff Hafley kept him in the mix by placing him third on the depth chart after training camp. That says something about how the team views his development, especially considering Marshall was a fifth-round pick last year and was never carrying the same expectations as Johnson.
Now the question is whether he can turn that rookie season into a launch point. If Marshall makes a real jump, Miami suddenly has a young cornerback trio that can make opposing passing games work a lot harder than they want to.
The first chance to see it comes on September 13, when the Dolphins go to Allegiant Stadium to face the Las Vegas Raiders. That game should offer the first real look at whether this revamped secondary can become a strength for Miami in 2026.
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