The Dolphins keep circling the offensive line, and this time they found a new body in a familiar place: New England.
Miami acquired Caedan Wallace on Monday in a trade that also sends a 2029 seventh-round pick to the Dolphins, while the Patriots receive a 2028 sixth-round selection, pending Wallace passing his physical. The move came after NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported that New England was planning to waive Wallace, which would have exposed him to the waiver wire. Miami held the 13th spot in the claiming order, though that order will switch to the current NFL standings after three weeks of the 2026 regular season.
By striking a trade instead of waiting, the Dolphins avoided the risk of another team jumping them. The price was small enough to make that an easy call, especially since Wallace’s contract would have come with him either way.
Wallace is a 6-5, 314-pound lineman who spent two seasons with the Patriots after being taken in the third round out of Penn State in the 2024 NFL draft. He appeared in 10 games and made two starts across those two years. As a rookie, he played in six games with two starts before new head coach Mike Vrabel moved him from tackle to guard in 2025.
The position change didn’t lead to much of a breakthrough, and an early injury in training camp this summer pushed him further down the depth chart. Even so, Miami is bringing him in as a tackle, according to the team’s announcement.
That gives Wallace a chance to fight for a spot behind starting tackles Patrick Paul and Austin Jackson. He’ll be in the mix with Marques Cox, Kevin Cline, Gottlieb Ayedze and veteran Charlie Heck. The Dolphins also have guards Jamaree Salyer and rookie first-round pick Kadyn Proctor as possible emergency options at tackle, but the team appears to prefer keeping players settled in their own spots rather than shuffling them around.
That matters for Wallace. Cox, Cline and Ayedze all entered the league as rookie free agents, so he at least enters the room with a real shot if he can make a quick impression on the coaching staff.
Wallace is now the second former Patriots player to land in Miami in the past week. The Dolphins claimed tight end Jeremiah Franklin off waivers Wednesday.
The trade also marks the first deal between the Dolphins and Patriots since 2022. Back then, Miami sent wide receiver DeVante Parker and a 2022 fifth-round pick to New England, and the Dolphins got a 2023 third-round pick that they later packaged with tight end Hunter Long in the deal with the Los Angeles Rams that brought Jalen Ramsey to Miami.
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Dolphins Veterans Are Suddenly Fighting For Their Jobs In Camp
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Bakers situation has grown even murkier because he has not been able to practice while working back from injury, and Johnson is no longer sitting comfortably in place as the safeties sort themselves out. Zayne Anderson has emerged as a real push for that spot, which is exactly the kind of competition Miami appears willing to embrace as camp moves forward and the final roster picture comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Suddenly Need More From A First Round Pick
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Kenneth Grant, the second-year first-round pick, is the most obvious player positioned to benefit from the extra snaps. The coaching staff and front office want more from him and the rest of the line as Miami rebuilds its defense, and this latest setback only sharpens the spotlight on whether that group can carry more of the load right away. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Depth Chart Reveals Camp Battles Fans Need To Watch
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On defense, the mix of veterans and rookies makes the competition even more interesting. Max Llewellyn is listed ahead of Cameron Goode at edge rusher, while Jacob Rodriguez shares a linebacker spot with Tyrel Dodson, both of which point to real battles that should carry into the rest of preseason. For Miami, the early chart does not just map out where things stand now, it also shows where jobs are still very much up for grabs. [Read more 🡒]