The Miami Dolphins are heading into a 2026 season that already feels like it could be a grind, but there’s still plenty for fans to latch onto under the new regime. A new head coach, a new quarterback, and a tougher edge around the roster have created some real buzz. Most of that optimism has come from the rookie class, with Caleb Douglas proving doubters wrong, Kevin Coleman Jr. turning in a strong training camp, and Will Kacmarek showing he belongs.
The bigger test, though, belongs to the players who are no longer rookies. Miami’s second- and third-year guys are the ones who will be judged most closely, especially because this coaching staff didn’t draft them.
Some of those names, like Jonah Savaiinaea and Chop Robinson, have already made their case. Kenneth Grant has not.
That hasn’t stopped Pro Football Focus from backing the 2025 first-round defensive tackle as Miami’s most likely breakout candidate for 2026.
It’s a notable stance, considering how rocky Grant’s start has been. Miami took him 13th overall in 2025, one pick before the Indianapolis Colts grabbed tight end Tyler Warren, and the move wasn’t exactly a favorite among Dolphins fans.
Grant’s rookie year was quiet, his training camp hasn’t done much to change the conversation, and when Miami released its initial depth chart just over a week ago, it listed Grant OR Jordan Phillips as the starter. That alone suggested the job is far from secure.
Now Grant is also dealing with an undisclosed injury, which opens the door for Zeek Biggers, Miami’s seventh-round pick from a year ago, to get a chance to step in.
Still, PFF is betting on the upside. In its list of breakout candidates for every NFL team, the outlet pointed to Grant and said that although he "endured a rough start to his NFL career...he steadily improved as the year went on."
PFF’s Gordon McGuinness backed that up by citing Grant’s 62.0 PFF grade from Week 6 on, which ranked third among 14 rookie interior defensive linemen who played at least 200 snaps in that stretch. McGuinness also wrote, "With a full NFL offseason under his belt, expect Grant to continue that upward trajectory in 2026."
The problem is that Miami doesn’t seem ready to hand Grant anything. Head coach Jeff Hafley already tagged him week-to-week because of the injury.
Hafley used the same designation for defensive tackle Zach Sieler, but he also made it clear Sieler should be ready for Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders. No such assurance came for Grant.
And based on what has happened so far, that caution makes sense. Phillips has drawn more praise in camp, Biggers has been getting his own chances, and Grant has been mostly quiet.
If the draft order had been flipped and Phillips had gone in the first round while Grant had slipped to the fifth, the competition would look completely different. At their current levels, Phillips would be running away with the starting job, while Grant would be fighting Biggers just to back up the interior.
The hope in Miami is obvious: Grant gets healthy, turns the corner, and justifies the investment. But this staff is not waiting around for that to happen. So far, Grant still has a lot to prove.
In Other News...
Jacob Rodriguez Is Giving Dolphins Fans One Real Reason For Optimism
A bright spot emerged for the Dolphins during their joint practice against the Giants, and it came from a rookie linebacker who has been drawing attention all summer. Jacob Rodriguez picked off a pass and kept adding to the strong impression he has made throughout training camp, offering Miami a defensive playmaker to watch as the team continues sorting out its roster.
Rodriguez, the Dolphins second-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, has already put himself in position to keep building momentum in a bigger setting. He will get another chance to show what he can do in the upcoming preseason game against New York, where the Dolphins will be looking for more of the same from a young defender who has started to stand out. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Make Another Roster Move As Injury Concerns Keep Mounting
A week of roster shuffling kept going for Miami after guard James Ester was waived with an injury designation following a leg injury in a joint practice with the Giants. The Dolphins moved quickly to fill the spot, signing rookie linebacker Stephen Dix Jr. to the active roster as the team continues sorting through the effects of camp injuries and the lineup ripple they create.
Dix brings a fresh look to the back end of the roster after earlier stops with the Cardinals and a college career at Arkansas. For Miami, the move is another reminder that the preseason is as much about staying healthy as it is about evaluating talent, and the Dolphins are now trying to keep both goals in sight as camp moves along. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Rebuild Looks Even Deeper Than Fans Wanted To Admit
The Dolphins entered the offseason knowing the roster needed work, but one early look at the depth chart suggests the rebuild may be even more extensive than some around the league expected. ESPN analyst Mike Clay ranked Miami last in the NFL at five different position groups for the 2026 season, including wide receiver, tight end, edge rusher, cornerback and safety, a blunt assessment that reflects how much talent has moved out and how little proven help is standing in place.
Miami has already traded away players such as Minkah Fitzpatrick and Darren Waller, and the remaining options at those spots are viewed as short on depth and upside. Clays overall ranking of the roster at 32nd does not settle anything on the field, but it does underline the size of the job ahead for a team that still has to rebuild more than patch holes if it wants to climb back into contention. [Read more 🡒]