With a new regime now officially in place, the Miami Dolphins are entering a pivotal offseason - one that could redefine the franchise for years to come. General Manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and Head Coach Jeff Hafley are stepping into a situation that’s far from turnkey.
The roster is in flux, veteran contracts are looming, and cap space is tight. But with eight picks in the 2026 NFL Draft - including three in the third round - the Dolphins have the ammunition to start reshaping their identity.
The most important of those picks? No surprise - it’s the 11th overall selection in the first round.
That’s where Sullivan and Hafley will make their first major statement. It’s their chance to show they can do what the previous regime often struggled with: hit on a premium pick.
One recent mock draft has USC wide receiver Makai Lemon heading to Miami at No. 11, and it’s a move that makes a lot of sense given where the roster currently stands. With Tyreek Hill expected to be cut and Tua Tagovailoa potentially on his way out, the Dolphins are staring down major holes at two of the most important positions in football - quarterback and wide receiver.
Now, let’s be real about the quarterback class in this year’s draft - it’s thin. If the Dolphins don’t love what’s available when they’re on the clock, forcing a QB pick could do more harm than good. That’s where the wide receiver group comes into play, and this year’s class offers depth and versatility.
Enter Lemon - a 5'11", 195-pound playmaker who brings a different flavor than what Miami already has in Jaylen Waddle. While Waddle thrives with his speed and ability to stretch the field, Lemon offers a more nuanced, all-around game.
He’s not a jump-ball guy, but he doesn’t need to be. What he brings is the kind of reliability and route-running savvy that quarterbacks love - especially in high-leverage situations.
Think of Lemon as a modern slot receiver with the kind of polish that usually takes young wideouts a year or two to develop. He’s not just quick - he’s smart with how he sets up defenders and finds soft spots in coverage.
It’s easy to see why some scouts have compared him stylistically to Amon-Ra St. Brown.
That’s high praise, and while there’s no guarantee he reaches that level, the traits are there.
Pairing Lemon with Waddle could give the Dolphins a dynamic one-two punch at receiver - not in the traditional outside-inside mold, but in a way that stretches defenses horizontally and punishes mismatches. And with uncertainty at quarterback, having a security blanket like Lemon could be invaluable for whoever ends up under center in 2026.
Some fans might argue that Miami should simply take the best player available at No. 11.
But in a draft class that many evaluators consider weaker than usual, Lemon might actually check both boxes: positional need and best value. He may not be a physically dominant receiver, but his skill set is tailor-made for today’s NFL - and for an offense that’s likely to be retooled from the ground up.
Sullivan and Hafley have a long road ahead, but the draft offers a chance to lay a foundation. If Makai Lemon is the first brick in that rebuild, it could be a smart - and very necessary - step toward reshaping the Dolphins’ offensive identity.