After trading Jaylen Waddle to the Denver Broncos for a solid draft haul, the Miami Dolphins will now have two first-round picks with their own selection at 11 and Denver’s pick at 30. Here are some 2026 NFL Draft prospects the Dolphins should consider in the first round for their two selections as Miami take’s on their rebuild.
Five 2026 NFL Draft Targets for the Miami Dolphins Post Jaylen Waddle Trade
Edge Rueben Bain Jr., Miami
At pick 11, the Dolphins could be in a position to pick a hometown talent in Rueben Bain. Bain was a star edge rusher at Miami, helping propel the team all the way to a National Championship game appearance. Bain’s raw talent is unquestioned; however, there have been concerns over Bain’s measurables. Because of NFL scouts and analysts referring to Bain’s arm length not meeting the NFL threshold for his position, it could cause him to fall in the draft.
If Bain is able to get to 11, the Dolphins could add an instant impact starter to build around on their defense.
WR Jordyn Tyson, Arizona State
The Dolphins need talent at wide receiver immediately after releasing Tyreek Hill and trading Waddle, and Tyson would provide a dynamic playmaker to go along with Malik Willis. Tyson is explosive and has the talent to be the first wide receiver taken in the draft; however, injury concerns could put a pause on how high Tyson could go in the draft. Other teams could pass on Tyson, opting for lesser-talented receivers without injury concerns. Because the Dolphins aren’t in a win-now position, they can take the gamble on the high-upside Tyson.
126 seconds of Jordyn Tyson creating easy separation pic.twitter.com/PWM6SOxNBk
— Ian Hartitz (@Ihartitz) March 13, 2026
OT Kadyn Proctor, Alabama
Proctor could be a target for the Dolphins at #30 as the Dolphins look to set a foundation for their rebuild. Proctor is a great athlete with a 6’7 300-pound frame with a 32.5″ vertical. That type of athleticism could be coached up to be one of the top protectors in the league for Willis or whoever the Dolphins deem will be their quarterback of the future, either this season or next season.
LB C.J. Allen, Georgia
Allen is an instinctive linebacker the Dolphins could pair with Jordyn Brooks. Brooks was an All-Pro selection in 2025 for the Dolphins, and adding Allen could make for one of the better linebacker duos in the NFL. Allen is expected to be available in the back half of the first round, which is where Miami’s second first-round pick will be unless they decide to move up. At the 2026 NFL combine, Allen talked to the media about how he made all the defensive calls for the Georgia defense, unless his coaches had something specific they wanted to call. It shows the leadership intangibles that could be needed for a Jeff Hafley coached defense.
Playing in a division in the AFC East where the Dolphins face quarterbacks like Josh Allen and Drake Maye, it will be essential for Miami to have a linebacking core that can make things difficult not only for those quarterbacks but also for each AFC East team’s running game.
DL Peter Woods, Clemson
Woods could give the Dolphins a young, strong pairing at defensive tackle if the Dolphins can snag him in the back half of the draft. In 2025, Miami took Kenneth Grant with their first round pick, and pairing Woods up with Grant could make the defensive tackle room complete for Miami.
Main Image: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
