Our Miami Dolphins scouting mock draft is back this week with the fourth look at some of the college prospects who could be on their way to South Florida this year. As we did with the first three mock drafts, I used Pro Football and Sports Network’s mock draft simulator to give me a basic structure for the projection. I used the consensus rankings and allowed trades – though I did not accept any in this version of the mock.
The idea behind this series is not necessarily to pinpoint who Miami will select when they are on the clock, but rather to take a look at players who might be on the board when the Dolphins are making their pick. In the previous three versions of this exercise, once I picked a player, I did not pick him again in a later mock, allowing for more players to be considered. The fourth mock, however, I did not follow that rule – mostly because we are now past the Senior Bowl, the NFL Scouting Combine, and most of the other pre-draft events. While Pro Days are still happening, this seemed like the right time to open back up the full pool of players and start anew in our review.
With that, let’s get into this week’s scouting mock draft:
Related
2026 NFL Miami Dolphins Mock Draft Results – 4th Edition
(I made picks using the PFSN Mock Draft Simulator)
First Round
Pick 11 – Jordyn Tyson, WR, Arizona State
I was not looking to land a wide receiver with the 11th pick, and, given the Packers’ reticence to select a receiver in the first round, I think the Dolphins might not take one this early, but Tyson could force their hand. Miami needs weapons for new quarterback Malik Willis, and Tyson would be a big step in the right direction. Tyson can line up anywhere on the field and be effective. I know the comments are going to be filled with people pointing out the medical history, but he is sitting at the top of the draft board for receivers for a reason. According to analysts, a common comparison for Tyson is Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxson Smith-Njigba; the Dolphins could use a JSN-like receiver.
What they are saying:
Pro Football and Sports Network: Jordyn Tyson entered the 2026 NFL Draft cycle as PFSN’s preliminary WR1, and he remains a very real WR1 candidate near the top of the board. At 6’1”, 195 pounds, Tyson blends the line between bigger catch-dominating WRs and smaller route-dominating ones. At his size, he’s an effortless accelerator, and a snappy and fluid short-area mover, with bristling foot quickness and elastic stride freedom that translates well both as a stem operator and in the RAC phase.
He’s a composed downfield tracker who can make claustrophobic catches at high speeds, and he’s a budding route technician whose malleable makeup and panic-inducing speed produces limitless possibilities as a separator. The biggest question mark of Tyson’s evaluation isn’t anything on film; rather, it’s his durability. He never played through a full season at the collegiate level, and has a torn ACL, MCL, and PCL on his record from his time at Colorado.
That major injury hasn’t at all affected Tyson’s mobility or fluidity as an athlete, but the medical evaluation at the NFL Combine will be key if he is to keep his standing alongside Tate and Lemon. Nevertheless, if Tyson can stay healthy, he’s arguably the most complete three-level threat in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Learning from Super Bowl XL MVP Hines Ward helped unlock Tyson’s production and elevated his draft stock. He’s added size and improved his route running over the last two years, showing he can align at all three receiver spots. He occasionally rushes the route but has the short-area quickness and contested-catch toughness to find chain-moving grabs in high-leverage moments. He’s not a blazer but has enough speed to work down the field. Also, he has the ball skills and body control to win above the rim with timing on 50/50 throws. Scouts say he puts in the time to absorb knowledge and hone his craft. A history of injuries might explain inconsistent competitiveness as a run blocker in 2025. The wiring, versatility and finishing talent point to a WR1 ceiling.
NFL Draft Buzz: This is a receiver who wins with craft, body control, and competitive fire rather than overwhelming physical tools. His 4.5 speed is not going to scare anyone on paper, but his release package and route-running savvy create separation that stopwatches cannot measure. He thrives in the intermediate areas of the field, finding soft spots in zone coverage and working back to the quarterback on in-breaking routes. His basketball background is not just a fun biographical note; it genuinely shows up in how he plays the position, particularly in contested-catch situations where he boxes out defenders like he is working for position in the paint.
The positional flexibility is a major selling point. Tyson has produced from the outside, from the slot, and in motion, giving offensive coordinators a moveable chess piece who can be deployed in multiple alignments. He fits best in passing attacks that emphasize intermediate concepts, play-action designs, and timing routes where his precise stems and reliable hands can shine. His willingness to block in the run game, a trait drilled into him by Hines Ward, will endear him to coaching staffs who value complete receivers rather than one-dimensional route runners.
The medical questions are real and cannot be ignored. Three different injuries in three consecutive seasons will make team doctors earn their paychecks during the pre-draft process. If the medicals check out, Tyson has the skill set to be a legitimate number one receiver at the next level, someone who can win consistently across all three levels of the field and contribute in high-leverage moments. His floor is a productive second or third option in a passing attack; his ceiling is a Pro Bowl caliber player who can be the primary target in a quality offense. The talent is obvious on tape, and the production against Power Five competition speaks for itself.
Bob Rose, Saints Wire: Tyson and Carnell Tate of the Ohio State Buckeyes are consistently graded as the top two receivers by most in this year’s draft class. Both have a strong chance at coming off the board within the top ten selections. Outside of (major) durability concerns, Tyson has all the abilities desired in a featured wideout. With the Saints recent injury issues at both wide receiver and running back, Tyson’s injury problems throughout college might be enough to pass.
Jordyn Tyson has shown the ability to make highlight-reel catches, but also the all-around skill to be a trusted weapon an offense can build around. Working with former Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowler Hines Ward at Arizona State, you can plainly see Tyson’s improvement over the last two years. He has the ability to continue that upward trend early in the NFL. Of course, he’ll have to stay healthy for that to happen, making his selection an extra gamble for the Saints or another NFL squad.
Pick 30 – Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama
The Dolphins landing Proctor gives them the competition they want on the roster and sets them up to put the best five offensive linemen on the field. He could be a right tackle or a guard at the NFL level. The Dolphins have Austin Jackson at right tackle, but injuries have been the story of his career. Could they move him inside and have Proctor play outside? Could they start Proctor at guard, but then kick him outside if Jackson is injured? How do guard Jonah Savaiinaea and Jamaree Salyer factor into the depth chart? If the Dolphins are serious about upgrading the line and building from the inside out, Proctor would be a great addition.
What they are saying:
Pro Football and Sports Network: Kadyn Proctor is a mammoth offensive lineman, and the next in a long line of Alabama blockers who’ve made the NFL leap. The question is which position he’ll usettle in at long-term. At 6’6”, 369 pounds, Proctor is a true outlier who plays with domineering size and power.
His hand power and torque can be overwhelming for solo defenders, and his anchor can be suffocating against opposing power rushes. Naturally, Proctor doesn’t have elite range, mobility, or flexibility, and he could stand to trim down his weight at the professional level. In particular, his range and flexibility proved to be consistent issues against speed rushers on the outside in 2025.
Proctor does flash inspiring foot speed for his size, and he’s technically sound for his age, with smooth and efficient footwork, and a strong sense of timing and precision as a hand fighter. Those elements could allow him to stick at OT as a quality starter, but he has impact starter upside inside at guard, where he resembles a prime Leonard Davis with his throttling hand power, devastating torque, and suffocating anchor strength.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Proctor is a mass of humanity with rare size and length at his command. He’s capable as a move blocker but shines when rolling downhill as a bona-fide people mover with bulldozing power. However, slants and quick first steps beat him to the spot in the run game. When set and centered, Proctor is a roadblock to speed-to-power charges. He has a stout anchor and strong hands to stall the rush in its track. He struggles to mirror athletes in space and lacks the range to protect deeper pocket drops against speed. Inconsistency in pass protection hasn’t helped his draft standing, but he still has the potential to become a good right tackle or very good guard.
NFL Draft Buzz: Proctor’s combination of size and movement is uncommon. A 352-pound tackle who posts a 32.5-inch vertical and runs in the low 5.2s is not someone you find in every class. The combine confirmed what the film suggested at his best: he can move people in the run game and has the range to handle NFL speed when his technique is right. His best fit is a gap or power scheme where he can fire off the ball and create movement. He has the feet for zone concepts, but he is most effective attacking defenders rather than mirroring them laterally.
The tape tells a more complicated story. He gets beaten inside more than you want to see from a three-year SEC starter, and the arm length from the combine helps explain why. For his size, the arms are shorter than expected, which shrinks his margin for error on hand placement and makes his technique inconsistencies more costly. Footwork and pad level flash at times but rarely come together for a full game outside of that Georgia performance. The weight questions are fair, too. His pass protection tracked directly with when he got below 360, and teams will want to know the 352-pound version reports to camp.
This is a thin tackle class, possibly the weakest since 2015, and that context matters. Proctor’s tools and SEC experience will keep him in the first-round conversation despite the concerns. The ceiling is a starting left tackle who anchors a line for years. Getting there requires weight discipline, better hand technique to offset the arm length, and real development in pass protection. The raw material is rare enough that the investment makes sense.
Mike Renner, CBS Sports: Kadyn Proctor is a massive, physically imposing left tackle who blends rare size with the kind of movement skills you usually see from much smaller players. A freak athlete, he has even been used at wide receiver and running back in goal-line situations, showcasing his unique versatility. While he’s a powerhouse in the run game and capable of consistently moving defenders at the point of attack, he’s still refining his technique in pass protection. He showed improvement during the 2025 season. And though he may transition to guard early in his professional career, his high ceiling and natural tools make him a cornerstone prospect.
Chris Pflum, Big Blue View: Kadyn Proctor projects as a developmental offensive lineman with starting upside at the NFL level.
The big question may be where Proctor plays in the NFL, as that could depend on the team that drafts him.
Some teams may want to give Proctor the chance to stay at offensive tackle, particularly if they favor downhill man-gap blocking schemes. However, other teams may view Proctor as a candidate to transition inside to guard in the NFL. Moving inside to guard would help mitigate his issues with lateral mobility and fatigue impacting his pad level. He’s a powerful blocker who could easily control defensive tackles and thrive on the interior. That said, his height could clog quarterbacks’ sight lines, as well as make winning the leverage battle against shorter defensive tackles tougher.
Proctor will likely get drafted relatively early due to his rare physical traits. There are very few people walking the Earth who are Proctor’s size and still able to be athletic, and an NFL team is going to bet on those traits.
Second Round
Pick 43 – Brandon Cisse, CB, South Carolina
Cisse is a high-potential draft pick who will need to develop at the NFL level to break some of his bad habits. He has the tools to be a great player, and a defensive-minded head coach might be exactly what he needs to reach his full potential. At only 21, there is still plenty of growth to come for Cisse. This pick has some risk, but if the Dolphins hit on him, they have locked down one side of their defensive secondary.
What they are saying:
Pro Football and Sports Network: Brandon Cisse is a young and ascending cornerback prospect who declared for the 2026 NFL Draft after a standout 2025 campaign that saw him earn a PFSN CB Impact grade of 80.9. Cisse will be just 21 years old as a rookie, and his coverage mobility is a massive strength; these two factors alone make him a viable early-round prospect. At 6’0”, 190 pounds, with functional length, Cisse is an exceedingly explosive, springy, and nimble mover with propulsive hip sink and elite short-area energy.
He’s quick to react, with swarming lateral explosive range, and inspiring route vision in off-man and zone. Going further, he flashes high-level coordination as a catch-point playmaker, and he’s extremely competitive in support. Where Cisse stands to improve the most is in press-man — his timing and upper-lower sync are inconsistent — and he can also be prone to biting on double-moves working with cushion.
That said, all of the physical tools and the temperament qualities are there to support Cisse’s continued ascent toward becoming an impact NFL starter.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Teams will be willing to take a chance on Cisse’s explosive athleticism and upside, but a refinement runway might be needed to smooth some of the rougher edges. He’s scheme-versatile in coverage and is an A-rated run supporter. Work ethic and athletic testing will work in his favor. However, a lack of instincts and break anticipation could cost him in coverage against quality route runners. His press will become a more effective weapon with technical work and his route recognition should improve with more reps. Cisse’s traits and competitiveness are clear selling points, but a lack of on-ball production and coverage consistency create a more volatile floor.
NFL Draft Buzz: When you watch his tape you quickly notice first-round talent especially when you watch Cisse operate in man coverage situations. He’s got that rare combination of length, speed, and hip fluidity that translates immediately to Sundays, where receivers are faster and route trees are more complex. His ability to mirror releases and close on throws at the catch point gives him a legitimate foundation to build on, and the physical tools are absolutely there for him to develop into a lockdown boundary corner who can erase half the field. The explosiveness he shows triggering downhill on screens and perimeter runs adds value as a force player in the run game, even if his tackling technique needs serious refinement. Defensive coordinators will love his willingness to press and jam at the line, knowing he’s got the recovery wheels to make up for occasional lapses in technique.
The concerns are real but fixable with proper coaching and development time. His zone awareness is currently a liability, and the grabbing issues need to be coached out of him before they become a penalty problem at the next level. The mental side of the position hasn’t caught up to his physical gifts yet – he’s biting on misdirection, overcommitting his hips, and making the game harder than it needs to be. That’s typical for a corner with limited starting experience who transferred schools and only has one full season as a starter under his belt. The missed tackles and diving attempts are correctable with better fundamentals, but it’ll take commitment from both player and coaching staff to get him comfortable wrapping up in space. The injury history isn’t catastrophic, but it’s something NFL teams will monitor closely during the pre-draft medical process.
Bottom line: Cisse projects as a Day One starter who can line up outside and play press-man in Cover 1 and Cover 3 schemes right away. His ceiling is a legitimate CB1 who can travel with opposing team’s top receivers, but he needs another year or two of technical refinement to reach that level consistently. The physical traits are already there – the mental processing and discipline will determine whether he becomes a good NFL corner or a great one. For teams picking in the late first round who need immediate help at corner and have strong defensive backs coaching, Cisse represents excellent value with massive upside.
Daniel Harms, Bleacher Report: Brandon Cisse has exceptional lateral and downhill explosion that he uses to trigger on perimeter runs/screens and maintain sticky man coverage. The willingness and physicality to jam in press coverage give him multiple tools to be a menace as a boundary corner.
The transfer from NC State has shone, taking away deep routes from opposing receivers with his length and recovery speed to close when he gets stacked vertically.
A former 3-star prospect and 4-star transfer, he accumulated 65 tackles (41 solo), three tackles for loss, two interceptions, ten passes defensed, and one forced fumble in his three-year collegiate career. The ball production is low, but the upside for a player of Cisse’s natural talent is immense.
JT Ruhnke, A to Z Sports: Cisse has all the intangibles in the world to be the top cornerback in this year’s draft. His acceleration and closing speed can matchup with the NFL’s best instantly and his vision makes him hard to trick and is a good bet to record the fastest 40-time of any cornerback this cycle. He brings quite a bit of versatility to his game, with the ability to play both outside and inside positions. However, Cisse’s more slender frame and weaker playstrength means bigger bodied receivers can get the best of him in press-man and at the top of routes. At the end of the day, Cisse’s raw technique in man coverage and tackling needs refinement, but his raw athletic talent is too good to pass up.
Third Round
Pick 75 – Keionte Scott, CB, Miami
The Dolphins need to rebuild their secondary, and they double down on cornerbacks in the second and third rounds of this mock. Scott is probably not a boundary/field cornerback, but he is an excellent nickel option who brings with him blitz and run-support abilities. He has the versatility to move around if needed, including potentially working at safety or as a smaller linebacker in different packages. He is not a refined product, and he turns 25 before the season starts, but he could be asked to start as the nickel cornerback from day one.
What they are saying:
Pro Football and Sports Network: Keionte Scott emerged as one of the stars of Miami’s National Championship run, and he has similarly ascended as an extremely compelling 2026 NFL Draft prospect. After drawing little national interest out of high school, Scott began his career at Snow College. After a two-year stretch that saw Scott serve as a team captain and two-time JUCO All-American, he transferred to Auburn.
For two years, Scott served as a rotational player for the Tigers, at times battling through injuries, before reaching his final evolution at Miami. In 2025 with the Hurricanes, he amassed 13 tackles for loss, five sacks, and two pick-sixes, while earning a PFSN CB Impact grade of 85. As a versatile nickel defender, Scott has one of the strongest foundations in the entire class.
He’s an uber-explosive long-striding closer, a springy coverage and support defender, and an elite processor with a fast-flowing style and relentless physicality. He’ll be an older rookie, but Scott has immediate impact potential as a nickel, with schematic versatility but a particular affinity for off-man and zone.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Scott’s play style and tackle production resemble that of a Will linebacker. He’s edgy and urgent near the line with an ability to slip or play off of blocks. He can snuff out run plays before they get started. Scott lacks ball production due to inconsistent break anticipation and route squeeze, but he can twitch-and-trigger to close windows, wrap and finish. He keeps yards after contact to a minimum. Scott’s blitz talent off the edge makes him a value-added rusher. He’s an older prospect and needs to play in a scheme that allows him to keep his eyes forward, but Scott’s football character should make him a team favorite as a starting nickelback.
NFL Draft Buzz: Scott’s NFL path is clear: he is a nickel corner in a defense that wants its slot player to do more than just cover. The blitzing production translates because the timing, burst, and finishing ability are all on tape. His run defense is the most pro-ready part of his game, and that matters in a league where offenses increasingly attack the slot with power concepts. A coordinator can move him around in sub-packages, send him off the edge, or drop him into underneath zones where his instincts and play speed create problems for quarterbacks working the middle of the field.
The concerns need honest acknowledgment, though. The tackling has to improve. Diving at ball carriers works when you have help, but NFL backs will punish lazy angles. His coverage holds up in the slot where he can use his hands and compete at the line, but lining him up outside against bigger receivers is asking for trouble. The age and mileage are real considerations for teams projecting development, because what you see now is probably close to the finished product.
There is still plenty to like for a defense that values toughness and versatility from its secondary. Scott brings a physical presence most nickel corners do not, and his blitz package gives coordinators an extra dimension to scheme around. His playoff tape showed a player who performs when the stage gets bigger, and that competitive makeup counts. He fits best in a zone-heavy scheme that deploys him creatively as a rusher and in run support while limiting his exposure in man coverage on the boundary.
Daniel Harms, Bleacher Report: Keionte Scott is a defensive weapon working from the slot, particularly as a blitzer. His foot-speed and rush-lane processing help him close on quarterbacks and ballcarriers in the blink of an eye. He brings juice every time he steps onto the field and gets his teammates fired up with every tackle. His playmaking outshines his size and makes him an impactful defender.
The former 4-star JUCO recruit and Auburn transfer made his presence felt at his final collegiate stop by piling up 13 tackles for loss to go with 64 total tackles (42 solo), five sacks, two interceptions, five passes defensed and two fumbles forced and recovered. He’s an electric presence at the nickel and provides an energy that can’t be coached.
Chris Pflum, Big Blue View: Scott is a versatile, aggressive, and smart defender who can help a defense in a variety of wells. Scott might not fit every defense, as he’s best used as a versatile “defensive weapon” or “nickel defender” than strictly as a cornerback.
Scott’s game is somewhat similar to Tyrann Mathieu or Dru Phillips as a player who can line up in a variety of positions and be disruptive. He’s a great run defender and is a dangerous player coming down hill. He’s also a capable zone coverage defender with five passes defensed and 2 interceptions – both of which were returned for a touchdown.
Teams could vary widely on where he falls on their boards. Teams that are fairly traditional in how they employ their defensive backs could struggle to find a good place for him. However, teams that spend a lot of time in nickel or dime sets, and make use of STAR or pseudo-linebackers to add speed at the second level could view Scott as a high second round pick.
Pick 87 – LT Overton, Edge, Alabama
After a couple of cornerback picks, the Dolphins return to the line of scrimmage with this pick, but jump over to the defense. Overton is listed as an edge rusher, but he might just be an all-around defensive lineman who can play outside as a pass rusher or inside as a defensive tackle/run stopper. He has to work on his pass-rush techniques and become more consistent with his hands, but that is up to the coaching staff to teach him. His 2025 season was not as good as 2024, but some of that was opposing game planning, making sure they knew where he was on the field at all times.
What they are saying:
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Overton is a slow-twitch end with impressive power and a consistently rugged demeanor. He has long arms and plays with the anchor/leverage that helps him secure his gap. However, he rarely gains early positional advantages and isn’t going to be a gap-shooter. He lacks range in pursuit and won’t threaten tackles to the corner with his get-off as an edge rusher. Overton’s play strength and leverage create power on the edge, but power won’t trump production. Adding mass and moving inside to 3-technique could be in his best interest.
NFL Draft Buzz: Overton profiles as a day two selection who earns a rotational role immediately and develops into a starter with time. His best fit is in a multiple front that kicks him inside on passing downs where his power and length create problems for guards. The positional versatility is real: 1,529 career snaps across multiple alignments, and that flexibility matters when coordinators want to create confusion with pre-snap movement. Teams running attacking 3-4 schemes can use him as a base end who threatens from different spots along the line.
The 2025 regression needs context. Teams started game-planning for him, chipping more frequently, and he had not developed the counter moves to adjust. That is fixable with NFL coaching. When his hands fire correctly and he maintains pad level, he wins against quality tackles. The physical tools are there: bend for his size, functional power that translates to bull rush effectiveness, and a motor that does not quit.
The floor is a rotational piece who contributes 400 to 500 snaps and provides complementary pass rush value. The ceiling is higher than the overall ranking suggests if a defensive line coach can clean up the technical issues and develop his hand counters. The 2024 tape against Wisconsin and Michigan proves the upside exists, and that is what a team is betting on with a pick in this range.
Pick 90 – Justin Joly, TE, North Carolina State
Joly is not an in-line, blocking tight end, but he is among the best pure pass-catching tight ends in the draft. He can be moved around, lining up as a receiver, H-back, or running back, along with his tight end position. He is smaller than a prototypical tight end, but he could be a chess piece the Dolphins offense moves around to create mismatches.
What they are saying:
Pro Football and Sports Network: Justin Joly profiles as one of the better receiving tight ends in the 2026 NFL Draft, who remained consistent in an NC State passing attack that experienced year-to-year fluctuations. Joly first emerged as a top-flight producer as a sophomore in 2023, with 56 catches for 578 yards and two scores. He followed that up with a career-high 661 yards in 2024, and caught 49 passes for 489 yards and a career-high seven touchdowns in 2025.
For a slightly undersized TE at 6’3”, 251 pounds, Joly isn’t as quick or twitched-up as desired, and slight hip stiffness limits his ultimate separation upside. Still, in spite of these modest limitations, he’s a fairly nuanced separator with an affinity for sensing voids in zone and making himself available, as well as using his long-strider burst and speed to work up seams. For his height, Joly is a tank with a thickly-built frame and exceptional contact balance in the RAC phase, and at the catch point, he’s a near-elite operator with body control, plus positioning skills, hand strength, and steely composure.
Even in the blocking phase, Joly at least competes and contends, though he needs to improve his hand usage and power sustain. Joly profiles as a primary receiving TE early on in the NFL, but has the upside to become a quality two-phase starter.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Undersized pass-catcher with the ability to expand the route tree and challenge man coverage around the field. Joly still needs to polish his route-running but he has the footwork and athletic traits to uncover. He doesn’t catch with much hand extension and fights throws on occasion but he makes up for it with impressive body control/catch toughness. His effort and strain as a blocker need to improve. Joly has the ability to contribute as a moveable “F” tight end.
NFL Draft Buzz: An offense that moves its tight ends around and features them as receivers is where Joly makes the most sense. His receiving ability is real. He tracks the ball well downfield, adjusts to off-target throws, and finishes through contact in a way that gives you confidence he can handle tight windows at the NFL level. The route running is not yet polished, but there is craft and feel there, and a coaching staff that invests in his footwork could see meaningful returns. Operating as a moveable piece in 12 and 13 personnel, he can line up attached, in the slot, or flexed out wide without tipping the play call.
The blocking is the obvious concern. He can wall off and compete on effort plays, and his pass protection work was quietly productive in college, but the run game tape shows a player who needs to add functional strength and play with better leverage before any coordinator trusts him on early downs as an inline option. At his size, he may never be a plus run blocker, which limits his snap count on a team that values two-way tight ends.
Still, the receiving upside gives him a clear lane. He caught passes from multiple quarterbacks across two programs and produced everywhere he played. The Senior Bowl MVP performance confirmed what the tape already suggested: he can separate, catch, and score against quality competition. Joly can carve out a role early and grow into a dependable target in the middle of the field.
Daniel Harms, Bleacher Report: Justin Joly has incredibly strong hands with an impressive catch radius to be a weapon at tight end. He’s a tactician running routes and brings a workman’s mentality after the catch. A smooth-moving chess piece, Joly lines up all over a formation, adds as a move-blocker in the run game and is a surprising pass protector.
The former 2-star recruit and UConn transfer set career-highs this past season in catches (49) and touchdown receptions (seven) but didn’t create the same explosive impact from 2024 when he averaged nearly 15.5 yards per reception. Instead, the first-team All-ACC performer became a security blanket for an underwhelming North Carolina State offense and showcased his playmaking ability.
Chris Pflum, Big Blue View: Justin Joly projects as an “H-Back” at the NFL level who aligns as a tight end or fullback, and would be at his best as the second tight end in a 12-personnel package.
While Joly can be used as an in-line or lead blocker in a traditional tight end or fullback role, however his greatest upside is as an athletic weapon. Joly’s mobility and receiving ability make him a versatile and useful piece for offenses that look to create match-ups and attack the intermediate area of the field.
Because Joly is more of a niche role player, his appeal won’t be nearly as broad as that of a classic “Y” tight end. That will make his draft stock vary widely from team to team and be difficult to predict. Teams that make heavy use of 12-personnel packages to attack the middle of the field could view Joly as a late 3rd round prospect, while other teams may view him as a mid-Day3 value.
Pick 94 – Bud Clark, S, TCU
A rangy, ball hawk who fits well as a centerfielder anchoring the defense, but can move into the box in run support or as a nickel cornerback, Clark has a ton of versatility that should see him on the field early in his career. He probably needs to add size, but if it impacts his athleticism, it might change how he plays. He also ball-hawks more than he probably should, putting himself in a boom-or-bust scenario at times, where he either makes the stellar play or the opposing offense is off and running. He could be asked to be the third safety on defense and a primary special teams player early in his career as he settles into the NFL.
What they are saying:
Pro Football and Sports Network: Bud Clark played six years at TCU, after joining the Horned Frogs as a four-star recruit in 2020. An injury limited him to just four games in 2021, but he went on to start over 40 games total in his career, while serving as a multi-year team captain. In particular, Clark distinguished himself as an elite catch-point playmaker and turnover threat, compiling 15 interceptions and 21 pass breakups in his final four seasons.
In 2025, Clark achieved an elite PFSN Safety Impact grade of 91.8, and he compounded that momentum with an excellent Senior Bowl showing. A lean, long-limbed defender, Clark has an ideal coverage mobility profile in split-field looks with his corrective agility, swivel fluidity, hip sink, and closing burst, and he magnifies his appeal working in space with his quick route processing, reaction-to-stimulus, and ball-hawking ability. But as he reaffirmed at the Senior Bowl, he also has the ability to match and delay releases in press-man with his twitchy short-area athleticism and spatial discipline, and his length makes him a sprawling disruptive threat at the catch.
Clark doesn’t quite have an elite athletic component, and his physicality can be a double-edged sword at times, increasing his penalty risk at stems. Additionally, Clark needs more consistency with block take-on and tackling conversion in support. Best in two-high looks, Clark can be a quality starter with inbuilt role versatility and playmaking gravity.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: A sixth-year senior, Clark’s traits won’t pop but his tape most certainly will. Clark is a coverage-versatile safety in a cornerback’s body with the talent to range over the top or man up on the slot. He plays with an overriding desire to do everything all at once – which produces spectacular takeaways and occasional breakdowns – but the good outweighs the bad. He triggers downhill in run support and tackles with proper technique, but a lack of size could lead to broken tackles/durability concerns. He might need time to acclimate to the speed/skill of his opponents but his instincts and ball skills give him a good chance to punish mistakes on the next level as an alignment-flexible option.
NFL Draft Buzz: Clark’s value at the next level ties directly to his coverage versatility and ball production. Fifteen interceptions in four seasons is not a number you can coach into a player, and his ability to line up at deep safety, in the box, or as a slot defender gives coordinators options most Day 3 safeties cannot offer. His 2024 film, where he graded among the best Power Four safeties, showed a player who could handle a full workload and make plays in every phase. The 2025 tape was slightly less consistent but still produced strong run defense marks and four takeaways against a quality Big 12 schedule.
Clark fits best in a defense that plays split-safety looks or Cover 2/Cover 4, where his range and instincts can work without asking him to be a true single-high centerfielder. He is a natural robber who reads the quarterback and drives on throws. His slot experience makes him a viable big nickel who can match up with tight ends, adding Day 1 value on passing downs before he earns a full-time starting role. The Senior Bowl confirmed what film already showed: Clark competes, finds the ball, and does not back down from physical matchups at his size.
The concerns are fair. His frame needs functional mass without losing the speed that sets him apart. The injury history across three seasons will require thorough medical evaluation. The gambling tendencies that produce turnovers can burn him against quarterbacks who manipulate eyes at the NFL level. But the ball production, speed, coverage grades, and experience package make Clark a safety who can contribute immediately on sub-packages with a likely path to starting if his body holds up.
Daniel Harms, Bleacher Report: Bud Clark is an instinctual, ball-hawking defensive back who makes quarterbacks think twice before throwing his way. His ball production is among the best of all secondary members in the class, and he shows the tools to be a tight end eraser at the next level.
The 6’2”, 190-pound safety closes downhill with long, galloping strides and shows off his range on the backend.
A former 4-star recruit, Clark has been a team captain for three straight seasons and is coming off a season where he earned second-team all-Big 12 honors. He led the Horned Frogs in interceptions with three, bringing his career total to 11 (entering 2025), and had his best tackling season, adding 67 tackles (43 solo), which was fourth on the team. His experience and leadership are valuable traits and, combined with his natural ability to be around the football, will draw NFL eyes.
Chris Pflum, Big Blue View: Bud Clark projects as a high-snap third safety early in his career, however he has starting upside with a bit of development and the right situation.
The biggest question is whether Clark can add any mass and play strength without compromising his athleticism and movement skills. If so, he should be able to be a versatile every-down safety who can man deep coverage zones or the tackle box. If not, he might be limited to being a deep safety or a third safety who comes on the field in nickel situations.
It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Clark generate significant buzz among coaches thanks to his football IQ and competitive toughness, and he could be more than merely a role player early in his career.
Draft Nation: Bud Clark projects as a high-floor defensive back prospect whose value lies in versatility, instincts, and reliability. His ability to contribute in coverage, support the run, and communicate effectively gives him a clear path to earning snaps at the next level, particularly in defensive schemes that value smart, adaptable players.
Draft Nation currently views Clark as a Day 3 prospect with the potential to rise into Day 2, as his strong performance at the Senior Bowl has opened the eyes of the talent evaluators. In the right NFL environment, Clark has the tools to become a dependable rotational defensive back early in his career, with the upside to grow into a consistent starter who brings stability and playmaking to the secondary.
Fourth Round
Pick 130 – Parker Brailsford, C, Alabama
Brailsford picks up comparisons to Dolphins center Aaron Brewer – which seems to indicate he would be a good backup for Brewer. He is not likely to be an option to move out to guard, but he does solidify the depth at center and can continue to develop behind Brewer.
What they are saying:
Pro Football and Sports Network: Parker Brailsford is the definition of a “natural” at the center position. He redshirted his first year at Washington, but emerged as an All-American and an All-Big 12 performer across the Huskies CFB Playoff run in 2023. In 2024, Brailsford followed head coach Kalen DeBoer to Alabama, and didn’t miss a beat against SEC competition, earning second-team All-American honors in his first run with the Crimson Tide.
And in 2025, he earned third-team All-SEC honors. At 6’2”, 290 pounds, Brailsford is a touch undersized, but he makes up for it with elite athleticism and blocking range, nearly infallible leverage and pad level, and surprising compact play strength and power output. A fulcrum blocker in the mold of NFL standout Aaron Brewer, Brailsford can be an impact starter in zone-oriented schemes.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Brailsford has shown notable grit and consistency. He can be out-leveraged and shoved around at the point of attack, but his mobility gives him a distinct advantage on the move. A lack of functional mass/length could lead to his pass protection being exposed by NFL power and rush talent. Brailsford’s tenacity and execution give him a chance, but he’s a one-position prospect with zone-scheme dependence. He might need to earn a starting job to stick around in the league.
NFL Draft Buzz: Where Brailsford ends up mattering most is in scheme. A zone-heavy offense that wants its center moving laterally, climbing to linebackers, and making calls at the line is where he belongs. His best reps at Alabama came when the offense let him use his feet. Against Georgia in 2024, he looked like a different player on the move compared to the snaps where he had to sit in and absorb power. That split defines his projection.
The size is going to follow him into every draft meeting. He’s light and shorter than most NFL centers, and you can see it when bigger nose tackles square him up and walk him off his spot. Where he keeps himself clean is in pass protection, where his hand timing and foot quickness let him survive against rushers who outweigh him significantly. The penalty issue ties directly to the length problem. When longer defenders get outside his hands, his instinct is to grab and hold on rather than lose the rep entirely. That habit is manageable in college, but NFL officials will flag it consistently, and the physical limitation driving it isn’t going away.
The right team for Brailsford doesn’t need its center to be the toughest guy in the trenches every snap. Pair him with bigger guards who can handle the dirty work inside, and his movement ability and processing become real assets. He can start in this league, but only if a coaching staff builds around what he does well. There’s a useful player here. The question is whether the team that takes him understands what they’re getting.
Draft Nation: Parker Brailsford is an athletic center who plays well in the run game. He is undersized, and will need to find a way to cope with his lack of length against the larger players in the NFL. Draft Nation expects him to come off the board as a top 3 center by the end of day two or early on day three.
A good pro comparison for Brailsford may be Tyler Linderbaum of the Baltimore Ravens. They are both a bit undersized but have exceptional agility and speed to get to the second level. Brailsford may be a big stronger, but Linderbaum’s wrestling background makes him a tougher one-on-one battler.
Fifth Round
Pick 151 – Kaleb Elarms-Orr, LB, TCU
Elarms-Orr is an immediate option on special teams while he adjusts to the speed of the NFL game. He has the speed and athleticism to become a starter in the league, but he has to work on his ability to diagnose plays and put himself in the right position, rather than trying to chase down the play. He is fast and a sure-tackler, which will work to his benefit as a rotational linebacker and on special teams.
What they are saying:
Pro Football and Sports Network: Kaleb Elarms-Orr gets lost at times in a strong linebacker class, but he’s a potential gem in the middle-round range. Elarms-Orr began his career at California, racking up 92 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, a sack, and five pass breakups with the Golden Bears as a redshirt sophomore in 2023. Elarms-Orr transferred to TCU in 2024, and in 2025, he emerged as a first-team All-Big 12 performer.
In his final season, Elarms-Orr amassed 130 tackles, 11 TFLs, four sacks, and two pass deflections. His 85.7 PFSN LB Impact score was fourth-highest in the FBS, and per TruMedia, he logged a sub-10% missed tackle rate, while also eclipsing a 20% pressure rate on pass-rushing snaps. At 6’2”, 234 pounds, Elarms-Orr has good size and lean mass, to package with blistering 4.47 speed and full-field range.
On top of his explosive athleticism and long speed, Elarms-Orr also brings excellent baseline urgency and physicality, as well as power at contact crashing into gaps. He can be over-aggressive on misdirections at times, and his processing and reactions can be a tick faster overall, but he has improved that part of his game since 2023. He checks the boxes as a gap attacker, he’s an ultra-competent blitz threat with impressive pass-rush efficiency, and he’s shown he can play square to targets in zone coverage.
Best in downhill response, run-and-chase, and blitz roles, but possessing measured appeal on passing downs, Elarms-Orr has quality starter potential and is a quality rotational presence on day one.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Elarms-Orr is a well-built linebacker with above-average athleticism but problematic instincts. He has the speed and athleticism to get to the football from sideline to sideline. However, he frequently struggles with recognizing blocking schemes and too often loses track of play development. He’s rangy but average in zone coverage, with talent as a blitzer worth continued exploration. He will need improved processing but should dial in as a backup with a full-time role on special teams.
NFL Draft Buzz: There is a real football player in Elarms-Orr, but the tape tells you he is not a three-down starter at the next level right now. What he does well is attack downhill and fill the run lanes, and the jump he made in run defense from his Cal days to his final year at TCU is legitimately impressive. You can see a player who learned to trust his keys, play with better pad level, and finish through contact. His blitzing ability is a nice wrinkle too. He knows how to set up a rush and hit the gap with good timing, which gives you something to work with on passing downs in specific packages.
The problem is everything happening behind him. When offenses spread the field and force him to process in space, the game slows down for the offense, not for him. Play-action still pulls him out of position. His zone drops lack anticipation, and receivers find the open grass around him with too much regularity. The low interception total across three years of significant playing time is not a fluke. He is a below-the-line athlete in coverage, and that limits his role in any defense that asks its linebackers to match up in the passing game.
The path for Elarms-Orr at the next level runs through special teams first and a reserve linebacker role second. He has the speed, the motor, and the toughness to be a core special teams contributor from day one, and his run-stuffing ability gives him a chance to carve out situational defensive snaps in heavy packages or early-down run fits. A scheme that keeps him in the box, limits his coverage exposure, and lets him hunt the ball downhill is where he will find his niche. There is enough here for a roster spot and maybe more, but he needs continued development in his mental processing to earn consistent defensive playing time.
Sixth Round
No Picks
Seventh Round
Pick 227 – Cameron Ball, DT, Arkansas
The Dolphins add a depth defensive tackle late in the draft here. Ball has some versatility, with the team able to line him up as an even-front defensive tackle or as an odd-front nose tackle. He needs coaching to reach his potential, but he would be able to serve as a depth piece on the defensive line this year.
What they are saying:
Pro Football and Sports Network: Cameron Ball is a late-round DT prospect with a compelling physical profile, but also untapped potential relative to his experience level. He joined the Arkansas Razorbacks as a three-star recruit in 2021, and stayed in Fayetteville all five years. After redshirting in 2021, he became a regular rotational contributor in 2022 and 2023, before serving as a full-time starter across the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
Across a four-year on-field career, Ball accumulated 138 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks, and earned a respectable PFSN DT Impact score of 80.6 in 2025. At 6’4”, with a playing weight of close to 320 pounds and 33” arms, Ball has ideal size, strength, and power capacity on the interior, and he’s an excellent athlete as well, as his NFL Combine showing reaffirmed. His 32” vertical, in particular, is above the 88th percentile at his position.
Ball is also a team leader and active in his community; he was a Wuerffel Trophy watch list inclusion in the lead-up to the 2025 season. Those combined factors alone should help Ball exist in a rotational role early on, but his development beyond that remains polarizing. At his best, Ball flashed near-elite stacking strength and functional two-gapping potential in run defense at Arkansas, and his explosive athleticism lends well to initial power output.
That said, his pad level and leverage acquisition can be very inconsistent, and frequent upright drift can negate his base and make him easier to move off the line. He gives up hip-to-gap leverage too easily at times as well, and as a pass-rusher, he remains extremely raw and underdeveloped with his hand usage, a truth echoed in his almost non-existent sack production. Ball flashed at the Senior Bowl as well, but he needs to develop his operational skill set and improve his leveraging before he can take starting reps.
In the immediate timeline, he’s an alignment-versatile depth DT.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Steady interior defender who plays with good initial quickness and adequate play strength. Ball can dart into gaps or hold the point against single blocks as a two-gapper. While he can handle hand-to-hand combat, he’s unable to sink a deep anchor and compete at a high level against double teams and down blocks. He’s an effort rusher with decent footwork but could become much more effective with better hand work. Ball has average upside as a rotational defender in an even front.
Pick 238 – Jakobe Thomas, S, Miami
Thomas is a developmental player who started his collegiate career at Middle Tennessee State before moving to Tennessee and then to Miami. He grew as he moved up, and he will continue that development in the NFL with the right opportunity. He is a special teams player from the start and will work his way into a rotational role in the secondary. He could become a starter down the road, but early on, his downhill speed will play well in kick/punt coverage.
What they are saying:
Pro Football and Sports Network: Jakobe Thomas is a quietly well-rounded Day 3 safety prospect with a clear ceiling but also universal utility that could help him see the field as a rotational defender at least, and a mid-level starter at best. Thomas began his career as a three-star signee for Middle Tennessee State, and after redshirting his first season, he emerged with a four-interception 2022 campaign. After three years at MTSU, Thomas had a one-year interlude with the Tennesse Volunteers, before closing out his career with the Miami Hurricanes in 2025.
Whatever production he sought but lacked in the SEC, Thomas reclaimed in the ACC. In 2025, he accumulated 76 tackles, four tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, five interceptions, six pass breakups, and two forced fumbles, while earning a glowing PFSN Safety Impact score of 88.4. Thomas’ turnover production stands out most, and it’s emblematic of his ability to manage depth and space from two-high or single-high, read-and-react, and break in front of passes.
In coverage, Thomas has good recalibration quickness and fluidity, and while his top-end speed is capped, he has enough half-field range to be disruptive when his breaks are well-timed. In run support, Thomas has similar playmaking urgency, and triggers downhill quickly, with the length and mass to hold up taking on blocks. A missed tackle percentage over 15% reflects a need to exercise better timing, breakdown discipline, and technique at contact, but Thomas nonetheless has value as a fast-flowing and physical downhill presence.
Thomas can bite prematurely against Cover 2 beaters, his plant-and-drive footwork and transition balance can be more consistent at times, and he’s not as reliable tracking the ball when making up ground vertically. Those inconsistencies are exacerbated by a lack of high-end long speed or recovery burst. Having said all this, Thomas has a respectable floor across the board, and can function well as a rotational and depth safety with spot-starting utility in two-deep schemes.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: A productive, fifth-year safety prospect, Thomas is wired to play forward and race into the action wherever it is present. He overflows pursuit and has too many missed or broken tackles on his stat sheet, but his impact against the run is a net positive. He has good ball production but is fairly average in coverage. He can be way too quick to overlap or bite on bait, which allows receivers to get behind him from single-high and split-safety alignments. Thomas has the potential to develop into a starter as a likely middle-round pick.
NFL Draft Buzz: Thomas’ combination of size, instincts, and ball skills checks boxes that defensive coordinators desperately need when constructing their back end, particularly as offenses continue spreading the field and attacking vertically. The guy can cover, plain and simple. He reads routes, breaks on throws, and makes plays on the football with consistency that shows up when you dig into the numbers. NFL teams looking for a safety who can actually play in space and handle coverage responsibilities will see a player with legitimate starting potential if the tackling issues get cleaned up. The missed tackles are a real concern and can’t be dismissed, but they’re also coachable problems involving angles and technique rather than a lack of effort or competitiveness. Thomas plays willing in run support even if the results haven’t always been there.
The scheme fit for Thomas centers on maximizing what he does well rather than exposing his weaknesses. He’s built for two-high safety systems where he can patrol the deep half, use his length to disrupt throws, and put his route recognition to work. Think Tampa 2 concepts or Cover 2 man schemes where he’s splitting the field and playing over the top with the freedom to jump routes when he sees them developing. His versatility to drop into robber roles and handle different coverage responsibilities gives defensive coordinators flexibility in how they deploy him, and that schematic adaptability has real value in the NFL. Teams that lean heavily on single-high looks might not be the best fit given his average speed, but most modern defenses employ multiple coverage shells throughout a game anyway. The key is putting him in positions where his coverage instincts can shine while being strategic about when to ask him to play downhill and finish tackles in the box.
Thomas has the tools to develop into a legitimate rotational safety who contributes on defense and special teams from day one. His experience across multiple college programs shows he can learn systems quickly and adapt to different coaching styles, which matters when you’re trying to establish yourself on an NFL roster. The ball production throughout his career demonstrates a nose for the football that translates to creating turnovers at the next level, and turnovers win games. If he commits to improving his tackling technique during his first offseason and adds some functional strength without losing his movement skills, Thomas could push for a starting role sooner than people expect.
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