We are on to the fifth version of our 2026 NFL scouting mock draft. I use the mock draft format to get an idea of who could be on the board when the Miami Dolphins make their pick. This is not necessarily who I think the Dolphins will pick in each of these positions, but rather me looking at the board, considering Miami’s draft needs, and then making a pick so we can get an idea of what is being said about that prospect.
Some of the picks may have injury histories that might rule them out of the selection. Some might have off-the-field issues that could see them removed from the board. Some might be the exact right pick for the Dolphins. That is the point for this series – getting a better look at some of the prospects.
With that said, we are on to the fifth version of the scouting mock draft:
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2026 NFL Miami Dolphins Mock Draft Results – 5th Edition
(I made picks using the PFSN Mock Draft Simulator)
First Round
Pick 11 – Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn
Faulk is probably not the plug-and-play, day one menace you would want from an 11th overall pick, but his upside could make this a steal of a pick in a year or two. Faulk has all the tools; he just needs some polish, something new head coach, Jeff Hafley, as a defensive-minded coach, should be able to apply. Even if he is not getting to the quarterback at the start of the year, Faulk should be locking down the edge in the running game and shutting down one side of the field. Faulk may find his best role sliding inside as a pass rushing defensive tackle, especially early in his career. He may not be the best scheme fit for the Dolphins immediately, but he has the versatility to move around and the coaching staff should be able to get the best out of him.
What they are saying:
Pro Football and Sports Network: Keldric Faulk breaks the mold for what’s possible at the EDGE position. At 6’5”, 288 pounds, the Auburn junior possesses top-flight lean mass, length and reach, and explosive, energized athleticism. His hyper-elite power profile, rare raw strength, and fast-striding pursuit speed makes him a multiphase nightmare in theory, but his pass-rush projection has caused debate in the lead-up to the 2026 NFL Draft cycle.
Faulk flashed exciting growth as a pass-rusher en route to seven sacks and 11 TFLs in 2024, but that production stagnated in 2025. Faulk’s run defense remained near-elite in 2025, to be sure; he’s shown he can reset the line, stack-and-shed blocks, and set a firm edge with his raw explosion, length, and size-defying leverage acquisition skills. However, his pass-rush plan and counters remain inconsistent, as does his lower-body power application and pad level farther into pass-rush reps.
Faulk possesses astronomical two-phase upside and inbuilt alignment versatility, but in the pass-rush phase, he’s still a long way from realizing that potential. Purely from an archetypal standpoint, he’s not dissimilar from Mykel Williams, who went 11th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. With Faulk, you’re gambling on the unrealized pass-rush upside, but can take comfort in his ready-made run defense profile.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Faulk has a long, developing frame, good movement skills and the potential for odd or even fronts once he gains more muscle mass. He’s a culture player with high character who earns a grade bump based on his age (turns 21 in September), traits and advanced foundation. A fluid athlete with good movement skills, he works around blocks with finesse but needs more assertive initial strikes to set firmer edges in gap control. His toughness and mentality suggest he’ll play through blocks more consistently in an NFL environment. Faulk’s rush is diverse. However, with average upfield burst, he might require a move inside on passing downs, where his long levers, quickness and agility can overmatch guards. Faulk needs polish but offers a high ceiling that should reveal itself within a couple of years.
NFL Draft Buzz: The tape on Faulk tells two very different stories depending on which side of the ball is in focus. In run defense, this is one of the most complete and punishing edge defenders to come through the SEC in recent memory. That kind of dominance against the run is not a fluke. He plays with a level of physicality and technique against the ground game that will translate from Day 1, and there is no defensive coordinator in the league who would not benefit from plugging him into early-down rotations immediately. The floor here is a high-quality starter who makes the entire front seven better by controlling his gaps and forcing offenses to account for him on every play design.
The pass rush ceiling is where the conversation gets complicated, and honestly, where the film demands some patience from evaluators. His 2025 numbers dropped hard from the previous year, but a lot of that was Auburn sliding him inside on nearly a third of his pass-rush snaps, a role that choked off his most effective rush angles. When he was aligned outside the tackle in 2024, his pressure rate ranked in the 73rd percentile for qualifying edge rushers. That is a meaningful number, especially considering he was only 19 at the time. The raw tools are there: the length, the hand strength, the motor. What is missing is refinement in his counter game and the kind of ankle flexibility that allows elite rushers to flatten around the arc. Those are coachable things, but they are not guarantees, and any team investing a premium pick needs to be comfortable with the idea that unlocking the pass-rush upside will take time and specific schematic creativity.
The best landing spot for Faulk is a defense that runs odd-front concepts and values position versatility along the line. Think of him as a 5-technique on base downs who can kick inside to 3-tech on passing situations, a player who builds an identity for your defensive front because he collapses gaps from multiple spots. Hybrid schemes that move bodies around pre-snap will squeeze the most juice out of his skill set. The Calais Campbell comparison that floats around scouting circles is not lazy. It is actually pretty instructive: a massive, powerful defensive end with enough athleticism to be more than just a run-stuffer, but one who needed the right coaching and system to unlock double-digit sack potential. At 20 years old with the physical profile he carries, the arrow is still pointing up. Faulk is not a finished product, but the foundation is as sturdy as any defender in this class.
Todd McShay, The Ringer: The Player: Faulk, who won’t turn 21 until September, is one of the youngest players in the draft, and there’s no denying that he’s a raw prospect. His production declined in 2025, but his tape is much better than his numbers indicate. He plays with outstanding effort, and you simply cannot coach his combination of size, length, and athleticism.
Faulk is unrefined as a pass rusher, but there is so much to work with given his traits and his motor. He had the lowest pass rush win rate (11.4 percent) of the top 10 edge prospects in this class, but he possesses a quick first step, has ridiculously long arms, and is a smooth mover for his massive frame. I really like some of his three-technique tape. He’s a problem when he’s turned loose on the outside shoulder of the guard on obvious pass downs. However, he’s slow to redirect when a QB moves off his spot, which is one reason why he leaves a lot of sacks on the field.
The reality is that Faulk won’t win with speed or redirection suddenness. He needs to develop a pass rush plan and refine his hands. Faulk will be a day one high-impact run defender in the NFL. He’s strong at the point of attack, sets a hard edge, and plays the run with loads of physicality and effort.
The Draft: Faulk’s draft stock fluctuates wildly, depending on whom you ask. His grades will vary from team to team based on his defensive scheme fit. Expect a wide range of opinions, but the bottom line is that Faulk is a Round 1 pick all day long and should hear his name called in the first 25 picks.
The Projection: There are a lot of similarities between Faulk and Arik Armstead; the latter was also 21 years old coming out of Oregon. Faulk is slightly shorter than Armstead but is more athletically gifted. He should have a long, successful NFL career ahead of him and could be one of the steals in this draft.
A to Z Sports: I think the biggest disconnect when it comes to Faulk’s evaluation is scouting his position. The number one thing I always try to do with prospects is envision what type of role would best suit his skillset, as that’s what the NFL will ask him to do. When watching Faulk, it’s clear to me that he’s not an NFL edge rusher, something he’s been labeled, and it’s affecting his evaluation for many, in my eyes.
If you, instead, view him through the lens of an interior defensive lineman, his game becomes much more appealing, if not outright coveted. He’s young, he’s powerful, he’s smart, he’s long, downright impossible to move at the POA, and his motor causes plenty of disruption on its own. It’s not hard to see the upside here on the inside, particularly if he bulks up just a smidgen more. This type of move, of course, does require him to buy in on making the move, but he’s a high character player by all accounts.
His power-to-speed ability as a rusher could be a tremendous asset, and his excellent run defense makes him an easy three-down caliber player a team can deploy anywhere on the defensive line. If he can correct his pad level to an acceptable level (it may never be something he excels at just off of his sheer size alone) and bulk up a bit more in the NFL, I have a hard time not seeing Faulk succeed at the NFL level.
Pick 30 – Blake Miller, T, Clemson
There is a lot to like about Miller, but he might not be the best pick the Dolphins could make with their second swing in the first round. He has the potential to be a very strong right tackle starter in the NFL, but he is probably limited to that role. Maybe he makes sense as a backup for Austin Jackson, allowing the team to coach him up while Jackson starts, while also providing an immediate starter if Jackson misses time due to injury. Miller has experience working as a sixth lineman and could also have that responsibility at the NFL level. This is not a sexy pick to excite the fan base, but it could be a foundation-building option for a team in the midst of a rebuild.
What they are saying:
Pro Football and Sports Network: Blake Miller has room to keep building up his game, but he has one of the highest ceilings in the 2026 NFL Draft OT class. The long 6’6”, 315-pound right tackle logged almost 4,000 snaps and 54 starts as a rare four-year starter, and he ended with his best, most consistent season yet in 2025. At his size, Miller is one of the most natural movers in the entire 2026 OL class.
He’s an uber-explosive attacker off the snap and a light-footed puller with hyper-elite lateral and second-level range. His ability to cover ground and reach landmarks is matched only by his knee bend, movement balance, and synergetic feel in pass protection. And in 2025, he’s showed notable development with his anchor footwork, strength, and lower-body control.
He can still cut down on lapses in extension timing at the apex, but he’s a true run-game catalyst with endless schematic flexibility and reliable pass blocking utility working 1-on-1 and against stunts.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Ultimate iron man at right tackle with 54 career starts. Miller has unusual lateral quickness and fluidity in space despite playing too upright. His hands lack accuracy and command in both phases, but he can recover and make blocks with a finisher’s mindset. Miller is rarely beaten by rush games, but he has his edges attacked because of his hand issues. He will encounter difficulties at the next level without better pad level, core strength and cleaner technique. If he tightens up in those areas, Miller can become a solid NFL right tackle.
NFL Draft Buzz: Miller’s development arc at Clemson tells you what kind of player he is. His pass protection sharpened every single year, and by his final season he was operating at a level most tackle prospects in this class cannot touch in that phase. The stunt recognition, the foot quickness, the ability to recover when initially displaced, all of it is backed by four years of data and thousands of snaps. An offensive line coach will feel comfortable penciling him in as a starter on the right side early in his rookie deal.
The run game is where the work needs to happen. His pad level, hand placement, and ability to move defenders at the point of attack fall short of what you want from a starting NFL tackle. He will get shed at the second level, and there is no evidence he becomes a people-mover. But these are technique issues rather than athletic limitations, which matters.
Zone-heavy rushing schemes that ask tackles to reach and seal rather than drive defenders off the ball will get the most from Miller. His lateral agility is built for that style, and his pass protection floor gives him real value as a dependable right tackle with a clear ceiling if the run game catches up.
Brandon Thorn, Bleacher Report: Blake Miller is a durable, alert right tackle prospect with good athletic ability, arm length and quick, proactive hands to establish first meaningful contact and gain control of defenders. Miller lacks high-end power but brings tenacity as a finisher to stick on blocks. He lacks proven versatility but has the tools to develop it and compete for a starting right tackle job during his rookie contract.
Miller is a 6’7”, 317-pound offensive line prospect, who entered the Clemson program as a 3-star recruit in the 2022 class.
The former Tiger broke the Clemson record for career snaps from scrimmage, playing 3,778 offensive snaps over 54 career games (all starts at right tackle) from 2022-25 and set the Clemson record for consecutive starts by a non-specialist with 54. He was also voted as a team captain in 2025.
Draft Nation: Blake Miller needs to add some play strength to help combine with his agility to become a starter at the next level. He projects as a right tackle who, at this point, is more of a developmental prospect than the top prospects coming out. He has enough upside to hear his name called in round three or four.
A good comparison for Blake Miller may be a player like Luke Goedeke. Goedeke went in the second round to Tampa Bay in the 2022 NFL draft and struggled with his hand placement when he was scouted. Miller has enough tools to become a future starting right tackle, but not right away.
Todd McShay, The Ringer: The Player: Miller is a powerful mauler with the strength to move defenders off the ball. He blocks through the echo of the whistle and has a finisher’s mentality. He is an aggressive downfield blocker who overpowers defenders in space. At Clemson, he was a team captain and three-time All-ACC right tackle who set a school record for consecutive starts (by a nonspecialist), with 54. He opted to play in Clemson’s bowl game against Penn State despite the Tigers’ disappointing season and had one of his best performances of the year. He also tested well at the combine.
Miller sets with a strong base, keeps his cleats in the ground, and anchors well for the most part. He latches on and locks out when he gets his hands inside. He doesn’t cover enough ground with the second kick step, and he can be beaten by speed, especially when an opposing edge rushes from wide-nine alignment. His hand placement is erratic, which puts him in vulnerable positions—he’s susceptible to having his hands swiped as he’s beaten to the inside.
The Draft: Miller is one of the top five offensive tackle prospects in this class, and he’s likely to get drafted in the mid- to late first round.
The Projection: Miller compares well to 2016 Detroit first-rounder Taylor Decker, who started 145 games for the Lions. Decker is a left tackle, while Miller is a plug-and-play right tackle, but both are relentless and have good power, experience, toughness, and size. It’s worth noting that Miller has longer arms and tested better at his combine.
Second Round
Pick 43 – Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama
I do not think this pick is likely, because I do not see a way Simpson is sitting on the board with the 43rd pick. If he is still available with the 30th pick, the Dolphins should be making phone calls to see if anyone wants to jump up to grab him there, especially because it would give a team the fifth-year option on Simpson’s rookie contract. I also do not think the Dolphins are looking for an early-round quarterback this year, wanting to see what free agent addition Malik Willis brings to the offense – but I also feel like this gives us a chance to take a look at Simpson and that if he somehow is still there, the Dolphins may have to make the pick.
What they are saying:
Pro Football and Sports Network: Ty Simpson’s sample size remains frustratingly small, but the Alabama passer took the NFL Draft world by storm with his quick ascent in 2025. Simpson waited his turn to start at Alabama, and at his best in 2025, that time developing appeared to have molded him into a clear Round 1 passer. But ugly losses to Oklahoma and Indiana exposed Simpson’s biggest issues, and even through the wins later in the year, he proved more inconsistent than desired.
One of Simpson’s best traits is his mechanical profile; he has some of the cleanest throwing form in the class, with consistent sync and hip torque across situations. And in his best moments, he’s shown he can quickly discern coverage voids pre-snap and anticipate over the middle. That said, his post-snap processing and trigger run hot-and-cold, his situational precision falters too often in spite of his solid mechanics, and his non-elite arm strength shows up when attempting to drive passes downfield.
With his general freneticism, Simpson could’ve benefitted from returning to school, but in a scarce QB class, he’s the best positioned to benefit. He resembles Marc Bulger with his talent profile and good-not-great operational skill set, and while he may never elevate a team to Super Bowl contention, a quality starting career is on the table.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Former five-star prospect who waited his turn at Alabama and raised his profile in a single season as the Tide’s starter. Simpson is mechanically sound from a footwork and release perspective, providing a favorable foundation to work from. He’s above average as a processor and decision-maker, but timing and anticipation remain works in progress. Arm talent and velocity are average, which limits his success. His repeatable process should help iron out ball placement inconsistencies the more he plays. Simpson is unfazed by shell coverages and is decisive when attacking intermediate zone pockets for chunk gains. He can break contain and move the sticks with his legs, too. Learning to cut bait and avoid sacks needs to be prioritized. One-year starters rarely “boom” so he’ll need a patient staff and a clear developmental roadmap to fill in the missing pieces.
NFL Draft Buzz: Simpson stands as one of the most fascinating quarterback prospects in recent memory – a first-year starter who displayed elite command through nine games before reality complicated the narrative. The tape doesn’t lie about what he showed early: this was a quarterback executing concepts and making reads that franchise quarterbacks take years to master, doing it without a running game to lean on while posting that absurd 21:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. When evaluators watch those first nine games, they see someone redefining what’s possible for a first-year starter. Teams desperate for their next franchise quarterback will circle his name because what he lacks in prototypical measurables he compensates for with rare quarterback intellect married to precise execution.
But here’s where honest evaluation demands acknowledging the full picture. What happened after Oklahoma matters enormously. When Brent Venables exposed his tendencies and other defensive coordinators followed suit, Simpson’s efficiency cratered. Alabama’s 125th-ranked rushing attack left him without any safety net. Ryan Williams, his best receiver, battled inconsistency. The offensive line sprang leaks. And suddenly the same quarterback who looked unstoppable dissecting Georgia’s defense was fumbling in five straight games and completing 57% of his passes. That’s not just circumstantial noise – it reveals what happens when the supporting cast can’t match his mental execution and physical limitations prevent him from compensating.
The historical context here creates legitimate pause. Fifteen career starts puts Simpson in company with Mitchell Trubisky and Anthony Richardson more than the successful NFL starters who had 30-plus college starts under their belts. Even the outliers like Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes had significantly more experience and possessed elite physical traits that provided safety nets when their processing caught up. Simpson’s superpower is his mind, not his arm or legs, which means his margin for error shrinks considerably and his landing spot becomes absolutely critical. Sit him hehind an established vet on a solid team? That’s the blueprint for success. Send him to a rebuilding situation expecting immediate results? That’s how promising quarterbacks with elite processing but limited physical tools flame out before they develop. We recognize Simpson as a top-ten talent with a first-round grade, but those same evaluators better be honest about what those final six games revealed and whether their organization can provide the developmental environment he needs to reach that ceiling he flashed in Athens.
Todd McShay, The Ringer: The Player: Ty Simpson is the son of a college football coach—his father, Jason, has been head coach at UT Martin for 20 years. Ty is an undersized and inexperienced quarterback prospect with an elite mind for the game, outstanding anticipatory accuracy, and plus (but not great) arm strength and pocket maneuverability.
Simpson was a five-star recruit who waited his turn for three years at Alabama while developing behind Bryce Young and Jalen Milroe. After appearing in 16 games and attempting 50 passes during his first three seasons, Simpson became Alabama’s full-time starter in 2025 and led the Crimson Tide to the second round of the CFP and an 11-4 record while completing 64.5 percent of his passes, with a TD:INT ratio of 5.6:1 (28-5).
Simpson has excellent command and conviction both pre-and post-snap. He understands coverage and processes at an extraordinarily high level (not just for a one-year starter, but for any college QB prospect). An underdiscussed aspect of his game is how he schedules his throws—he has excellent urgency and depth on his drops and brilliantly ties his feet and eyes to the play concept. He exhibits outstanding pocket manipulation, has plus foot quickness and suddenness and has the ability to extend plays with his feet.
He has plus velocity on intermediate throws and drills the ball into tight windows. He has good enough energy on balls thrown outside the numbers. What’s outstanding is his short-to-intermediate accuracy. He throws with anticipation, hits spots, and leads receivers open. He has an excellent natural feel. His tape has some beautiful deep balls, but his placement on those throws can be erratic. He’s far less consistent with his placement on downfield shots than he is with the short to intermediate stuff.
Simpson can be aggressive to a fault. While his anticipation and understanding of play concepts comprise one of his greatest strengths, it can become a fatal flaw when he doesn’t account for unforeseen factors like a defender’s adjustment or a play getting off-script. He sometimes appears to be unable to deviate from the play design as it’s drawn up on the whiteboard. He also needs to learn when to adapt his trajectory and layer certain throws more to give his receiver a better chance to make a play. That should come with more experience, but ideally those reps would occur before he gets to the NFL.
Simpson’s play severely declined during the final six games of the season, when he completed just 61 percent of his throws with four INTs (67 percent with just one INT in first nine games). There are four significant factors that contributed to his dropoff: 1) Alabama’s run game ranked 125th in the FBS; 2) Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables provided a blueprint for defeating the Tide’s protection in their November matchup; 3) Simpson was dealing with multiple ailments due to taking too many hits (a byproduct of the first two factors), including gastritis that caused his weight to dip to 190 pounds by season’s end; 4) His star WR, Ryan Williams, all but disappeared, catching just 13 passes for 161 yards and zero TDs during the team’s final six games (and six of those catches came in the CFP loss to Indiana).
The Draft: Simpson will be QB2 in the 2026 NFL draft after Fernando Mendoza. It’s likely he will hear his name called between picks no. 25 and 40.
The Projection: Simpson’s NFL projection is challenging. On one hand, his tape during the first nine games of the season was better than any quarterback’s in the country, including Mendoza. He’s as advanced mentally as any quarterback I’ve evaluated since Joe Burrow. His arm has plenty of juice, his anticipatory accuracy is outstanding, and I love his pocket manipulation and suddenness. On the other hand, Simpson is an undersized prospect whose body did not hold up during his one season as a starter and he enters the NFL with 15 collegiate starts. The list of RD1 QBs with fewer than 20 college starts is scary; it includes Anthony Richardson, Mitch Trubisky, Trey Lance, Dwayne Haskins and Mark Sanchez.
Simpson is best suited to play in a West Coast system (think of NFL coaches like Kyle Shannahan, Sean McVay, Kevin O’Connell, Mike LaFleur, and Mike McDaniel). He’s a coach’s son, has been around ball his entire life, and has a brilliant football mind. If he’s put in the right situation, Simpson can develop into a good starting quarterback in the league. But his inexperience makes him an outlier and he’s not a transcendent talent, which is why he won’t be a top-20 pick in this draft.
Third Round
Pick 75 – TRADE
Dolphins send pick 75 to the Denver Broncos for pick 79 (from Atlanta Falcons) and a 2027 4th round pick.
Pick 79 – Max Klare, TE, Ohio State
Klare would bring the Dolphins a mismatch tight end who can be a key member of the passing attack. He is a solid, but not great, blocker, but that does seem to be the most common description of tight ends coming out of college. He can continue to improve in that role, but he shines most when he can get into space, make the catch, and turn up field.
What they are saying:
Pro Football and Sports Network: Max Klare took his talents from West Lafayette to Columbus this year, suiting up for the Ohio State Buckeyes after a standout 2024 season with the Purdue Boilermakers. It took him a few weeks to get a rhythm, but Klare eventually delivered a quality year at Ohio State, catching 43 passes for 448 yards and two scores. Klare’s production naturally inspires confidence, and his tape generates further NFL Draft excitement.
At 6’4”, 240 pounds, Klare is an instinctive receiving threat with the burst, quickness, flexibility, and spatial IQ to separate independently. He has smooth body control as a catcher, and is an aggressive RAC threat who uses overwhelming leg churn and lower-body action to drive through would-be tackles. Klare’s pass-catching profile is extremely appealing, and his immediate blocking versatility and utility upside further magnifies that appeal.
While Klare has room to add on more mass at the NFL level, he’s a versatile run-game asset who can block in-line, acquire leverage, drive his legs, keep gap integrity, and fulfill his assignments with reliability.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Highly athletic, pass-catching tight end capable of earning volume targets on the pro level. Klare can live beyond the typical targeted depth for most tight ends thanks to his route inventory and ability to generate separation across the field. He’s best from the slot but can widen out when a matchup presents itself. Hands and ball-tracking are below average but his production could make teams forget the drops. He improved as a run blocker as the season progressed, but “functional” might be the finish line there. In a league craving impact tight ends, Klare has a chance to inject life into an offense hunting mismatches.
NFL Draft Buzz: Klare is a pass-catching tight end first, and his NFL value will be defined by how quickly an offense can get creative with his alignments. When you watch his Purdue tape from 2024, the picture is clear: this is a guy who can threaten vertically, win on intermediate crossers, and make defenders pay when they guess wrong in zone coverage. His feel for route stems and leverage manipulation is advanced for a college tight end, and his ability to line up from multiple spots gives offensive coordinators real flexibility. The move to Ohio State did not showcase him the same way, but anyone who watched both years of tape understands the production dip had more to do with target share and scheme than regression as a player.
The blocking is the thing that keeps you up at night. At his current weight and with his current technique, he is a liability on early downs when the offense needs to run the ball behind the tight end. He improved during his year in Columbus, no question, and he showed more willingness to get after it in the run game than he ever did in West Lafayette. But “improved” and “ready” are not the same thing. NFL defensive ends will eat him alive if he cannot add 15 pounds of good weight and learn to strike with his hands inside the frame instead of reaching and grabbing. The pass protection numbers were not alarming, but the run blocking tape still makes you wince on too many reps.
The NFL is starving for tight ends who can stress defenses in the passing game from multiple alignments, and Klare fits that mold. His best landing spot is an offense that will deploy him as a big slot or flex piece early in his career while he develops the blocking chops to become an every-down contributor. He is not a finished product, and the combine did nothing to quiet concerns about his overall athletic ceiling in a deep tight end class. But the route-running instincts, the production history, and the positional versatility give him a real floor as a move tight end who can contribute as a receiver from Day 1. The ceiling depends entirely on what happens in the weight room and the blocking sled over the next two years.
Todd McShay, The Ringer: The Player: Klare projects as a dependable, high-floor tight end whose value comes from his efficiency, feel, and run-after-the-catch ability rather than his vertical explosiveness. Across stops at Purdue and Ohio State, his production reflected his ability as a consistent chain mover who can be featured in underneath and intermediate concepts.
Klare’s receiving game is built on polish and instincts. He’s a fluid, controlled route runner with a strong understanding of spacing, particularly against zone. He does a good job of using leverage to shield defenders and presents a reliable target on crossers, sticks, and option routes. While he won’t consistently threaten defenses down the seam, he creates separation early and maintains it with his body positioning and timing.
His standout ability is what he does after the catch. Klare transitions upfield quickly and runs with balance and strength, regularly generating extra yards through contact. His YAC production puts him in line stylistically with players like Sam LaPorta, Trey McBride, and Jake Ferguson—tight ends who win underneath and turn short gains into meaningful ones.
His hands are generally trustworthy. While there are occasional concentration drops on tape, his drop rate is low and trending in the right direction, and he shows comfort catching in traffic.
As a blocker, he’s serviceable but still developing. His effort and willingness are there, but inconsistencies in his pad level and hand placement limit his ability to sustain blocks. Still, his frame and versatility (in-line and flex) suggest that he can improve enough to stay on the field in multiple personnel groupings.
The Draft: Klare is one of the top five prospects in the back-loaded but deep 2026 tight end class. He is likely to come off the board in Round 3.
The Projection: Route IQ, reliability, and YAC. Those are the three traits that all overachieving tight ends possess coming out of the draft. Klare is very good in all three areas—and that’s why I see shades of Dalton Schultz (Texans), Cole Kmet (Bears), and Ferguson (Cowboys) in his game. Klare should immediately contribute as a versatile no. 2 tight end, and he has enough size and athleticism to emerge as a team’s TE1. He’s best suited for a play-action-heavy offense that features the tight end on a lot of delayed releases, crossers, middle-field spacing concepts, stick concepts, and so on. Think the 49ers, Vikings, Rams, Eagles, and Chiefs, among others.
Pick 87 – Davison Igbinosun, CB, Ohio State
I thought I would have taken at least one cornerback by this point in the Draft, but the board had me adding other pieces. Finally, turning to the secondary, Ignbinosun is an interesting prospect. He took a huge step forward in 2025, looking like a top-tier cornerback coming into the Draft. But was that real, or will he regress toward his 2024 season? He is a good press corner, but will need to improve as an off-man and zone option. He is probably never going to be a Pro Bowl-caliber, star cornerback, but he can be the solid player who can be trusted in coverage and gets the job done.
What they are saying:
Pro Football and Sports Network: Davison Igbinosun joined Jim Knowles at Ohio State in 2023 and immediately took a place in the defense’s starting lineup. In 2024, Igbinosun returned alongside Denzel Burke and Jordan Hancock, and helped the Buckeyes earn their first National Championship in over a decade. There were clear flaws on Igbinosun’s tape in 2024, but Igbinosun drastically improved in 2025, and solidified his stock in the process.
In 2024, Igbinosun was over-reliant on extraneous physicality and very penalty-prone (he drew 16 flags in 2024), and inconsistent upper-lower sync threw his fluidity into question. In 2025, he was almost lockdown with his blend of size, length, short-area quickness, sink, and closing speed, and cut his penalty count down to just five. Igbinosun is still more comfortable in press-man than he is in off-man and zone, where spatial management and pedal balance is more important, and he has room to keep playing with more discipline and measure as a catch-point competitor.
In spite of these inconsistencies, Igbinosun is a tantalizing physical talent with ideal speed, quickness, length, and competitive toughness. He can match, redirect, dictate, and squeeze WRs against the boundary as a natural press-man CB, he can play the ball with precision, and he’s formidable in support.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Igbinosun is an iron man with 53 career starts, fitting the mold of a press corner with good size and long arms. He uses heavy hands and strength to reroute receivers, staying tight on most vertical routes. However, hip tightness, disjointed footwork and average route recognition make pattern-matching a chore in larger spaces or in off-man coverage. Improving his technique and getting him to trust it will be critical in reducing penalties. He is tough, strong and a willing run defender. Traits raise the ceiling to CB2 in a zone-heavy scheme, but his floor as an average backup might be a more likely outcome.
NFL Draft Buzz: Igbinosun fits best on the boundary in a zone-heavy scheme where he can use his eyes and length rather than being asked to mirror in space all game. In a Cover 3 or Cover 4 look, he can sit at his proper depth, read the quarterback’s eyes, and drive on the ball with the kind of closing burst you want from a perimeter corner. His press technique at the line is already pretty developed. He gets his hands on receivers, knocks them off their route, and makes the timing throw harder for the quarterback. Pair that with how aggressively he fills in the run game and you have a corner who does more than just cover.
The trajectory is the interesting part. Watch his 2023 tape and then watch his 2025 tape, and you are looking at a noticeably different corner. He got his head around on the ball more consistently, the penalty numbers came down, and he looked more comfortable reading route concepts instead of just reacting. That said, the hip stiffness is real and it limits what he can do in pure man-to-man situations. Receivers with quick feet at the stem can get him turned around. A coaching staff that commits to working on his transition mechanics and footwork could unlock more, but that is a projection, not a guarantee.
The most realistic outcome is a CB2 or high-end rotational corner who can contribute on special teams early while the coverage technique continues to develop. He is not someone you want on an island against a team’s best receiver right away. But the competitive temperament is there, the run support is there, and the experience of 53 career starts means he has seen just about every offensive look college football can throw at him. If the technique keeps tightening, the ceiling is a starter who can hold down his side of the field without needing constant help over the top.
Todd McShay, The Ringer: The Player: Igbinosun is an experienced Big Ten corner with a great blend of size, length, and speed.
He has a high ceiling as a press corner and can reroute receivers, making it difficult for them to get off the line of scrimmage. He can plant and break on the ball in off coverage and sift through route combinations. He’s fluid for a taller corner, and he has some experience lining up over the slot. He isn’t a ball hawk, but he intercepted four passes over the past two seasons, and he flashes above-average ball skills. He’s competitive in 50-50 situations and flashes the ability to turn and locate the ball downfield.
His physical style of play remains a concern. He cut down his penalties from 16 in 2024 to five in 2025, but he is grabby and could have easily been flagged more last season based on the tape. He plays with an edge and fights to get off blocks. He misses the occasional tackle, but he’s willing to square up and stick his face in the fan as a tackler. He started all 43 games for Ohio State over the past three seasons, and he started 10 games at Ole Miss as a freshman.
The Draft: Igbinosun is a potential top-10 corner and top-100 overall prospect. Three Ohio State defensive backs were drafted last year, and three Ohio State defensive backs were invited to the combine this year.
The Projection: Igbinosun is more experienced and polished than 2022 seventh-round pick Jaylen Watson was coming out of Washington State, but their frames, length, speed, and physical style of play are similar. Watson has developed into an effective starter and signed a three-year deal with the Rams in the offseason.
Chris Pflum, Bug Blue View: Davison Igbinosun projects as an important depth piece at cornerback with the upside to start in the right scheme.
Igbinosun won’t be for every team and defense, and his highest ceiling is likely in a “Seattle Style” Cover 3 defense. He’s a smart player, though he can be a bit over-aggressive at times, and that should allow him to play Pattern Matching rules in a Fangio-Adjacent defense, however his length, downhill trigger, and willingness to be physical are an excellent fit for the Seattle mold.
Igbinosun’s draft stock will likely vary based on the team evaluating him. However, he should hear his name called before the end of the second night of the draft.
Pick 90 – Jake Slaughter, C, Florida
Slaughter is ready to start coming into the NFL, as long as he is only asked to pass block. He is exceptional in that role and he reads defenses really well. If he is asked to run block, however, there are issues. He can immediately serve as the backup to Aaron Brewer in the middle of the Miami offensive line while continuing to work on his technique and build strength.
What they are saying:
Pro Football and Sports Network: Jake Slaughter started 33 games at center, playing for Florida in the SEC gauntlet for his entire career. In 2025, he achieved the third-highest PFSN OL Impact score in the entire nation, with an elite grade of 93.3, while allowing just four pressures. The metrics speak heavily in favor of Slaughter, but his professional projection is a bit more complicated.
At a lean 303 pounds, Slaughter lacks high-end mass or length, and he doesn’t have high-end explosiveness to compensate either; all of this visibly detracts from his maximum power capacity at contact, particulary in the run game. Slaughter is intelligent and assignment-sound, but isn’t a natural-born displacer, and he shines more as a pure pass protector. In the pass blocking phase, Slaughter’s fluid and light-footed lateral athleticism enables him to match and stay square to threats.
He can gather rushers with precise, active hands, flexible leveraging, and upper-lower sync. And pre-snap, he has experience calling out blitz threats and commanding the front. Slaughter will best fit pass-heavy offenses, but regardless, he has the potential to be a quality NFL starter if he can withstand NFL power and siphon out more of his own.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Two-year team captain and three-year starter with plenty of game experience against high-end talent. Slaughter lacks desired build/mass but plays with adequate play strength and solid technique. He’s consistent at finding and sustaining his outside zone blocks. He works to neutralize opponents on downhill blocks but is unlikely to move pro bodies around. He has the feet for gap control in pass pro but will struggle some against pure bull rushers. What he lacks in traits he makes up for with awareness and football IQ, which gives him a chance to become an NFL backup.
NFL Draft Buzz: Slaughter’s pass protection is NFL-ready. The tape against Georgia, Texas, and Ole Miss tells the story: he diagnosed pressures, handled interior stunts, and kept his quarterback upright against some of the best defensive fronts in the country. His anchor strength, hand timing, and ability to reset when rushers cross his face should all translate from day one. The mental processing stands out just as much. He makes the calls, adjusts protections late, and rarely looks lost against complex looks. Offenses built around quick-game concepts and drop-back passing will get immediate value from him.
The run blocking is not at the same level, and that gap matters. He generates movement when he catches defenders cleanly and climbs to linebackers with intent, but against interior defenders with quick hands and gap-shooting ability, he struggles to sustain and finish. Outside zone asks him to reach laterally in ways that do not come naturally, and he gets aggressive when defenders move on him. He fits better in gap schemes or inside zone where he can work vertically and use his leverage.
The floor is an immediate starter who handles pass protection at a high level and gives a coaching staff a dependable anchor in the middle. The ceiling, if the run blocking continues to develop the way it has over the last three years, is the kind of center who holds down that spot for the better part of a decade. The Senior Bowl reinforced his projection, and the consistency he showed across three seasons against top-tier SEC competition carries real weight. He is a safe investment with legitimate upside.
Pick 94 – Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
Doubling up on cornerbacks here, Rivers is probably destined to be a nickel cornerback, but you cannot rule him out as a boundary cornerback. Former Dolphins cornerback Brent Grimes was a four-time Pro Bowl selection despite being 5-foot-10, 185 pounds. Rivers is almost the exact same size, while running a slightly faster 40-yard dash. I am not saying Rivers is on that track, but he has the potential to have a similar career.
What they are saying:
Pro Football and Sports Network: Chandler Rivers started six of 13 games played as a true freshman at Duke, and proceeded to serve as a full-time starter for the rest of his career with the Blue Devils. Rivers has long distinguished himself as a cerebral, instinctive defender, and that’s where he makes his mark as a 2026 NFL Draft prospect. At 5’9”, 185 pounds, with sub-30” arms, Rivers has below-average size, and he’s not quite an elite size-adjusted athlete, either.
Nevertheless, he separates himself with incredibly natural zone feel, spatial awareness, and quick processing, and in spite of his size, he’s not afraid to surge downhill with voracity in support. His size deficiency yields less consistency as a tackler and block combatant, and he can be moved off his spot more often in press-man against larger receivers. But while his middling physical profile invites greater volatility, Rivers can function as a high-floor defender with slot-boundary versatility in zone-heavy schemes.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Rivers was a productive, 45-game starter over his four seasons at Duke. He competed hard when lined up outside but figures to scoot inside in the NFL due to his lack of size and length. He’s capable in zone or man coverages, utilizing good anticipation and short-area quickness, but he could struggle to contest big slot matchups. He’s willing in run support but might be too small to finish tackles at a pro rate. Rivers is football smart and rarely stacks mistakes. He should appeal to teams looking for a nickelback on Day 3.
NFL Draft Buzz: Rivers fits best as an inside cornerback at the next level. His frame and arm length will make it tough to hold up consistently on the boundary against NFL receivers, but his short-area quickness, route recognition, and ability to handle zone exchanges all translate well to the slot. The Combine confirmed what the tape showed: he is twitchy and explosive, able to change direction and close on the ball in a hurry. He showed in 2024 that he can play at a high level when everything clicks, and the interception streak against Florida State, SMU, and Miami was not a product of luck. He anticipated throws, positioned himself correctly, and finished. The question is whether 2024 was the ceiling or 2025 was the floor.
The senior year tape is uneven. His coverage numbers regressed, missed tackles ticked up, and the overall defense grade came back down after that strong junior season. Some of that may reflect Duke’s defense stepping back as a unit, but evaluators will have to weigh how much was individual. He still showed the same instincts and competitive edge that have defined his career, and his willingness to come downhill has never been in question even if his size limits his impact.
The fit is a defense that values versatility in its secondary and runs zone or pattern-match concepts. He can handle man responsibilities in the slot, but asking him to do it snap after snap on the boundary is not playing to his strengths. His special teams background and four years of ACC production give him a solid floor as a contributing nickel who can grow into a larger role if the scheme suits him.
Todd McShay, The Ringer: The Player: Rivers is an experienced and undersized corner with mid-round tape. He excels at reading the quarterback and leaving his initial assignment to make a play once the ball is in the air. He’s quick, changes direction well, and stays balanced. He’s a physical press corner who can reroute receivers despite his lack of size and length. He quickly triggers and beats blockers to the point of attack on quick-hitters. He has big hands for his frame, plays aggressively and jumps routes. He played receiver and cornerback in high school, so he catches the ball well. (He had seven career interceptions in college.) He violently punches and rips at the ball before receivers can secure catches.
He ran well at the combine, but can get beat over the top and doesn’t recover well on tape. He takes some chances and occasionally drifts out of position. Bigger receivers can separate against him at the top of their routes. He’s on the shorter side and has smaller arms, which hinders his ability to come down with 50-50 and jump balls. But he’s tough and doesn’t shy away from contact, even though he misses too many tackles. He primarily played wide corner in college, but accrued 697 snaps over the slot, according to PFF. He started 45 games and he’s a two-time All-ACC honoree.
The Draft: Rivers is a fringe top-100 overall prospect. Only two Duke players have been drafted in the top 100 since 2019.
The Projection: Rivers’s ceiling isn’t as high as some other corners in this class, but he has the skill set to provide depth as no. 4 corner and develop into a team’s nickel back. His frame, length, and speed make 2022 third-rounder Marcus Jones an optimistic comp.
Fourth Round
Pick 130 – Jaishawn Barham, Edge, Michigan
After doubling up on cornerbacks, why not double up on their best friends – the pass rushers. Barham has all the athleticism and physical traits wanted in an edge rusher. He is just extremely raw as an edge option right now. He is not going to be an early Pro Bowl selection, but he could develop into one. Lance Zierlein, as part of his breakdown of Barham, listed his NFL comparison to Chop Robinson, Miami’s 2024 21st overall pick. Playing a situational role, and maybe gaining experience as a wide-nine pass rusher, could give Barham an early step foward in his development.
What they are saying:
Pro Football and Sports Network: Jaishawn Barham was a heavily anticipated transfer addition for the Michigan Wolverines in 2024, after accruing 10 TFLs and seven sacks in his first two seasons at Maryland. Barham’s first season at Michigan wasn’t as fruitful as many hoped. He met expectations with his physicality at 6’3”, 248 pounds, but proved hot-and-cold both with his instincts and comfort, both in gap patrol and in coverage.
In 2025, he was utilized in a role closer to that of a full-time EDGE defender and flashed promise in that role, earning double-digit TFLs and four sacks. Once again, situational awareness and discipline proved to be concerns at times, but Barham’s hyper-elite explosion, reactive athleticism, ankle flexibility, and speed-to-power capacity invite excitement for his long-term projection as a pass-rusher. Barham is an explosive, supercharged athlete at his size with awe-inspiring power and pop at contact, which he can use to control blocks and stack-and-shed.
He’s still very raw as a pass-rush operator and lacks a fully fleshed out counter arsenal, and is largely reliant on his physical tools as a result. It may take a year or two for him to ramp up his development, but in the right environment, Barham has the raw tools and the unhinged physical temperament to become a dynamic pass-rush catalyst in odd and hybrid-front schemes, attacking downhill from wider alignments.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Barham logged most of his snaps at off-ball linebacker, but his 2025 tape showed explosiveness that will attract teams seeking a developmental rush ‘backer in an odd front. He’s raw as a rusher, relying heavily on athleticism, but the missing elements are teachable. Whether outside or inside, he’s a professional block-beater with the tools to stack or slip blocks, though his edge-setting needs work. His bend and reactive agility create unlikely tackle chances that few can find. His intensity and motor are top-tier but he needs to play with better discipline to avoid negative snaps. With explosive traits and inside-outside versatility, he projects as an impactful future starter once his technique catches up.
NFL Draft Buzz: Run defense is the calling card here, full stop. The way Barham attacks blocks, fills gaps, and plays downhill is the kind of physicality that translates immediately to the NFL, and four years of consistent production backs that up. He is at his best when a defense can move him around and let him be aggressive, lining him up as a rush linebacker one snap and a hand-down edge the next. Add in above-average straight-line speed and real closing burst, and there is a foundation to work with.
The fit makes the most sense in an odd-front scheme that can use him as a rush linebacker or a strong-side edge who sets the edge on early downs and gets some pass rush opportunities on third down. A 3-4 defense that blitzes from multiple spots would let him use his instincts and explosiveness without asking him to win complex one-on-one pass rush matchups on every snap. He could also contribute in sub-packages as an extra rusher on obvious passing downs while his technique develops.
The concerns are real but not disqualifying. His coverage limitations will keep him off the field in some obvious passing situations early on, and the discipline issues need to be cleaned up. But the run defense production, the positional versatility, and the athletic profile give him a real floor as a rotational contributor with a path to starting. The half-season at edge is a small sample, but the traits he showed there, particularly the bend and first-step quickness, suggest the position switch has real upside if he commits to developing his hand usage. For a team patient enough to coach him up, Barham could outperform his draft slot.
Fifth Round
Pick 151 – Markel Bell, T, Miami
A monster of a man, Bell would serve as the backup to Patrick Paul as the Dolphins’ left tackle. He is going to need time to adjust to the speed of the game, which is why he is sitting here on the board in the fifth round and why being behind Paul gives Bell the best chance at a long career. If he can reach his potential, the Dolphins are set at left tackle for a long time.
What they are saying:
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: Mountainous tackle with rare physical attributes that work both in his favor and against him depending on the situation. There is no escaping a high center of gravity, which will impact his ability to change direction in protection and create consistent engagement as a run blocker. Bell must play in a gap-scheme attack to minimize his limitations. He has exceptional length that he puts to good use in finding static pass rushers and offering shade to the pocket. NFL edge speed and sudden inside moves could be an evergreen issue for Bell, but with coaching he could learn to mitigate those issues with his length. He has Day 3 value but might have a firm ceiling on his upside.
NFL Draft Buzz: Bell’s NFL value lives and dies in pass protection, and the tape says there is real starter-quality ability on that side of the ball. You do not find 6’9”, 340-pound humans who can move with even adequate fluidity very often, and Bell’s pass blocking production in 2025 puts him in rare company for this draft class. The zero sacks allowed, the 15 total pressures on 558 pass blocking reps, the way he smothers speed rushers with length before they can turn the corner. That is a skill set that translates. The development arc from JUCO unknown to Senior Bowl invitee is not something you dismiss, either. Players who improve at that rate tend to keep improving once they get into a pro development program with NFL-caliber coaching.
The concern, and it is a legitimate one, is that Bell is essentially half an offensive lineman right now. His run blocking grades are below average across both seasons at Miami, and the tape confirms it. He cannot consistently win the leverage battle at the point of attack because his height and pad level make it physically difficult to get underneath defenders. Asking him to reach block, pull, or operate in space is a losing proposition. Any offense that relies heavily on outside zone or asks its tackles to play in the second level is going to have a hard time fitting Bell into the scheme. That rules out a significant number of NFL offenses.
The right landing spot is a team that leans on a pass-heavy or play-action-centric attack where the tackle’s primary job is keeping the pocket clean. A gap-based running scheme that lets Bell fire off the ball on down blocks and double teams without asking him to move laterally would mask his limitations on the ground. He needs time to develop, ideally a year learning behind a veteran, but the raw materials are too tantalizing to ignore. The length, the grip strength, the pass protection production, and the rate of growth all point to a player who could become a quality NFL starter if the situation is right. The floor is a long-tenured swing tackle who you trust in an emergency, and that alone has value in this league.
Brandon Thorn, Bleacher Report: Markel Bell is a towering, light-footed tackle prospect, who maximizes his length to cast a wide net in pass protection and active feet to displace defenders in the run game. Bell’s upright style and solid, though not great overall athletic ability, cap his ceiling. However, his size and skill-level signal a high-quality swing tackle with starter upside.
Bell is a 6’9”, 346-pound tackle prospect, who entered the Miami program as a 4-star JUCO recruit in the 2024 class. He started two seasons at Holmes Community College in Mississippi before arriving to Miami in 2024. The former Hurricane started 21 games at left tackle in Coral Gables, including 16 in 2025. Bell participated in the 2026 Senior Bowl.
Sixth Round
No Picks
Seventh Round
Pick 227 – Eric McAlister, WR, TCU
The last major need that should be addressed, but it did not happen until the seventh round. McAlister is a speedster who brings with him a ton of talent – and a ton of off-field concerns. If the Dolphins are comfortable with those concerns, he could be a steal in the seventh round. If they are not, they bypass him here. He might actually be the perfect replacement for Jaylen Waddle, who Miami traded to the Denver Broncos this year.
What they are saying:
Pro Football and Sports Network: Eric McAlister is a polarizing WR prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft, who has tantalizing physical upside if he can put it all together and alleviate off-field concerns. He joined the TCU Horned Frogs in 2024 after a two-year stretch at Boise State that culminated in a 47-873-5 sophomore campaign. In 2024, McAlister averaged almost 20 yards per catch on 39 receptions, and in 2025, he dominated his team’s receiving production to the tune of 72 catches for 1,190 yards and 10 scores, as well as a strong PFSN WR Impact grade of 82.7 and a yards per route run figure of 2.87, per TruMedia.
There are off-field concerns with McAlister that teams will have to vet; in March of 2024, McAlister was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly threatening a man with a gun. He pled guilty to a misdemeanor, was available all through the 2024 and 2025 seasons, and has had no public incidents since. If his character evaluation clears, he’s a compelling high-upside WR with near-elite vertical athleticism and speed at 6’4”, 194 pounds.
He flashes good sink and deceleration as a route runner, has the speed and weaving ability to produce at a high clip in the RAC phase, and can box out at the catch point with his length. McAlister still needs further refinement as a separator and can struggle with poor hand technique and drops at times, and he can more consistently play up to his size both as a 50-50 operator and as a blocker. Still, as a vertical catalyst with untapped three-level potential, McAlister has a physical profile and production profile worthy of consideration on Day 3.
Lance Zierlein, NFL.com: McAlister’s game is built on speed. He can blow by press and off-man looks, finding a second gear both down the field and after the catch. While he gets open vertically, suspect route-running causes issues uncovering on the first two levels. He has trouble muscling up in 50/50 battles, too. McAlister is a body-catcher, so improving that aspect of his game could go a long way in determining whether he’ll be an average backup or larger contributor.
NFL Draft Buzz: Watch that SMU game again and you’ll see a receiver who can take over when the moment demands it. Three touchdowns, 254 yards, multiple broken tackles turning short catches into explosive plays. McAlister possesses the size, speed, and competitive fire that translates to Sunday football. His ability to win contested catches and create after the catch provides immediate value, even if his route-running needs continued refinement at the next level.
Here’s the deal with McAlister: he profiles as a complementary receiver who can develop into a legitimate number two option with the right coaching. His best fit comes in offenses that emphasize vertical concepts and give receivers opportunities to win one-on-one matchups down the field. Zone-heavy schemes that ask receivers to find soft spots and settle will also work, as his awareness of coverage holes showed up repeatedly in his college tape. Teams running West Coast principles that demand precise timing and sharp breaks on every route may find his inconsistent stem work frustrating.
The intangibles matter here. McAlister overcame off-field trouble early in his TCU career and responded by becoming one of the most respected leaders in that locker room. When his starting quarterback entered the transfer portal before a bowl game, McAlister stood in front of his teammates and rallied support for the backup. He then went out and performed when it counted. That type of character, combined with production that speaks for itself, makes him a worthwhile investment for teams looking to add depth and competition to their receiver room.
Pick 238 – Lewis Bond, WR, Boston College
Bond catches the ball. That seems like a great treat to have for a wide receiver. He is not going to burn defenses, he is not going to win every jump ball, but he is going to make the catch when you need it. He will be discussed as a slot receiver, due to his size, but he can work outside and he finished his Boston College career as the school record holder for receptions. He is a smaller version of a possession receiver, can play special teams, and gives the Dolphins depth with a seventh-round pick.
What they are saying:
Pro Football and Sports Network: Lewis Bond developed from an unheralded three-star recruit in 2021 to an ultra-dependable primary option for the Boston College Eagles in 2025. In his final season, he accmulated 88 catches, 993 yards, and a touchdown, and he also put together a strong analytical profile. His PFSN WR Impact grade was a rock-solid 80.5, and per TruMedia, Bond also registered 2.29 yards per route run, a catch rate over expectation of 13.88%, and a miniscule 2.7% drop rate.
Despite being under 5’11” and 190 pounds, with sub-30” arms, Bond plays up to and beyond his size with his catch-point composure and hand strength, and he’s an incredibly nuanced route runner and separator with high-level hip fluidity and flexibility underpinning his separation framework. At his size, Bond lacks ideal functional athleticism, as his speed and explosiveness measure closer to average than elite. That said, he’s an exceedingly sound football player both before and at the catch, and he has the thickly-built midsection and lower body to supplement play strength in the RAC phase as well.
A likely mid-to-late-round target, Bond has immediate rotational appeal, and could be a future starting slot WR.
Damian Parson, Bleacher Report: Lewis Bond is a productive chain-mover who can develop into a security blanket-level slot receiver in the NFL.
He has a compact, running back-style build and a frame suited for working the short and intermediate parts of the field.
Bond was an accomplished pass-catcher for Boston College. The 3-star recruit from the 2021 class is BC’s now all-time leading receptions leader and is fifth all-time in receiving yards. He’s proven to be a reliable weapon in the passing game.
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