The Miami Dolphins made waves in the 2026 NFL Draft, and at least one rival executive is taking notice. After parting ways with former general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel, the Dolphins brought in Jon-Eric Sullivan as GM and Jeff Hafley as head coach. The new leadership duo wasted no time reshaping the roster, and their first draft together was nothing short of ambitious—Miami selected 13 players over seven rounds, marking the team's largest draft class in nearly three decades.

While draft grades have been mixed across the league, one NFC executive had nothing but praise for Sullivan's debut. "They killed it," the exec told ESPN. "They got a mix of talent and culture guys, and all of the moves made sense."

First-round picks Kadyn Proctor (offensive tackle) and Chris Johnson (cornerback) are understandably drawing the most attention, but it's the later-round selections that could elevate this class from solid to exceptional. Players like linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, wide receiver Chris Bell, and defensive back Kyle Louis bring the kind of depth and versatility that often separates good drafts from great ones.

Looking ahead to 2027, there's a strong possibility that Rodriguez, Bell, and Louis join Proctor and Johnson as full-time starters. If that happens, the Dolphins will have built a core that can anchor the team for years—exactly the kind of foundation Sullivan and Hafley are aiming for as they pivot from free-agent splashes to a more sustainable, draft-first approach.