MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins selected tight end Will Kacmarek of Ohio State with the 87th overall pick, in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
Kacmarek, 6-foot-6, 261 pounds is a strong blocker. The Dolphins are adding tall and strong people early in this draft.
This player should fill a role that Julian Hill had last season.
Oct 18, 2025; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Will Kacmarek (89) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Wisconsin Badgers in the third quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn ImagesMichigan defensive end T.J. Guy (4) talks to Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek (89) after a play during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Will Kacmarek (89) stiff arms Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Keon Wylie (32) during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 1, 2025.Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Will Kacmarek (89) shakes hands with head coach Ryan Day during senior day honors prior to the NCAA football game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 22, 2025. Ohio State won 42-9.Ohio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day high fives tight end Will Kacmarek (89) during the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025. Ohio State won 27-9.Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Will Kacmarek (89) is tackled by Miami Hurricanes linebacker Raul Aguirre Jr. (10) in the fourth quarter during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn ImagesOhio State Buckeyes tight end Will Kacmarek (89) flips over Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Louis Moore (7) as he rushes along the sideline Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, during the Big Ten football championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.Dec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Will Kacmarek (89) runs with the ball during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn ImagesFeb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek (TE10) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesFeb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek (TE10) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn ImagesFeb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek (TE10) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesOhio State Buckeyes tight end Will Kacmarek catches a ball during Pro Day for NFL scouts at the Woody Hayes Athletics Center on March 25, 2026.1 / 12Photos: Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek Dolphins' third-round pickOct 18, 2025; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Will Kacmarek (89) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Wisconsin Badgers in the third quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images1 / 12Photos: Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek Dolphins' third-round pickOct 18, 2025; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Will Kacmarek (89) makes a catch for a touchdown against the Wisconsin Badgers in the third quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images2 / 12Photos: Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek Dolphins' third-round pickMichigan defensive end T.J. Guy (4) talks to Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek (89) after a play during the second half at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.3 / 12Photos: Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek Dolphins' third-round pickOhio State Buckeyes tight end Will Kacmarek (89) stiff arms Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Keon Wylie (32) during the NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 1, 2025.4 / 12Photos: Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek Dolphins' third-round pickOhio State Buckeyes tight end Will Kacmarek (89) shakes hands with head coach Ryan Day during senior day honors prior to the NCAA football game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Nov. 22, 2025. Ohio State won 42-9.5 / 12Photos: Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek Dolphins' third-round pickOhio State Buckeyes head coach Ryan Day high fives tight end Will Kacmarek (89) during the NCAA football game against the Michigan Wolverines at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, Mich. on Nov. 29, 2025. Ohio State won 27-9.6 / 12Photos: Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek Dolphins' third-round pickDec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Will Kacmarek (89) is tackled by Miami Hurricanes linebacker Raul Aguirre Jr. (10) in the fourth quarter during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images7 / 12Photos: Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek Dolphins' third-round pickOhio State Buckeyes tight end Will Kacmarek (89) flips over Indiana Hoosiers defensive back Louis Moore (7) as he rushes along the sideline Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, during the Big Ten football championship at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.8 / 12Photos: Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek Dolphins' third-round pickDec 31, 2025; Arlington, TX, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes tight end Will Kacmarek (89) runs with the ball during the 2025 Cotton Bowl and quarterfinal game of the College Football Playoff at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images9 / 12Photos: Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek Dolphins' third-round pickFeb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek (TE10) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images10 / 12Photos: Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek Dolphins' third-round pickFeb 26, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek (TE10) speaks to members of the media during the NFL Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Jacob Musselman-Imagn Images11 / 12Photos: Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek Dolphins' third-round pickFeb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek (TE10) during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images12 / 12Photos: Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek Dolphins' third-round pickOhio State Buckeyes tight end Will Kacmarek catches a ball during Pro Day for NFL scouts at the Woody Hayes Athletics Center on March 25, 2026.Kacmarek was the 12th-ranked tight end in the draft and the seventh-best available at the time of the pick. The Dolphins are clearly committed to running the ball in 2026.
Here is our instant grade on the Dolphins picking tight end Will Kacmarek:
You wouldn't ideally select a blocking tight end in the third round, but the Dolphins do have 13 picks and they are committed to running the ball in 2026.
General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan is really committed to helping the Dolphins shed a soft reputation on both sides of the ball and Kacmarek fits the bill.
Kacmarek grew up playing football, basketball and lacrosse. Kacmarek enter college as a defensive lineman. He has not shown to be a significant receiving threat.
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Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins draft grades: Why Will Kacmarek pick gets a C+