While Troy Aikman won't be making the final call on draft night, his presence will be felt in the Miami Dolphins' war room. General Manager Jon-Eric Sullivan confirmed the Hall of Fame quarterback will be in the room during the draft, though the team will not formally consult him on specific picks.

This clarifies Aikman's unique, evolving role with the franchise. Unlike Tom Brady's minority ownership stake with the Raiders, Aikman's involvement is as a high-profile advisor. Sullivan praised both Aikman and head coach Dan Campbell, calling them "tremendous sounding boards." He noted Campbell's hands-on help with evaluating quarterbacks and receivers, while Aikman has provided valuable perspective from a distance.

Aikman's fingerprints are already on the Dolphins' current structure. He played a key role in the general manager search that led to Sullivan's hiring and was later asked to consult on the coaching search. Now, he'll continue as an informal advisor while maintaining his primary role as ESPN's lead Monday Night Football analyst.

For Dolphins fans and draft enthusiasts, it signals a blend of fresh front-office leadership with the seasoned eye of a legendary quarterback who knows what it takes to build a winner, even if his input remains in an advisory capacity.