The NFL Draft is less than two weeks away and the Miami Dolphins are going to have a busy weekend, currently holding 11 total selections, including seven in the first three rounds. The Dolphins, who are undergoing a dramatic rebuild this offseason, including with new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and new head coach Jeff Hafley, have the opportunity to quickly reshape the roster with young talent. But, they have to hit on their draft picks and find the gems among the prospects.
To help the team
do exactly that, they have been casting a wide net among players who have been invited to the team’s training facilities for a visit. Called the “Top 30 ” visits according to the NFL, these visit allow a team to bring in any 30 potential picks they may want to consider. These do not have to be first-round targets (as the “top” would suggest in the name) but any 30 prospects on the team’s “big board.”
NFL teams can also bring in “local” players for a visit without using a top 30 allocation. Local visits are essentially defined as anyone who can claim the local region around a team for any reason – birth, high school, college, etc.
Who have the Dolphins reportedly invited to South Florida?
Reported Top 30 Visits
Kaelon Black, RB, Indiana (Aaron Wilson)
Draft projection: 6th-7th round
Black is not a breakaway runner who is going to make a sudden cut and gash opposing defenses for a giant gain. Rather, he is the inside runner who is going to pick up the yards the team needs, and he is going to make people feel is when he hits them. He is not the size of a fullback, but he has the characteristics of one. He could be a good third-down back if you are in a short yardage situation, but he has not proven himself a receiving threat, which will limit his third-down useage. Black is a complementary running back in a rotation of runners.
Denzell Boston, WR, Washington (Barry Jackson)
Draft projection: 1st round
When you are being compared to Puka Nacua, you have a ton of potential and should be a highly targeted prospect. Boston is not a speed guy, and he did not run a 40-yard dash this year, but he is a big receiver who uses his size to his advantage. He is going to fight for the ball, and he will make contested catches well. He is a precise route runner, giving his quarterback predictability on when and where he will be.
K.C. Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M (Barry Jackson)
Draft projection: 1st round
Concepcion almost feels like the opposite receiver of Boston. A little smaller than Boston with not as much of a catch radius, Concepcion is a quick-twitch player who uses his acceleration to create separation immediately off the line. He has a drop issue that needs to be cleaned up. If Dolphins offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik keeps the rhythm-based passing offense that was Miami’s system under former head coach Mike McDaniel, Concepcion could flourish in that role.
Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU (Barry Jackson)
Draft projection: Top 10
Delane may be one of Miami’s top targets for the 11th overall pick. If he slips at all, the Dolphins may have an easy decision to make. He has the speed and physicality teams want in a top cornerback, he is strong as a press corner, and he looks like a route runner when he is in coverage. He is not the biggest cornerback, but it should not impact his coverage skills, even against bigger wide outs. He does get handsy at times, which will need to be coached out of him to avoid penalties.
Charles Demmings, CB, Stephen F. Austin (Barry Jackson)
Draft projection: 4th-5th round
Demmings is an interesting prospect. Coming from Stephen F. Austin, he is not a player many fans will have seen and he may have a steep learning curve as he transitions to the NFL. But, the potential is there. He is a natural at the position and he plays press corner well. He makes plays on the ball and comes away with interceptions with ease. He may need time to turn into a dominant player, but there is a pathway for him to get there.
Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas (Bo Marchionte)
Draft projection: 4th-5th round
Green can be an exciting playmaker who breaks out of the pocket, takes off downfield, and turns trouble into a big gain. He can also be the reason the offense sputters with interceptions and fumbles a concern. He can throw the deep ball well, but his mechanics need refinement. As a mid-draft developmental quarterback, he makes a lot of sense.
AJ Haulcy, S, LSU (Barry Jackson)
Draft projection: 2nd-3rd round
Haulcy is the definition of a ball hawk. He is going to find the ball and make a play. He is not the fastest safety in the class, and he is probably best suited as a zone defender rather than taking on man-to-man responsibilities, but he will be ready to start day one in the NFL.
Jordon Hudson, WR, SMU (Joseph Hoyt)
Draft projection: 7th round
Hudson would be a developmental project pick. He has the body for a solid role in the NFL, but he is raw and needs to work on his route running, especially since he lacks the speed to outrun defenders. He is a depth piece.
I am not completely sure this was a top 30 visit. Hudson said he had an extensive visit with the Dolphins, but it might have been during SMU’s Pro Day last month. I will keep him listed here, but would not be surprised if this was not an official top 30 visit.
Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State (Ryan Fowler)
Draft projection: 2nd round
At 6-foot-4, 208 pounds with a 32-5/8 inch arm length, Hurst is the type of wide receiver the Dolphins need. He runs well and can be a downfield threat, but he is also someone who can work inside, using his size to body away defenders. He will need some coaching to put it together at the NFL-level, which is why he is probably destined for a second-round pick.
Justin Joly, TE, North Carolina State (Arye Pulli)
Draft projection: 3rd-4th round
Joly is smaller than a prototypical tight end, but he has potential to develop nicely in the NFL. He has to be coached up, including working on catching the ball away from his body and his in-line blocking technique, but the pieces are there. He could be a strong move tight end, lining him up to create mismatches rather than sticking as an in-line option. He can separate well and has good speed to take advantage of mismatches.
Makai Lemon, WR, USC (Simon Clancy)
Draft projection: 1st round
Lemon is probably destined to be a slot receiver, but he could become a star in that role. He is not always the cleanest off the line of scrimmage, but he makes up for it with good acceleration and speed. He is incredibly sure-handed, and could be the underneath complement in an offense pressing deep. He has worked as a kick returner, which strengthens his draft consideration.
Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State (Justin Melo)
Draft projection: 1st round
McDonald is the mountain in the middle of the defensive line that eats blocks and makes running the ball difficult. He may not have the best pass rush stats, but he is the guy who lets others make the sexy play. He could play as a nose tackle in a 3-4 scheme or as a defensive tackle in a 4-3 system and he will have success in either role. Interestingly, on NFL Draft Buzz, McDonald’s top two comparisons are Kenneth Grant and Jordan Phillips, who were both drafted by the Dolphins last year.
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo (Jordan Schultz)
Draft projection: 1st round
McNieil-Warren is a strong safety who is really good against the run and can match up with tight ends. He is tall and has great instincts, but his game is built around those traits, rather than closing speed. He works best facing the quarterback, allowing him to make a read and react – and he uses his length to play the ball. He has mastered punching at the ball to force fumbles as well.
Hezekiah Masses, CB, California (Ryan Fowler)
Draft projection: 5th-6th round
Masses might define ballhawk. He judges the ball well and either comes away with the interception or breaks up the pass to stop a big play. He needs to improve his route reading, especially on double moves, where he will hold if he gets beat. He needs to add some weight, but he could be asked to work as a rotational cornerback early in his career.
Christen Miller, DT, Georgia (Aaron Wilson)
Draft projection: 2nd-3rd round
Miller is a run-stuffer who is ready for the NFL. As a pass rusher, however, he needs time to develop. He is not going to eat blocks based on his size, but he uses his speed and his hands to get into the backfield and make a play on the running back. Some injury concerns having already had to have shoulder surgery.
Ty Simpson, QB, Alabama (Ian Rapoport)
Draft projection: 1st round
Every year, there is a quarterback prospect who sees their draft stock rocket up. In 2026, that is Simpson. He has a strong arm and can get the ball out to where he wants, but he has to improve his anticipation and he is smaller, which led to missed playing time last year. Todd McShay indicates Simpson would thrive in an offense like Miami’s former head coach Mike McDaniel, which if new offensive coordinator Bobby Slowick keeps aspects of the system could give Simpson some benefit to landing in Miami/.
Zion Young, Edge, Missouri (Arye Pulli)
Draft projection: 2nd round
Young pressures quarterbacks really well, but he does not always finish with a sack. He is a dominant run defender, setting the edge perfectly. His pass rush technique is really good, and he will cause chaos if he is in pure pass rush mode. If he can improve his reaction times and get off the snap a moment earlier, he might see those sack numbers increase.
Reported Local Prospect Visits
Carson Beck, QB, Miami (Mike Garafolo)
Draft projection: 4th-5th round
The 472-year-old Beck is somehow only 23 years old despite finishing his sixth collegiate year in 2025. Beck knows how to work progressions, but he will throw the ball into dangerous situations, failing to track nearby defenders. He is a pocket passer who can run if absolutely necessary. He had Tommy John surgery in 2024. Beck is a developmental backup quarterback who could be asked to spot start if needed.
Markel Bell, T, Miami
Draft projection: 3rd-4th round
A giant of a man, Bell makes it hard for defenders to go around him, but his 6-foot-9 height also allows defenders to get underneath him and use his high center of gravity against him. He is an exceptional pass defender, but struggles in run defense – and that may be giving him the benefit of the doubt. There is a lot to work on with the run defense, and the coaching staff would have to know that before Miami were to select him. He will start his career as a backup, developmental project.
R Mason Thomas, Edge, Oklahoma (Barry Jackson)
Draft projection: 2nd round
Thomas is not the ideal size for an edge rusher, but he has the tools to offset those concerns. A good defensive coach will mold him into an effective pass rusher, but his size will make it hard to see him setting the edge reliably against the run. He is going to need to be in a rotation, but he could find success in that role.
