With just one day to go until the 2026 NFL Draft gets underway, mock drafts are being served faster than a cheeseburger at your favorite drive-thru spot. Earlier today, Peter Schrager of ESPN dropped his final mock which saw the Dolphins snagging Francis Mauigoa and Jermod McCoy — two talented, yet injured players — in the first round.
Lance Zierlein of NFL.com was quick to follow with his final effort of the cycle in regards to mock drafts — and he has a couple of studly defenders heading to South
Florida in the first round.
11. Reuben Bain Jr., EDGE, Miami
“The Dolphins have so many top-100 picks that they could easily jump up in this draft and target a preferred prospect. If they sit tight and Bain is still available at No. 11, it’s a perfect match, with the local product staying in Miami.“
In my opinion, if Bain Jr. is available at pick #11, the Dolphins should sprint to the podium as fast as possible, do a backflip while cracking two Bud Lights together in Stone Cold Steve Austin fashion, and slam the card on the table. He’s a culture-changing, tone-setting player who is already familiar with playing in Miami and everything that goes along with the city including climate and lifestyle challenges. Simply put — he’s got that dog in him.
30. Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State
“The Dolphins sit tight once again and grab the highest-rated cornerback remaining on the board.
Johnson is a smooth, sticky man defender with a mature game.“
The thing that stands out about Johnson is his size. At over 6’0” tall and weighing in at 193 lb, Johnson profiles as a bigger bodied defender who can excel in new head coach Jeff Hafley’s scheme. If the Dolphins don’t have an offensive lineman they like available at this point in the draft, Johnson could be a very nice fall back option if he’s still on the board.
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Which mock draft from this morning do you prefer — Schrager’s or Zierlein’s? Are there any players you would like the Dolphins to draft over the ones selected by the experts today? Let me know in the comments below or on Twitter/X at @MBrave13! Fins up!
