RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesThe Miami Dolphins were off from practice on Saturday after their three opening days of training camp earlier this week. While the full pads weren't on, which is when we can offer a true evaluation, there have been certain signs that can be encouraging for the upcoming 2026 season.
Starting on offense, while new quarterback Malik Willis had some ups and downs over the last few days, there have been indications that he could very well be a potential successful signal-caller for this team. Displaying some good touch passing, evident by his touchdown throw to tight end Ben Sims, as well as his ability as a dual-threat player to run the ball when needed, Willis will make his case to be a franchise quarterback.
a TE TD for your feed 💥 pic.twitter.com/AeOrNkMqqS
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) July 31, 2026 As far as who he will be throwing to, a pair of rookies have looked rather good so far in the early going. Namely third-round pick Caleb Douglas, as well as fifth-round slot/return man Kevin Coleman Jr. Douglas found the end zone and has been making a name for himself. Coleman displayed his skills in getting open and comes into the pros with outstanding hands and the ability to create after the catch. With fellow rookie Chris Bell on the non-football injury list, there is positive anticipation upon his return, which could create a very intriguing young trio of targets for Willis.
Another rookie who has created some buzz is top draft pick offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor. Showing up to camp at a respectable weight, which was an early concern upon his selection, is very encouraging to see. He will man the left guard spot next to left tackle Patrick Paul, which creates perhaps the largest left side to an offensive line in the league.
Paul likes what he sees so far in his offensive line neighbor in Proctor, saying, "he's a great football player, and he knows that. He’s definitely confident; that's never going to be a problem for him. Paul added, "he's full speed. I think that just comes from the way he was playing football in college to now. I mean Alabama, everyone knows Alabama. He's got it in him, for sure."
On the defensive side of the ball, fellow first-round pick cornerback Chris Johnson has looked impressive both on the boundary as well as in the slot, which creates a versatility head coach Jeff Hafley loves to work with. Sticking in the secondary, rookie safety Michael Taaffe got an interception on day one and nearly a second one the day after, showing solid signs of his coverage ability to go with his instincts and Football IQ. On a very young team, the secondary has a potential leader in safety Dante Trader Jr. , who is entering his second year in the NFL and could already be looked at as a veteran on this roster.
Third-year edge rusher Chop Robinson entered camp with some extra added weight and looks to take a major step following a lackluster sophomore year in the league. He showed signs of being a formidable pass rusher during the second half of his rookie season but arguably regressed during the 2025 campaign. The Dolphins and Hafley hope that he becomes a more well-rounded player and started training camp on a positive note.
Veteran right tackle Austin Jackson noticed Robinson's new build, telling media, "Yeah, he looks stronger for sure. I remember in the summer I said, ‘It looks like you've just been doing shoulder shrugs all summer’ because he looked jacked like super rocked up. But yeah, he's definitely heavier, stronger, quicker, all of those things."
Additionally, on the front of the defense, second-year defensive lineman Zeek Biggers showed up with a leaner frame, which could create further versatility in his alignment options this season. Veteran defensive tackle Zach Sieler spoke to the media about Biggers seeing more time on the edge, saying, "Zeek did it last year. I did it in my previous year. I think it's a great thing; we always say the more you can do. That’s a big thing, and Zeek’s done an amazing job. He's out there; he’s at nose, he's at three tech. So to jump all around the field out there is exciting. It's cool seeing him grow."
Vegas has the Dolphins at a 4.5 over/under win projection, and several national pundits across the media have been expecting a rebuilding season in South Florida. However, don’t tell that to Hafley. He told the media on Thursday, “I don't know how you can have a conversation with a competitive player or a competitive coach and have it sit right with them where we're just going to say, we're just going to rebuild this year. And I mean, it's just not the mentality of any competitor who's made it to this level or any coach that's made it to this level.”
Hafley went on to say, “Whether it's practice or whether it's a drill, I think we all want to win it, and our mindset is we need to get better, we need to develop, and everything that we do is going to be about competing to get better throughout the process, and we want to win.”
He finished the “rebuild” chatter with, “So I just don't think any player or any coach is going to sit here and say, we're just going to throw in the towel and just rebuild. So that's probably why no one's hearing that. I think if you had a group of players saying that, then I think we got the wrong players.”
Much more will be able to be told once pads come on, especially when they meet the New York Giants on August 12 for joint practices leading into their preseason contest. They will also mix it up with the Washington Commanders a week later, times when Hafley, his staff and young team can show what they are truly made of so far.
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Miami Dolphins showed encouraging signs after Week 1 of training camp
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