The upcoming 2026 NFL Draft could be a majorly important one for the Miami Dolphins because they own the No. 11 overall pick, the highest selection they’ve had in some time. One has to go back to the 2021 NFL Draft — when Miami selected wide receiver Jaylen Waddle with the No. 6 overall pick — to find the last instance the team selected earlier than No. 11.
With the start of the 2026 NFL Draft just over two months away, The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner put together a mock draft, and he has the Dolphins using their top pick on an Ohio State University star safety by the name of Caleb Downs.
“This would be an outstanding start to the Jeff Hafley era,” Baumgardner wrote after mocking Downs to Miami. “The Dolphins’ new coach left Ohio State before the Buckeyes landed Downs, but the fit here would be nearly perfect. Miami could begin to rebuild its secondary around a potential superstar.”
Downs is a special defensive talent who some think even has a case as the best prospect in the entire draft class.
He’s a highly capable tackler, as he led the entire SEC in solo tackles with 70 in his freshman season when he was at the University of Alabama.
Not only that, but he’s been a consistently effective threat to come up with interceptions, as he totaled six in his collegiate career and two in each of his three seasons. Downs was even impactful when it came to getting his hands on fumbles — he forced three and recovered one during his time in college.
A two-time All-American and the 2025 Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, Downs finished ninth in the Heisman race this past season, a remarkable accomplishment for a player at his position.
He seemingly would instantly be in the running to be the Dolphins’ best safety not named Minkah Fitzpatrick, who’s a five-time Pro Bowler. The secondary is also an area of the field where Miami struggled during its underwhelming 2025 season, and Downs would certainly shore up its depth in that area.
But for as much as it would make sense for Miami to use the No. 11 overall pick on a defensive stud like Downs, the team should probably consider using that pick on a standout offensive player as well, particularly at the wide receiver and quarterback spots.
Those are two of the most important positions in the game, and they’re also positions where the Dolphins are facing a lot of uncertainty. After all, veterans Tyreek Hill and Tua Tagovailoa might have very well already played their final games as Dolphins.
