Where Will the Dolphins 2026 First-Round Pick Fit on Their Offensive Line?
It’s been a common theme among the different position groups for the Miami Dolphins heading into the 2026 season: low expectations on a team poised for a top-five pick in next year’s draft. One of the few potential bright spots for the Dolphins, however, could be at their Achilles' heel for the past two decades on the offensive line. PFF ranked Miami’s offensive line as the 29th worst in the NFL last season, but that’s not to say there’s a lack of talent and production for the upcoming season. New faces like 2026 first-round pick Kaydn Proctor are set to start, while returning production in All-Pro center Aaron Brewer and a rising star at left tackle in Patrick Paul provide a talented baseline across the left side of the offensive line. On the flip side, right guard and right tackle are anything but solidified for the future, so what will that mean for this offensive line this season, and where will Proctor start his NFL career?
A Tidal Wave of Terror in Miami?
The expectation for the six-foot-seven OL out of Alabama was to play his original position at left tackle, but as previously mentioned, that spot is locked up by the former Houston Cougar. Center’s obviously a no-go, so that leaves just three spots up for grabs in right guard, right tackle, and left guard. It seems like, for now, the 357-pound tackle will be moving over to left guard. That’s where Proctor has mainly played during OTA’s, and it makes enough sense considering option one was never really an option at left tackle, and keeping him on the left side will make the transition from tackle to guard a little bit easier. With Proctor at left guard, that’ll give Miami a real contender for the biggest tackle-guard duo in the NFL, with Paul sitting at six-foot-seven, 326 pounds, and Proctor, as previously mentioned, sitting at six-foot-seven, 357 pounds.
Rounding Up the Final Two Spots on the Offensive Line
As of now, former second-round pick Jonah Savaiinaea is expected to take over at right guard after an awful rookie year on the left side of the line. He was not only the worst-rated rookie guard in the league last year, but the worst-rated guard in the NFL, posting a 28.1 PFF grade. With the second-year guard’s move to his former spot while he was at Arizona, there’s a lot of expectation from the former Wildcat to make a big jump in his sophomore season. Then at right tackle, the longest-tenured Dolphin on the offensive line is Austin Jackson. It’s interesting with Jackson because the former first-round pick had a shaky start to his career before solidifying himself over at right tackle. His biggest issue is staying healthy; he has only played in 16+ games twice in six seasons. Last year, a toe injury sidelined the former USC Trojan for 11 games.
With all of that being said, this offensive line has the potential and talent to bolster as a top 15 unit this upcoming season. Rising stars, top 60 picks, and returning production litter throughout the line of scrimmage for Miami. Talent alone, though, doesn’t dictate anything when it comes to overall production on the line. Miami fans are well aware of that fact, considering an All-Pro center and rising star tackle helped post one of the worst offensive line grades in 2025, but with Savaiinaea moving back to his natural position and a healthy Jackson set to return to the right side of the line, this could be the best offensive line that Miami has seen in a really long time, and that’ll boast well with Malik Willis and the new-look quarterback room.
