Dolphins Steal Away 1 of the NFL Draft's Best Edge-Rushers in Latest Mock

The 2026 NFL draft is almost here, and the anticipation is building, especially for the Miami Dolphins, who are under new leadership with head coach Jeff Hafley.

So, heading into the 2026-27 season, Hafley has to make his mark on this franchise, and it starts with the draft. The three-day event starts on Thursday, April 23, and it takes place in Pittsburgh at 8 p.m. ET. It airs live on ESPN, ABC and the ESPN App.

Jordan Reid of ESPN has released a full, seven-round mock draft with all 32 teams’ picks in the draft.

“I’ve compiled these projections based on my latest intel from conversations with sources throughout the league, months of scouting the entire class and examining each team’s biggest positional needs,” he states. “I didn’t project any trades, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be surprises and intrigue.”

For the Dolphins, he has them picking one of the best edge talented in the draft class with Keldric Faulk out of Auburn with their No. 30 pick. But Faulk is the kind of player who could be taken earlier in the draft.

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“Faulk is another prospect who has a wide range of where he could get drafted,” Reid notes. “I wouldn’t be shocked if Miami took him with its earlier first-round pick, but he goes here in this projection.”

He adds: “The Dolphins want to start their rebuild in the trenches and have a long enough runway to give the young Faulk (he turns 22 in September) time to develop. At 6-foot-6, 276 pounds, Faulk is NFL-ready as a run defender but will need further development to scratch his ceiling as a pass rusher.”

What Makes Keldric Faulk a Good Fit for the Dolphins?

It’ll frankly be surprising if Faulk is still around by the Dolphins’ No. 30 pick, but if he is, they should snag him. He’s on target to be an elite edge with the proper time and development.

The Dolphins also pick at No. 11, but that’s too early to take Faulk. They’ll likely go with a tackle early in the draft, since that’s their main need going into the season. But, Miami absolutely needs to beef up its edge depth, and Faulk would be a solid pick, if he’s still available by No. 30.

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This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 2:30 PM.