Miami Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley expects his team to play hard despite the adversity they'll face this season.
The Miami Dolphins are in full rebuild mode. They released a ton of their core players and hired first-time head coach Jeff Hafley to run things down in South Beach.
Not too many are expecting much out of Hafley and the Dolphins in 2026; however, that is not how they are approaching things in-house. When Hafley spoke to reporters at the NFL's Annual League Meeting, he set a new standard and culture for the Dolphins moving forward with one simple statement.
"We're going to sit down and have that conversation, and then don't get mad at me when it's 110 degrees and you don't feel like doing it anymore," Hafley said. "I'm going to make you do it because you told me when you were comfortable in this meeting room, in air conditioning, that that's what you wanted and I'm going to remind you of that."
The Dolphins are undergoing massive changes both on the field and off the field. The team is rebuilding following a rapid decline, characterized by high dead cap money, a shift away from high-priced veterans, and the end of the Tua Tagovailoa era.
Hafley is not taking over the team under the best circumstances, but he is confident they will get back to contention – with the right attitude. Miami is set to enter the 2026 season with low expectations, but they are focused on developing young talent and overcoming financial constraints.
The best way the team can develop that young talent is through the draft. The Dolphins have 11 total picks in the 2026 NFL Draft, including two first-round picks (No. 11 and No. 30 overall). They secured the No. 30 overall pick from the Denver Broncos after they traded away their former first-round pick, wide receiver Jaylen Waddle.
While those two first-round picks are highly coveted, Miami has nine other picks where they can find an impact player, whether that is this season or for seasons to come.
Miami also holds four third-round picks: No. 75, No. 87 (via PHI), No. 90 (via HOU), No. 94 (via DEN). They also have one fourth-round pick, No. 130 (via DEN), one fifth-round pick, No. 151, and two seventh-round picks, No. 227 & No. 238 (via NYJ).
There is a slight likelihood that the Dolphins could move a handful of their picks to collect more draft capital.
Nonetheless, all eyes will be on new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and Hafley as they try to maneuver and build the best team possible in harsh circumstances. Hafley will get his first crack at being a head coach in the NFL. He served as the Packers' defensive coordinator for the past two seasons.