The 2026 NFL Draft is open for business tomorrow night at 8:00 p.m. EST in Pittsburgh. Today represents the best shot mock draft boards and simulators have at being as close to accurate as possible in their respective final rankings.
With that, here is the final Aqua & Coral Report seven-round mock draft of 2026.
MOCK DRAFT 4.0
Teams have locked in their respective draft boards going on a week or more now, and same goes here. But as the draft draws closer, one theme seems clear, at least in round one: don’t count on anything.
This mock utilized all of the tendencies draft simulators have shown up until now in terms of slotting, as well as knowledge of what the national media seems to think about respective prospects.
Below are the draft picks full evaluations via the 2026 ACR Draft Guide, which looks like it will go into draft night 210 prospects deep.
Tomorrow morning: the 2026 ACR Dolphins Big Board. A list of 135 preferred Miami selections ranked, as well as slotting for the players of less interest (based on the draft guide) to use as a personal Dolphins-centric follow-along while watching what is produced by the networks on draft night for the masses.
R1, PICK 11: CB Mansoor Delane, LSU
Don’t care what other people want to say — this is the draft’s CB1 and it will play out that way. Not only does he defend well in any scheme setup, he covers so tight QBs usually progress out of his read. First player I wanted in this draft is ultimately the same one in the end.
Real good at VT, steps up to best league in CFB and performs just as well if not better; is the best cover corner in this draft; not huge but former S so plays physical; good in press; excels at covering with the play on front of him, eyes are always on the ball; sticks with everybody; in his career posted 8 interceptions, 18 PBUs and 4 FFs; comes off as a high IQ player, both angles to the ball and play speed are very good; could be a better tackler but isn’t bad by any stretch, he’s willing so maybe with a little added strength; fits Miami scheme needs; arms measured just 30 inches, not ideal; good player regardless; nobody wanted to throw at him in 2025; 624 snaps, was targeted just 34 times; broke up 11 and intercepted two of those 34 targets; allowed just 4.8 yards per target; held opposing QBs targeting him to a 26.7 QBR for the season; secured his spot as class top corner with 4.35 forty at LSU pro day; immediate best DB on MIA roster if selected (R1) ⬤30
Since it's time to start looking at the next glimmer of hope:
My top Miami #Dolphins draft target as of Nov 5, 2025
Another repeat selection from virtually every mock I have done. Parker is point-blank my favorite edge in the class not named Arvell Reese. At the start of this process, I would have considered him at 11 so securing him at 30 before the well runs dry at the position feels like a win.
6-3 5/8, 263; 39 tackles, 9.5 TFLs and 5 sacks in ’25; 11 sacks and a whopping 6 forced fumbles in 2024; fights hard in run game not only setting the edge, but also in working/sliding inside to make plays; would call his arm/hand usage in pass rush his strongest skill… advanced; understands the dynamic of getting a strong punch on a blocker before he gets one on you; real good feet for his size; would be the type of EDGE you can successfully sneak into coverage, good movement skills; Clemson would sometimes line him up as a 4 tech in heavy fronts; hustler; pretty much a football player, always aware, recovered fumbles anywhere from in the backfield to 20 yards downfield; seems like the total package, pass and run defender, can beat a block with quickness/speed, a bullrush or combination thereof; still young; 33 1/8-inch arms; knocked it out of the park at the combine – 4.68 40-yard dash (at 263) with a 1.61 split++, 34-inch vertical and 10-0 broad jump; personal favorite edge outside of Reese; some have him going in R2 in which case I would go berserk (R1) ⬤
R2, PICK 43: OT Max Iheanachor, Arizona St.
After going defense with the first two picks, Miami would be fortunate to still find one of the higher-upside offensive line prospects left on the board in Iheanachor (pronounced ee-HAW-nuh-chore)
6-6, 330 with 33 7/8-inch arms; despite length, lacks an effective punch and let’s pass rushers get into his frame more than he should; looks green, which makes sense – he didn’t start playing football until he was 19; family is from Nigeria and he grew up playing soccer and basketball (a huge plus actually); takes poor angles in inside run, blocking defenders’ wrong half at times; sometimes looks like he’s blocking without a plan; isn’t lazy at all and gets after it when he locks in on somebody; good feet, good mirroring skills; no shortage of NFL traits but I bet it takes him 2-3 years; could be upper-echelon starter if he cleans up technique and really just gets more natural and comfortable in the game; 4.91 40-yard dash (1.73), 9-7 broad, 30½-inch vertical all show elite athleticism at 330 pounds; think he’s going to be a baller in time; there is a question about his actual age that may concern Dolphins; move him to guard at first, while he’ll have tackle flexibility for sure (R1-R2) ⬤
R3, PICK 75: WR Ted Hurst, Georgia State
Don’t feel like this pick needs much narration. It’s taking a chance to draft a small school player, but Hurst has the goods to make a GM look smart.
6-4, 206 so great size; 71 rec., 1,004 yards, 6 TDs in 2025; tape shows most everything you’d want in a WR; runs well, fights for extra yards, high points balls; excellent body control in the air extends his catch radius; big-looking hands but had a few concentration drops; good route runner; turns five-yard hitch plays into 60-yard gains; fights for extra yards; game looks pretty complete for the most part; really helped himself in the postseason between the Senior Bowl and Combine; ran a 4.42 (1.55 split) and posted a 36 ½-inch vertical; 11-3 broad jump tied for the best mark of the entire combine (R2-R3) ⬤30
R3, PICK 87: DT Domonique Orange, Iowa St.
Wasn’t really seeking a defensive tackler per se, but when Big Citrus falls in your lap in round three, a player who could immediately come in and start pushing the level of competition among the young guys — easy pick.
6-2, 322 with long arms (33 3/8-inch) and big hands; probably the best true nose in the class; played 50 games with 24 starts but posted modest numbers (1 sack and 7 TFLs for his career); committed just one penalty in four years; good quickness, explosion and upper body strength; good lateral movement but you’d like to see him focus on getting upfield more at times; upper body and base are real strong but can’t seem to shed with his hands/arms sometimes; nickname “Big Citrus”; feel like he’s a player who hasn’t been unlocked (R3) ⬤
R3, PICK 90: LB/S Kyle Louis, Pittsburgh
Too small to be an NFL linebacker, not fast enough to be a safety — perfect skillset to be a hybrid safety in a 4-2-5 if you can cover like Louis. Would fill Hafley’s “Star” role, with some WLB mixed in.
Good in coverage and super instinctive; going to have a hard time finding a home in the NFL at LB imo because teams will run it in his direction; 6-0, 220; quick and has a good final burst to the ball carrier; played Will at Pitt; tweener but his hips are good and he’s a football player and again, coverage skills are excellent; what’s he going to do with a pro TE would be the concern at LB; doesn’t fit MIA stated profile for linebacker but if he runs well enough at the combine (he did: 4.53 with a 1.58 split, 39½-inch vertical, 10-9 broad jump); could definitely be a consideration at safety and would give a little desired versatility; probably an excellent future special teamer; 24 TFLs, six interceptions and 10 sacks in the last two years so he could sim or come on blitz and be believable, while also being able to drop off and cover the box; Hafley surely loves his positional versatility (and that he’s from Pitt); would not be surprised to see Dolphins take him (R2-R3) ⬤
R3, PICK 94: CB Julian Neal, Arkansas
Knowing that there is little chance he makes it to the R4 selection, I have consistently taken Neal in almost every mock. As stated, his size and athleticism is a great fit for Hafley’s scheme. Pairing Delane with Neal would be a nice start toward recovering a secondary from despair.
6-2, 203 and long; long looking arms (32 ¾-inches at combine) and physical but also good in the air on contracted balls; ideal boundary corner; transferred from Fresno; former basketball player; press coverage skills; good at re-routing receivers; has fluid hips and is a strong tackler; real strong hands; could use some refinement but unlike most, he’s great playing with his back to the ball as he is real good at covering and tracking at the same time; rarely caught face guarding; quick hips; good body control in the air and good physical awareness around receivers to stay within space without penalty; could probably be good in man or zone but man is what will get him paid; 4.49 40 (1.59 split), 40-inch vertical (6th among CB), 11-2 broad (1st), 16 reps (3rd); could be diamond in the rough of this class; excellent fit for Hafley defense; admittedly have him higher than pretty much every place I’ve looked (R2-R3) ⬤
R4, PICK 130: OT Demetrious Crownover, TAMU
Tremendously long prospect with a mean streak. Developmental player who would be nice to have opposite Paul given their similar elite traits.
Has Sullivan Special written all over him; 6-7, 318 with massive arms (35 3/8 inch) and hands (10″); is a project but he and Paul would give team crazy long, young bookends; he is surprisingly athletic, first step is quick; could use arms even better than he does but often leverages his base to forcibly drive a pad y rusher off their line to the QB; he has only started the last two years after being recruited as a high school tight end; feel like this could be a future star; his pad level is relatively high but it’s not from him playing with poor form – he tries to get low, he’s just huge; strong edge can get under his pads and take him off balance; he is good at resetting the hands; has a mean streak; big fan considering draft projection; this is definitely an NFL tackle, just needs PT (R3) ⬤
R5, PICK 151: CB Tacario Davis, Washington
This may seem like cornerback overkill but a) didn’t expect Davis to be here this late and b) his length and even his coverage style could have you lean into him as a box safety. Injury history a concern but there’s a good bit of upside considering the round.
Hurt 5+ games and looked like his transfer efforts a bust after a sub-par previous season at Arizona, but was real productive in the time he did play at UW; first noticed at Arizona in ’23 when he had a strong season, 15 PBUs; real long (6-4, 194, 33 3/8-inch arms++) and specializes in man coverage; 19 tackles, two interceptions and three PBUs; tendency to lose receivers mid-route but seems to have surprisingly good recovery speed; 40 time will be a big deal (4.41, impressive); instinctive in his breaks; short area quickness not so great; could be very good but needs a lot of work and not likely a day 1 starter; high ceiling; solid tackler; size will be of great interest in MIA; needs to tighten up but could be good; you gamble on him because of the ridiculous height in hopes it pays off (R3) ⬤
R7, PICK 227: LB Jaden Dugger
Dugger could still be available as a UDFA but is a player too great of a fit for Miami’s new defense to risk being outbid. Dugger has a crazy number of similar traits to Sonny Styles, just way less experience. Probably my favorite project player of the draft.
6-5, 240 with 35-inch arms and a ridiculous 85-inch wingspan; transferred from Georgetown where he was recruited as a wide receiver and ended up at safety; started his sophomore year then transferred to Louisiana, where he sat his first year again after switching to LB; in 2025, finished 10th in the nation in tackles with 125 (64 solo) to go with 4 sacks, an interception, three pass breakups and a forced fumble, quite the stat sheet in your first year starting at a position; played all over the place – MLB, WLB and even outside man corner; is literally a clone to Sonny Styles but very little experience; good tackler, uses his arms well and has no trouble getting up in the A gap; the definition of hybrid, which is exactly what Hafley wants; would be scared of waiting too long on taking him, despite the fact his name wasn’t out there before the Shrine Bowl and he’s very green — could be a late score (R5-R6) ⬤
R7, PICK 238: WR J Michael Sturdivant, Florida
One could say this mock draft somewhat neglected receiver and would not receive a tremendous argument out of me. So with the final pick — I’m taking a crack on a tall speedster who may just need to plant his feet somewhere a minute.
Big and was able to get downfield in an offense that struggled much of ’25; 6-3, 207, also played at UCLA and Cal; has good hands and runs pretty well but is not as physical as you’d like at that size; don’t know what his 40 time or 10-yard split will be because his burst seems average, but he’s fast and a bit of a gilder once he gets going and does beat people deep; definitely shows separation speed at the top of routes; career: 150 receptions, 2,052 yards (13.8 avg.) and 16 touchdowns; had 65 catches his freshman year at Cal; short area quickness not as good as long speed; has potential to be a starter if he can become a more detailed route runner because it would magnify his speed; hands are pretty good but he’s had concentration drops;; combine results – 4.37 40-yard dash (elite for his size) at UF Pro Day after a 4.40 at the combine; 1.54 split; 39-inch vertical with a 10-11 broad jump projects explosiveness and lower-body strength; almost 33-inch arms; UF offense may have actually hurt his draft stock, I’m higher on him than most people it seems; could be a bargain (R6) ⬤
NOTE: The mock simulator I used was Mock Draft Database, since it pulls information from other mock drafts to compile its list. The boards do seem to be changing but there is no telling how close to reality the picks until draft weekend.
Aqua & Coral Report 