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Chris Perkins: Top 20 players available for Miami Dolphins in second round of NFL draft

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Chris Perkins: Top 20 players available for Miami Dolphins in second round of NFL draft


The Miami Dolphins, as things stand now, have one pick on Friday, and that’s their second-round selection, the No. 55 pick of the NFL draft, and the 23rd pick of the round.

Here are 20 players who might be available when the Dolphins make their selection, guys who either fit Miami’s needs or reasonably fit into the best player available category: 

Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas

Sanders (6-4, 245) is thin, but he could be an immediate No. 3 receiver behind recceivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, and ahead of tight ends Durham Smythe and Jonnu Smith, and slot receiver Braxton Berrios. He’s athletic with good hands, and could be the missing link in the passing game.

Javon Bullard, S, Georgia

Bullard (5-11, 198) can play safety and slot/nickel, which offers the type of value the Dolphins need. He’s not ideal at either right now, but he’ll have time to grow as a rookie and he’d be an insurance policy in case safety Jevon Holland (final year of contract) or safety Jordan Poyer (one-year contract) doesn’t return.

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Jackson-Powers Johnson, IOL, Oregon

Powers-Johnson (6-3, 328) is a talented center/guard who might be the best center in the draft. However, he’s considered good enough that the Dolphins could start him at either position as a rookie.

Michael Hall, DT, Ohio State

Hall (6-3, 290) needs to add weight, but he could fit with the Dolphins as a rotational player in his rookie season, learning from fellow defensive lineman Zach Sieler while adding bulk. 

Patrick Paul, OT, Houston

Paul (6-7, 331) is long-armed, athletic, and smart. He could start at guard as a rookie and then kick outside to left tackle next season, assuming Pro Bowl left tackle Terron Armstead retires. 

Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State

Fiske (6-4, 292) is a relative lightweight so he needs to add bulk, but he’s a high-motor guy with good feet and a relentless attitude. He’d be a good fit alongside Sieler because they’re both fairly athletic.  

Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State

Sinnott (6-4, 250) could be slightly over-drafted as a second-rounder, but he had 49 receptions, 676 yards and six touchdowns, and was called upon to block regularly, so he could either play alongside Smythe or rotate with Smythe.

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Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia

Frazier (6-3, 313) is barrel-chested, strong and agile. If the Dolphins go for an interior offensive lineman in the second round, and more specifically, a center, he’s a good choice.

Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan

Jenkins (6-3, 299), whose father, Kris, was a Pro Bowl defensive tackle for Carolina and the New York Jets, is smallish, but he’s adept on taking on double teams. He’d fill the void left by ex-Dolphins defensive lineman Christian Wilkins.  

Jer’Zhan Newton, DT, Illinois

Newton (6-2, 304) is athletic and smart, which is how he makes up for his lack of bulk. He shows knowledge of angles and combines that with good feet to stop the run and rush the passer. He’d likely start alongside Sieler.

Kingsley Suamataia, OT, BYU

Suamataia (6-5, 326) is a bit rough around the edges but he has the potential to develop quickly, which is generally what you want from a second-round pick. Suamataia can play left or right tackle but it’s not known if he can play guard. Still, he’d be a good fit as a backup tackle.

Ennis Rakestraw Jr., CB, Missouri

Rakestraw (5-11, 183) is here because, as the Dolphins have shown the past two seasons, you can never have too many cornerbacks. This pick, which seems unlikely but possible, would be more of a statement about the projected development of Cam Smith, last year’s second-round pick, than Rakestraw’s talent.

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Jaden Hicks, S, Washington State

Hicks (6-2, 211) is big-bodied and physical. He can play in the box or play deep, which means he has versatility, and that’s a bonus as the Dolphins’ safeties unit, Holland and Jordan Poyer might not return intact after this season.

Christian Haynes, G, Connecticut

Haynes (6-3, 317) is regarded as a starting-caliber NFL right guard right now, and that could be intriguing and freeing for the Dolphins, who need interior offensive line help, especially at right guard, where Rob Hunt departed.

Blake Fisher, OT, Notre Dame

Fisher (6-6, 310) can play right or left tackle due to his athleticism and good feet but he’s regarded as a better RT prospect. It’s not known whether Fisher can play guard, which could be a requirement for him as a rookie.

Roger Rosengarten, OT, Washington

Rosengarten (6-5, 308) is a bit of a work in progress because he’s a bit slow but he’s smart and has a little bit of athleticism. He’d be viewed as a replacement for Armstead down the line.

Cooper DeJean, S, Iowa

DeJean (6-0, 203) is a bit of a ’tweener meaning he’s one of the best cornerbacks in the draft but some think he’s better suited for safety. Whatever the case, the Dolphins could use his athleticism. 

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Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas

Mitchell (6-2, 205) has the size and speed the Dolphins could use among their receiver ranks. Yes, Miami already has two quality receivers, but as the Dolphins saw late last season there could be big problems if one is slowed.

Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama

McKinstry (5-11, 199) could be another testament to what the Dolphins have learned the hard way, which is you can never have too many cornerbacks. Yes, Miami has lots of possibilities but there’s no guarantee players such as Smith and Nik Needham will be ready to contribute and play well.

Maason Smith, DT, LSU

Smith (6-5, 306) is a bit inexperienced but Miami has lots of defensive tackles so there might not be a pressure on Smith to play immediately. Then again, Miami probably needs someone to be a starter or top rotational player so Smith might be hard-pressed to fill the role the Dolphins need.



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Miami, FL

Orlando 2-4 Miami (2 Mar, 2026) Game Analysis – ESPN

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Orlando 2-4 Miami (2 Mar, 2026) Game Analysis – ESPN


ORLANDO, Fla. — Lionel Messi scored twice in a four-goal second half, defender Telasco Segovia added a goal and two assists and defending champion Inter Miami CF rallied to beat Orlando City SC 4-2 on Sunday night, winning for the first time at Inter&Co Stadium.

Messi took a pass from Segovia and scored in the 57th minute to tie it 2-2, and Segovia scored unassisted in the 85th for the lead. Messi put the finishing touch on the victory when he scored off a free kick in the 90th.

“The victory belongs exclusively to the players,” Miami coach Javier Mascherano said after the game. “In the second half, they were a championship team. There were no tactics, nothing like that. There was heart, courage, possession, resilience, commitment. I think the team came out because they were champions last year.

“In the end, the players showed it. This victory is theirs.”

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Messi’s first two goals of the season give him 52 in his first 55 regular-season MLS matches — 51 of them in his past 49 appearances. It also brought the reigning MLS MVP to 898 career goals scored, including 672 for Barcelona and 115 for Argentina.

“He’s the best player to ever play this sport. He’s a leader, and as a leader, he inspires others, but he also often needs to be inspired himself,” Mascherano said of Messi. “When he was driving forward, he had more attacking options, and with so many opportunities, he clearly has the ability to create chances like no one else, and that’s what allowed us to turn the game around.”

Marco Pašalić took a pass from Iván Angulo and scored in the 18th minute to give Orlando City a 1-0 lead. Pašalić has scored in four straight matches against Inter Miami.

Inter Miami players celebrate after scoring a goal against Orlando City in MLS.

Defender Griffin Dorsey set up Martín Ojeda for a goal six minutes later for a 2-0 advantage that stood through halftime.

Inter Miami cut it to 2-1 four minutes into the second half on Mateo Silvetti’s first career goal. Defenders Segovia and Facundo Mura had assists as the 20-year-old forward found the net in his fifth career appearance.

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Segovia had eight goals and six assists as a rookie last season, while Mura collected his first assist in his first season.

Dayne St. Clair, the reigning goalkeeper of the year, turned away three shots — all in the second half of his second start with Inter Miami, but let in a soft goal for Orlando’s first.

Maxime Crépeau had four saves in his second start for Orlando City.

Teenager Colin Guske, 19, will miss Orlando City’s next match after the rookie picked up two yellow cards in his first start — the second one led to his exit in the 88th minute.

Inter Miami, which had never won in its previous nine trips to Orlando, was coming off a 3-0 road loss to LAFC.

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Orlando City swept Inter Miami during the regular season last year and leads the all-time series 8-7-4.

Inter Miami plays D.C. United on Saturday at Audi Field. Orlando City is also on the road with a match against New York City FC.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this recap.



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Rain floods Miami Beach streets, cut short Miami Heat Family Festival

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Rain floods Miami Beach streets, cut short Miami Heat Family Festival


Rain floods Miami Beach streets, cut short Miami Heat Family Festival

MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Much-needed rain fell across South Florida on Sunday, but the downpour quickly led to flooding and traffic headaches.

“The drainage systems aren’t the best but in ten minutes it will be gone,” one person said.

The rain lasted longer than 10 minutes, flooding several spots along Collins Avenue in Miami Beach.

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In one neighborhood, at least a foot of water blocked the entrance. Drivers who attempted to pass through sent waves crashing onto nearby sidewalks.

The heavy rain also snarled traffic on parts of Interstate 95 and on the bridges to and from Miami Beach, slowing drivers trying to get around the area.

“It’s Miami for you. What do they call it, a sun shower?” one driver said.

The weather disrupted Sunday plans for many. The 26th annual Miami Heat Family Festival was cut short after strong winds swept through Dan Paul Plaza, knocking over several tents.

There is no word yet on how or when the Miami Heat plan to make up the family festival.

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Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.

Brett Knese

Brett Knese joined the Local 10 News team as a general assignment reporter in March 2025.



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Miami youth trace Bahamian roots in powerful Black History Month journey

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Miami youth trace Bahamian roots in powerful Black History Month journey


Jack and Jill of America’s Miami chapter closed out Black History Month with an inaugural “Roots Across Waters” trip to Nassau, where families explored ancestral sites, honored the Bahamian labor that helped build early Miami, and donated Afro‑Caribbean children’s books to local students.



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