Miami, FL
Ten Players to Watch in Preseason Finale
The Miami Dolphins will close their preseason schedule against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Ramond James Stadium on Friday night, giving roster bubble players one last chance to make their case to the coaching staff.
Those players who won’t dress for that first game for non-injury reasons pretty much are the locks to make the 53-player roster, and conversely those in the lineup either will be trying to offer more evidence they should be on the 2024 team or at the very least get a bigger role on offense or defense.
With that in mind, here is our list of 10 players to watch in that preseason finale against the Buccaneers:
QB SKYLAR THOMPSON
Because we’re talking about quarterbacks, the battle for the No. 2 job behind Tua Tagovailoa might have been the most scrutinized of training camp. Thompson has gotten the call ahead of Mike White in each of the first two preseason games, which might or might not signal he’s ahead in the competition. If he is, it’s probably not by a large margin and Thompson could solidify that No. 2 spot (if he currently has it) or at the very least his spot on the roster with a good outing against Tampa Bay.
QB MIKE WHTE
When head coach Mike McDaniel talked this week about putting his backup quarterbacks in unfavorable situations to see how they would respond, that’s applied more to White than Thompson in preseason games because he closed out the first two games. Another factor to consider when it comes to White is the Dolphins could save $3.5 million of cap space if they decide to go with Thompson as the backup and release White. This clearly is a big game for him as well.
TE TANNER CONNER
It’s unclear how many tight ends the Dolphins will keep on the 53-man roster and Conner could convince the Dolphins they need to keep him around if he can have another performance like he had in the preseason opener before he was sidelined by a midsection injury.
OL JACK DRISCOLL
This isn’t about a roster spot, but rather a potential starting opportunity for Driscoll based on McDaniel’s comment before practice in Tampa on Wednesday when he said there still was competition going on the offensive line. Driscoll’s performance in training camp was solid all the way through and he’s also done the job in the preseason games, and maybe another good outing could be the last push he needs.
OL LESTER COTTON
If Driscoll does end up winning a starting job, it’s Cotton who appears the most vulnerable. He started at right guard in the two preseason games after Liam Eichenberg moved to center in the wake of Aaron Brewer’s hand injury but hasn’t necessarily done anything to cement his spot in the starting lineup.
DT BRANDON PILI
As we discussed in our fourth 53-man roster projection, the Dolphins have a lot of question marks on their defensive line beyond Zach Sieler and Calais Campbell and Pili is right in the mix. He’s made some plays in camp and the preseason and already might have locked up his roster spot, though another good outing wouldn’t hurt.
DT ISAIAH MACK
Mack lacks the ideal bulk for the interior of the defensive line, but he has been active along the defensive line, to the point where he’s put himself in the conversation for a roster spot. But he’s still a long shot, one who needs a big outing against Tampa Bay to push his way in.
LB CHANNING TINDALL
Yes, we’re mentioning Tindall again. While we’re thinking he’s got a spot on the roster because of his special teams work, it might be a stretch to say he’s a lock or that he couldn’t benefit from a good preseason finale. If nothing else, a strong performance maybe could give his defensive coaches more confidence to put him in the lineup.
CB NIK NEEDHAM
It’s difficult to think of a more household name among players who appear on the roster bubble than Needham, who has been with the team since 2019, longer than anybody outside of Durham Smythe and Jason Sanders. Needham finds himself in a logjam in the secondary, whether the Dolphins decide to consider him as a safety or cornerback, or even both. A big preseason finale could be what Needham needs to secure his roster spot.
S MARK PERRY
Perry is at the other end of the spectrum, a rookie free agent who’s put himself in position to be considered for a roster spot but still needs a strong finishing push. We could have mentioned the three rookie free agent cornerbacks here — Jason Maitre, Storm Duck and Isaiah Johnson — but we’e already highlighted them and now it’s time for Perry to get his due respect.
Miami, FL
Strong storm topples trees, damages homes in a Miami-Dade neighborhood, with days of cleanup ahead for residents
A fast-moving storm swept through the Palm Springs North neighborhood early Tuesday evening, knocking down trees, damaging homes, and leaving some residents with days of cleanup ahead.
The damage was concentrated in a small area, where powerful wind and heavy rain uprooted large trees and scattered debris across front yards. A massive tree fell onto its side, trapping a small car beneath its branches.
The Gamba family spent hours clearing debris from their property, working late into the night with chainsaws and hand tools.
“I just want to clear as much as possible so that the city can take the rest tomorrow,” said Jose Gamba.
Just around the corner, strong gusts tore shingles from a home, leaving them strewn across the yard. Viewers shared videos showing intense rain and wind pounding the neighborhood as outdoor furniture was sent flying.
“Not even a hurricane took this down, but this did in two seconds,” Gamba said about the tree in his parents’ yard. “We didn’t expect this to happen”.
Florida Power and Light crews were in the area after nightfall, working to restore power and address downed lines caused by the storm.
Despite the damage, neighbors said the overall impact was limited.
“They used to have shade, and now that’s gone,” Gamba said about the downed tree. “That’s probably the worst part”.
No injuries were reported.
Miami, FL
Unlicensed contractor arrested after allegedly scamming Miami Catholic school out of $220,000
A Miami‑Dade County man is behind bars after authorities say he stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from a Catholic school for repairs that were never completed.
Nestor Olivares, 50, is charged with grand theft of more than $100,000, organized fraud and operating without a contractor’s license, according to court records. Investigators allege the theft began in 2024 and involved money paid to repair the roof at St. Kevin’s Catholic School.
Court documents show the school paid Olivares more than $220,000 beginning last year for materials and labor to fix the roof. However, prosecutors say no work was ever done.
During a bond court hearing Monday, Olivares appeared before a judge and spoke through an interpreter.
“He doesn’t have a valid contractor license in the state of Florida or Miami‑Dade County,” Judge Mindy Glazer said during the hearing.
According to investigators, Olivares later tried to negotiate with the school after the work failed to materialize.
Court records state he ultimately promised to issue a full refund by Feb. 26, but the school never received a payment.
After his arrest, Olivares told investigators he was unable to repay the full amount at one time, the documents say.
Olivares remains in the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $30,150 bond. As a condition of his release, he will be required to prove any money used to post bond comes from a legitimate source.
Miami, FL
Dolphins 7-Round 2026 NFL Mock Draft: Miami could catch the wave just right and get a monster draw in the top-50 picks
The Miami Dolphins will serve as one of the main characters for the 2026 NFL Draft. Mock drafts across the internet have propositioned countless player combinations for Miami’s seven-pick top-100 haul that is scheduled for the end of the month. I hope you’re ready for another one.
© Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Miami Dolphins will serve as one of the main characters for the 2026 NFL Draft. Mock drafts across the internet have propositioned countless player combinations for Miami’s seven-pick top-100 haul that is scheduled for the end of the month. I hope you’re ready for another one.
Here’s my latest 2026 7-round Miami Dolphins mock draft, in which I used the new A to Z Sports NFL mock draft simulator to make my picks.
Miami Dolphins 2026 7-round NFL mock draft secures plug-in starters at several positions

11th overall – SAF Caleb Downs, Ohio State Buckeyes
I’d be willing to bet the Dolphins are eager to do as general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan has alluded and build this roster from the inside out. But head coach Jeff Hafley did recently disclose just how important safeties are to how he calls a football game. I’d take 1+1 and accept that it equals two: Downs would have a strong argument for best player on the board and fits a vital position for the Dolphins.
Key players not on the board in this simulation: OT Francis Mauigoa (Miami), EDGE Rueben Bain Jr. (Miami), LB Sonny Styles (Ohio State), CB Mansoor Delane (LSU)
30th overall – EDGE TJ Parker, Clemson Tigers
I have long maintained that this draft will get interesting fast for the Dolphins. If Clemson EDGE TJ Parker is on the board, he’d serve as an excellent option for a pass rush room that needs more snap takers, more physicality, and more competition. Parker makes for an excellent foil in skills opposite Chop Robinson and Joshua Uche. The question isn’t if the Dolphins should draft Parker, but rather if he’ll make it to pick No. 30 overall. He did in this simulation and I gobbled him up.
43rd overall – OG Chase Bisontis, Texas A&M Aggies
The risk Miami is taking from a depth of draft position cannot be underestimated in this draft. There are 10 firm contenders in the offensive line group to hear their names called in the top-40 picks. If that entire group runs off the board, you could be on the outside looking in.
I took the risk at 11th overall because of Downs’ value, then the value at No. 30 because I got a high-volume player to rush the passer. Bisontis does not have offensive tackle flexibility but would likely present an upgrade at offensive guard. Seeing his name on the list of available players list at No. 43 made for a quick decision.
75th overall – WR Skyler Bell, Connecticut Huskies
Miami’s dream scenario in the top-50 still leaves four third-round selections to make and plenty of position groups that need attention. I’ll start with a double-dip at wide receiver to capitalize on the depth of the pass-catcher group in the 2026 NFL Draft with third round picks. Bell is a 2025 breakout player who thrived as a marquee option for the Huskies; he thrived with the ball in his hands and downfield thanks to his speed and explosiveness.
Bell is a little rough around the edges and drops were an issue prior to 2025, which is why he may end up on the board with Miami’s pick here.
87th overall – WR Ted Hurst, Georgia State Panthers
As promised, a double dip at wide receiver. There are still going to be major questions about QB Malik Willis’ supporting cast after drafting Bell and now Ted Hurst, but at least there’s youth, explosiveness, downfield ability, and potential for the Dolphins to embrace in a wide open competition for playing time. Hurst is a long-framed receiver who also flashes great open-field ability and vertical receiving as the Dolphins seek to build explosive plays off of their potential running game.
90th overall – CB Ephesians Prysock, Washington Huskies
There’s a certain DNA that many of the corners in Miami’s position room share this offseason. Big, physical, and long. Prysock is all of the above. He’s a legit 6-foot-3, has an 80.5″ wingspan (95th percentile for cornerbacks since 1999) and he offers the profile of a press corner to compete for playing time in Miami along with the other dozen corners the Dolphins have hoarded.
94th overall – LB/EDGE Jaishawn Barham, Michigan Wolverines
If you like players who are compared to the Tasmanian Devil, you’re in luck. Barham is an absolutely unhinged player in the best way possible. He’s aggressive, he punches above his weight class, and he could serve as a hybrid linebacker/edge defender player for a little front flexibility for Coach Hafley. His profile as an edge is only scratching the surface of his potential but slotting him into the room with Parker and the veteran group gives Miami a chance to see someone emerge.
130th overall – CB Hezekiah Masses, California Golden Bears
Masses isn’t big like Prysock. But man, is he a tenacious son of a gun out there on the perimeter. Masses is an “in your face” player at the cornerback position and I love his attitude on film. When Jeff Hafley says ‘put on the tape’ to determine if someone loves football, Masses is the kind of player that comes to mind.
151st overall – TE Dallen Bentley, Utah Utes
Bentley was a breakout player for the Utes offense in 2025. He’s a sure-handed, big-bodied receiving type at tight end who showcases sufficient ability to make plays underneath in the passing game. There’s some surprising “after catch” skills to work with here for Bentley in his bid to win a role in the tight end room.
227th overall – FB Max Bredeson, Michigan Wolverines
Miami does not currently have a fullback on the roster and it is probably safe to assume that they will add one. Bredeson fits the mauler play style that I suspect this team is after amid the talk of the tone and intensity they play the game with.
238th overall – QB Jalon Daniels, Kansas Jayhawks
Daniels is my mock draft quarterback of choice to join the quarterback room behind Malik Willis. Getting a signal caller with some similar traits, even if they aren’t the same caliber, should be an objective to allow the identity of the offense to stay the same if injuries arise in 2026.
Miami Dolphins News
Miami Dolphins News

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