As we all know, the Miami Dolphins have begun a major roster transition under the new leadership duo of general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley. Many older, high-priced veterans were shown the door this offseason, and in their places, younger, cheaper players have been brought in and given opportunities to prove they belong in the National Football League.
Every year, ESPN releases a ranking of all 32 NFL teams regarding how much talent they roster under the age of 25. Last year, the Dolphins ranked second-to-last — coming in at #31 on the four-letter network’s list. Heading into the 2026 NFL season, Miami has made a major leap up those rankings — sitting at #12 on this year’s list.
In a curious move, author Aaron Schatz listed guard Jonah Savaiinaea as Miami’s only “blue-chip” player under 25, but also name-dropped guys like Patrick Paul, De’Von Achane, Kadyn Proctor, Chris Bell, Caleb Douglas, Kenneth Grant and Jordan Phillips. Despite being ranked as the worst guard in the league last year by Pro Football Focus, Savaiinaea’s move to the right side of the offensive line in 2026 seems to have given ESPN hope that the young player will take positive steps forward this season.
Despite the jump from #31 to #12, the Dolphins still sit behind both the New York Jets (#7) and New England Patriots (#1) on ESPN’s list. In fact, Schatz claims that New England’s quarterback — Drake Maye — is the NFL’s “most valuable young commodity” after leading his team to the Super Bowl in just his second season as a professional.
For the entire article from ESPN, click here.