A list of key players fans should keep an eye on in this Training Camp
For Miami Dolphins fans, training camp officially begins when veterans hit the field alongside the rookies, and that is when real evaluations start. While every roster battle will matter, a handful of players carry more weight than the rest because their development could determine whether Miami merely competes or exceeds expectations in 2026.
I restricted my list of critical players to only one rookie. The kids take time, and you can’t demand them to come out of the gates hot especially late rounders. We’ll except for one that is.
Here’s my list of players I’ll have my eyes on because in my evaluation they are critical to the success of this season.
Offensive Skills Need the Vets to Step Up
The receiver room leads off with veterans Jalen Tolbert and Malik Washington. Miami invested in several young pass catchers, but relying exclusively on rookies is rarely a recipe for immediate success. Tolbert’s value lies in providing a dependable veteran presence while players like Theo Weiss, Caleb Douglas, Kevin Coleman Jr., and Chris Bell continue to develop. Washington, meanwhile, appears tailor-made for the offense, offering versatility, blocking ability, and reliability from the slot. If those two stabilize the passing game early, the rookie receivers can develop at a more natural pace.
At running back, Ollie Gordon II represents the physical element Miami hopes to add. Rather than chasing explosive runs, the focus is on consistent yards before contact and wearing defenses down. If Gordon can become the hammer that softens opponents for De’Von Achane later in games, the Dolphins’ run-first philosophy becomes much more dangerous.
Defensive Back Group is a Big a Question Mark
Defensively, three members of the secondary deserve close attention. Jason Marshall Jr. enters a zone-heavy system that better suits his strengths after struggling in man coverage last season. JuJu Brents possesses the size and athleticism to become Miami’s top cornerback, but his availability remains the biggest concern. Meanwhile, safety Dante Trader Jr. has impressed with his football intelligence, though training camp will reveal whether he can consistently handle deep coverage responsibilities in Jeff Hafley’s defense.
The Big Three Players to Watch
The trenches will ultimately define Miami’s season. Rookie Kadyn Proctor is expected to anchor the left guard position in a run-oriented offense, while Kenneth Grant must generate the interior pressure needed to elevate the defense. On offense, quarterback Malik Willis doesn’t have to carry the franchise with his arm, but he must operate efficiently, work through his progressions, and consistently distribute the football within the structure of the offense.
Finally, you can bet with the best pay per head that no player has more riding on training camp than Jonah Savaiinaea. After an extremely difficult rookie campaign, Year 2 becomes a pivotal crossroads. If he can simply develop into an average starting guard, Miami’s offensive line suddenly looks stable from left tackle through right guard. If he struggles again, significant questions about both his future and the offensive line’s ceiling will remain. Among every player entering camp, Jonah may have the greatest influence on whether the Dolphins’ rebuilt offensive identity truly takes shape.
Certainly, there are many more players to pay attention to and many of them are rookies. But for my evaluation these are the players who must show something right out of the gate for this season to get on track.
We’ll see very soon what these players and this Dolphins 2026 team is made of.
