Dolphins 3-round ESPN mock draft lands seven players with 'steal of the draft' at pick 43

The Miami Dolphins have been selling off a lot of their roster pieces and cutting ties with plenty of veterans in recent months.

Heading into the 2026 NFL Draft, they have seven picks inside the first three rounds, including two first-rounders, one second-rounder, and four picks in round three.

In a recent three-round mock draft from ESPN, Mel Kiper, Field Yates, Jordan Reid, and Matt Miller put together a ridiculous class that features the "steal of the draft" in Round 2.

Dolphins land strong 3-round haul in ESPN mock draft

At 11th overall, Reid had the Dolphins taking Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, who would be a phenomenal way to replace Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, who were cut and traded, respectively.

Speaking of the Waddle trade, with the 30th overall pick the Dolphins got from that deal, Miller has the Dolphins landing Toledo safety Emmanuel McNeil-Warren. He's a down-hill safety who'd be a nice pickup for Jeff Hafley in the first round.

Then in round two, Reid has the Dolphins somehow landing Utah offensive tackle Caleb Lomu. "The Dolphins get the steal of the draft here," Reid writes, "as Lomu would transition to right tackle and give Miami a pair of bookend tackles (with Patrick Paul) for the foreseeable future."

Those three picks would be an incredible start to the draft, as Miami would be landing a new WR1, a Minkah Fitzpatrick replacement, and an absolute steal in Lomu, who easily could be a mid-first-round-pick.

More: Dolphins trade Minkah Fitzpatrick to Jets for late-round pick

Finally, with their four selections in the third round, the Dolphins are predicted to select the following players:

(Reid): No. 75: Michigan Edge Derrick Moore, (Reid): No. 87: Georgia CB Daylen Everette, (Miller): No. 90: Ohio State TE Max Klare, and (Miller): No. 94 Iowa CB TJ Hall.

Moore would be a nice way to upgrade the pass rusher room, which needs a lot of help with Bradley Chubb gone. Everette and Hall would give the Dolphins CB room the help it needs, while Klare would be a nice way to land a cheap young TE to replace Darren Waller.

Overall, between Tate, McNeil-Warren, Lomu, Moore, Everette, Klare, and Hall, this three-round mock draft haul from ESPN would be an incredible coup for the Dolphins.

Upgrades all through the roster, while getting multiple steals, including Lomu at 43, which would be a ridiculous value for Miami if such a scenario occurred.

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