The Dolphins spent a second-round pick on Jacob Rodriguez because he was the best linebacker in college football last season, and Tyrel Dodson, despite a 100-tackle campaign, is playing on an expiring deal. The succession plan couldn't be more transparent. But Dodson has zero interest in making this transition a smooth one, and that's exactly how this coaching staff wants it.

"I'm still here, why would it be a disadvantage?" Dodson said when asked if the regime drafting three linebackers puts him in a tough spot. "It'd be a disadvantage if I was shipped off somewhere and not willing to compete."

That's the kind of answer that buys you reps in a Jeff Hafley building. The new regime has made competition the foundational principle of this roster overhaul, and Dodson is saying all of the right things. He's an undrafted guy who's carved out a career by refusing to cede ground, and a rookie with a higher pedigree isn't going to change that wiring.

The wrinkle here is the green dot. Calling the defense isn't just about talent; it's about processing speed, communication, and command of the scheme. Hafley has been rotating the responsibility through the linebacker and safety groups during OTAs, which tracks with how he operated in Green Bay. Jon-Eric Sullivan called Rodriguez "a green-dot guy" on draft night, and Hafley acknowledged the transition from college helmet-to-helmet communication to the pro game will take time. That's not a red flag for Rodriguez's future, but it does suggest Dodson's experience gives him a real edge in the short term.

The 2025 rookie defensive linemen are a useful reference point here. Kenneth Grant, Jordan Phillips, and the rest of that group struggled early before finding their footing, and Miami's record suffered for it. Rodriguez might be more pro-ready than those guys were, but the lesson still applies: forcing a rookie into a role he hasn't earned yet can cost you games, even in a rebuilding year.

Bottom line: This is one of the better "problems" on the roster. Miami has an All-Pro in Jordyn Brooks anchoring the group, a proven producer in Dodson who isn't going to hand over his job, and a high-ceiling rookie in Rodriguez who was drafted to eventually take over. Let the competition play out through training camp. If Rodriguez wins it, great. If Dodson holds him off for a few weeks, Rodriguez learns from two veterans who know how to play the position at a high level. Either way, the linebacker room is one of the few spots on this roster where depth actually isn't a concern.

Bleacher Report included Chris Johnson in its bold predictions for the biggest NFL rookies ahead of training camp, projecting 59 tackles and three interceptions for the former San Diego State corner. That interception number is the headline, with the piece arguing Johnson "has a real chance he ends up creating more turnovers than any other rookie" if he starts at least half the season. For a secondary that lost Jalen Ramsey and Minkah Fitzpatrick in the span of a year, that kind of immediate production would be a massive win.

General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan traded up with San Francisco to grab Johnson at 27, which tells you how the building views his ceiling. His combination of speed, recovery ability, and ball skills made him a Day 1 lock, and his versatility to play inside and outside gives defensive coordinator Sean Duggan flexibility in how he deploys the secondary. That matters for a defense that still has real questions at safety and needs its corners to hold up without elite help over the top. Johnson doesn't need to be a shutdown guy right away, but if he can win enough reps in man coverage to earn starter's snaps by midseason, this secondary looks dramatically different than the one that limped through parts of 2025.

This fanbase is starving for a homegrown star to build around on defense, and Johnson's draft-night reception showed how ready the fan base is to invest in the next wave. Kenneth Grant was supposed to be that guy last year, but it took longer than expected to get rolling. And the interior defensive line isn’t exactly the most exciting position for fans looking for a star. Johnson's path to early playing time should be smooth, too, given how thin the cornerback room remains.

Bottom line: Three interceptions from a rookie corner would be a strong return on the trade-up investment, and it's not an unreasonable projection given Johnson's ball skills and the likelihood he sees meaningful snaps from Week 1. The secondary is still this roster's biggest question mark, but Johnson has the tools to start answering it quickly.