Alain Poupart#33 of 87 NFL pundits · Sep 5, 2026
Poupart power-ranks all 14 Dolphins rookies based on potential, camp performance and likely 2026 impact, placing cornerback Chris Johnson first and identifying Johnson, Kadyn Proctor and Jacob Rodriguez as clear starters, with Michael Taaffe possibly joining the starting lineup.
Published in writing · Sports IllustratedRead the original
What Alain Poupart said
our reading, beside the words we read it fromThere's been a pretty good battle for the top spot, but we've landed on Johnson as our favorite to be the team's Rookie of the Year
- Where it was published
- Sports Illustrated
- The piece
- Dolphins Rookie Power Rankings Heading Into Regular Season: From Proctor to Herman
- The original
- Read the original
- Read it wrong?
- Tell us and we will look
- 1Jacob Rodriguez to be 1st on the depth chart“CLEAR STARTERS — 3. LB Jacob Rodriguez — Rodriguez beat out veteran Tyrel Dodson”
- 2Kadyn Proctor to be 1st on the depth chart“There is absolutely zero reason to think he won't be a solid starter right from the jump.”
- 3Chris Johnson to be 1st on the depth chart“CLEAR STARTERS — 1. CB Chris Johnson ... figures to be the key player in the secondary.”
- 4Michael Taaffe to be 1st on the depth chart“Taaffe's off-the-charts intangibles ... just might wind up putting him in the starting lineup.”
- 5Top Player Lists“here's our latest power ranking of every Dolphins rookie based on potential, training camp/preseason performance and likely impact in 2026, divided into a few tiers.”
Box score
HitCloseMissWaiting| Verdict | Call | Kind | What happened | Score | Naive | Skill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacob Rodriguez to be 1st on the depth chart1 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Kadyn Proctor to be 1st on the depth chart2 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Chris Johnson to be 1st on the depth chart3 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| Michael Taaffe to be 1st on the depth chart4 | Depth Chart Calls | — | — | — | — | |
| “here's our latest power ranking of every Dolphins rookie based…”5 | Top Player Lists | — | — | — | — | |
| 5 calls · 5 waiting | — | — | ||||
How each call scored
5 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls and 1 top player list — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing call.
It names 5 players and teams, each linked to their own record.
None of them have settled yet — they grade once their results are in.
Of the 4 unsettled calls enough other pundits have weighed in on, this one lands below the rest of the room on every one.
Each call is scored 0 to 100 against what happened, on its own, by the published methodology. The naive guess is what knowing nothing would have scored on the same calls; the gap, weighted by how hard the call was, is the skill.
Where this call stands in the room
Chris Johnson · 2026 season5 calls from 5 pundits between 1 and 1. Alain Poupart said 1. the room's median is 1. not settled yet
Every dot is a call somebody published on the same question. Where the dots land says where this take sits, not whether it is right — nothing here is settled yet. Hover a dot for the name and number; click it to read that take.
Their call against the room
Their call against everyone else's, while this is still unsettled.
1Depth Chart CallsJacob RodriguezMiami Dolphins
Jacob Rodriguez to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
2Depth Chart CallsKadyn ProctorMiami Dolphins
Kadyn Proctor to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
3Depth Chart CallsChris JohnsonMiami Dolphins
Chris Johnson to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
4Depth Chart CallsMichael TaaffeMiami Dolphins
Michael Taaffe to be 1st on the depth chart
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
“here's our latest power ranking of every Dolphins rookie based on potential, training camp/preseason performance and likely impact in 2026, divided into a few tiers.”
VerdictWaitingNot settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Who this take is about
Others on the same people
Nick Brinkerhoff · Score Predictions · Miami Dolphins · Hit 100
Predicts a 23-20 Dolphins win over the Jets.Mike Kadlick · Game Outcome Picks · Miami Dolphins · Hit 100
Picks the Dolphins to beat the Jets.Jourdan Rodrigue · Game Outcome Picks · Miami Dolphins · Hit 100
Roderick picked the Vikings to smash the Colts, the Dolphins to win their first game of the season against the Jets, and the Saints to upset the Steelers in Paris.Kyle "Gump" Cathcart · Game Outcome Picks · Miami Dolphins · Hit 100
Gumpy predicted the Miami Dolphins would get a big win over the Jets on Sunday.Carter Bahns · Game Outcome Picks · Miami Dolphins · Hit 100
Bahns argues the Dolphins, already 0-3 and now without De'Von Achane for the season, are among the least talented rosters ever and face a brutal schedule, identifying five road/home dates (at the Jets, at the Colts, vs. the Jets, at the Packers, vs. the Chargers) as their most winnable games while doubting they can even approach their projected win total.Seth Rollins · Game Outcome Picks · Miami Dolphins · Hit 100
Guest host Seth Rollins named the Miami Dolphins their No. 1 sleeper team, saying they'll outperform expectations, finish ahead of the Jets and at least third in the AFC East, but won't win the division. They also predicted Myles Garrett will break their own single-season sack record given the Rams' elite offense.
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
Michael Moore · Depth Chart Calls · Shedeur Sanders · Hit 100
In a Week 9 injury roundup, Moore forecast which banged-up fantasy contributors would play or sit: Deshaun Watson, Garrett Wilson, David Montgomery, Mike Evans, Deebo Samuel, TreVeyon Henderson and Terrance Ferguson are expected out, while Travis Kelce, Saquon Barkley, Michael Wilson, Christian Watson and Emeka Egbuka should play. They also expect Shedeur Sanders and Drew Lock to start at quarterback.Nic Bodiford · Depth Chart Calls · Joe Fagnano · Hit 100
Previewing Week 9 running game matchups, Bodiford expects Jacksonville to win lopsidedly over a depleted Baltimore team, with Bhayshul Tuten sitting out and Chris Rodriguez taking over as lead back, while Joe Fagnano starts at quarterback for the Ravens. They also view Broncos rookie Jonah Coleman as an RB2 going forward.