Miami Dolphins rookie minicamp is in the books for the upcoming 2026 NFL season as 41 total players got a chance to display their talent in front of the coaching staff. 13 of those players were draft picks as the Dolphins went heavy on defense (seven picks) and focused on adding pass-catchers (five picks), adding a ton of versatility around incoming QB Malik Willis.
The Dolphins will also be under new leadership as Green Bay’s former DC Jeff Hafley will head coach his former quarterback and bring a his defensive philosophy to Miami. There’s good reason the Dolphins spent more than half of their picks on defensive players, many of which offer versatile looks and can move around the field.
The defensive brass is headlined by Texas Tech LB Jacob Rodriguez (RD 2, PK 43), San Diego State CB Chris Johnson (RD 1, PK 27), and Texas LB Trey Moore (RD 4, PK 130). All having standout seasons for competitive teams, the rookies could give some veterans issues when it comes time to settle depth charts.
However, one rookie in particular made an impression on coaching staff and teammates alike and that’s Pittsburgh LB Kyle Louis (RD 4, PK 138). Making a big play with a highlight interception, Louis is already garnering excitement from Hafley and the number of ways he can be utilized in the defense.
Kyle Louis can play anywhere in Jeff Hafley’s defense.
Jeff Hafley made the announcement that he’ll continue to call defensive plays as he did in Green Bay, stating “That’s really important to me. It’s something that I love to do. It really connects me with that group. I think it will bring a lot of energy to that side of the football and I think the details will be exactly how I want them early on as we go.”
Hafley runs an aggressive base 4-3 defense, playing Cover 2 on 19.4% of snaps and blitzing 43.2% of the time in third and fourth down situations. For the Packers, a safety like Xavier McKinney was able to thrive with coverage interceptions playing over the top while versatile linebacker Quay Walker was also able to drop back into coverage.
However, S Javon Bullard stands out as a strong comparison to what Hafley could do with Louis in this defense. Per Dolphins Wire, Louis “played 846 snaps in the box, 532 snaps in the slot and 233 snaps along the defensive line during his time at Pittsburgh.”
For a rookie looking to make an immediate impact, versatility and flexibility at multiple positions could be a huge advantage for Louis as he’s already comfortable doing everything on the field. “In 37 games over four years, Louis recorded 201 tackles, 10 sacks, six interceptions, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.”
Louis is a physical gem, natural defensive leader.
Kyle Louis clocked in at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds and can freely rotate throughout all safety, all linebacker, and most coverage corner positions. While safety will be his likely landing spot, he’ll be tasked with pass blitzing just as much as he will be sitting over the top of the defense and hawking long throws.
Louis also made a huge impression at the NFL Combine, running a 4.53 second 40-yard dash, posting a 39.5-inch vertical, and a 129-inch broad jump. His ability to break down into tackles makes him a sure-handed second level to the defense and he should have an opportunity to start within the offense sooner rather than later.
This is amplified by Louis’ work ethic and ability to naturally take the role of a leader in the locker room. He served as captain for Pittsburgh and was the team’s vocal leader, so expect him to immediately take a prominent role in this defense with his play and hungry attitude on the field.
Miami Dolphins rookie minicamp is in the books for the upcoming 2026 NFL season as 41 total players got a chance to display their talent in front of the coaching staff. 13 of those players were draft picks as the Dolphins went heavy on defense (seven picks) and focused on adding pass-catchers (five picks), adding a ton of versatility around incoming QB Malik Willis.