Alain Poupart· 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.
“There'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”
published in writing · Sports Illustrated · read the original →
5 checkable claims — 4 depth chart calls and 1 top player list — each graded on its own rather than as one all-or-nothing bet.
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.
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.
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Who this take is about
5 checkable claims in this take
Each one is scored on its own against the published methodology. A pundit naming several outcomes is graded on each, not on all-or-nothing.
Michael Taaffe to be 1st on the depth chart
“Taaffe's off-the-charts intangibles ... just might wind up putting him in the starting lineup.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
Jacob Rodriguez to be 1st on the depth chart
“CLEAR STARTERS — 3. LB Jacob Rodriguez — Rodriguez beat out veteran Tyrel Dodson”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsChris JohnsonMiami DolphinsSep 5, 2026
Chris Johnson to be 1st on the depth chart
“CLEAR STARTERS — 1. CB Chris Johnson ... figures to be the key player in the secondary.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Depth Chart CallsKadyn ProctorMiami DolphinsSep 5, 2026
Kadyn 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.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
- Top Player ListsSep 5, 2026
“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.”
Not settled yet. This is graded once the result is in.
What others said about the same people
- Nathan JahnkeDepth Chart Calls · Jalen TolbertMiss · 0PFF's preseason fantasy recap makes a large number of depth-chart, role and fantasy-value calls across the league, including Chig Okonkwo as a top sleeper tight end, Tre Tucker as the Raiders' top receiver, and various backfield hierarchies.
- Nathan JahnkeDepth Chart Calls · Jalen TolbertMiss · 0PFF's fantasy football preseason recap projects depth-chart outcomes, roster spots and fantasy value for numerous players across several preseason games, including Chig Okonkwo's expanded role in Washington, Ja'Kobi Lane as Baltimore's WR3, Malachi Fields winning the Giants' starting X job, and Zachariah Branch being a fantasy bust relative to his late-round cost.
- Chad MillmanGame Outcome Picks · Miami DolphinsMiss · 0Chad Millman said he had taken money-line positions on several Week 1 underdogs — the Texans outright over the Bills, the Giants outright over Dallas (in a money-line underdog parlay), and Miami outright at Las Vegas — and that the show's survivor pick was the Steelers to win.
- Chad MillmanGame Outcome Picks · Miami DolphinsMiss · 0Millman backed several week one sides outright: Miami to beat the Raiders straight up, the Jets over the Titans, an underdog money line parlay of Houston and the Giants, and a favorites money line parlay of Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Detroit. He also stands by his preseason take that Drake Maye is a top-five NFL quarterback.
- Mike FlorioScore Predictions · Miami DolphinsMiss · 24Florio gives score predictions for every Week 1 game of the 2026 NFL season, including an opening-night upset by the Patriots in Seattle and narrow home wins for the Giants and Chiefs.
- Conor OrrGame Outcome Picks · Miami DolphinsMiss · 0Orr's Week 1 straight-up picks, including several upsets (Patriots, Buccaneers, Browns, Dolphins, Commanders, Broncos).
More depth chart calls
The same kind of call, about other players and teams.
- Tyler SullivanDepth Chart Calls · Drew LockMiss · 0In an unsigned Week 2 odds roundup, the piece states that with Sam Darnold hurt, Drew Lock will likely start at quarterback for Seattle against Arizona.
- Ralph VacchianoDepth Chart Calls · Tua TagovailoaMiss · 0Vacchiano ranks all 32 NFL teams entering the 2026 season, with the Rams first and Dolphins last. He also flags the Giants as a potential surprise team with a top-10 defense, and notes Deshaun Watson won Cleveland's QB job while Tua Tagovailoa starts Week 1 in Atlanta.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice touts Kyler Murray as a value QB who will start Week 1 for Minnesota, Tyler Shough as the Saints' undisputed starter, and Juwan Johnson and Terrance Ferguson as late-round tight end targets.
- Pat FitzmauriceDepth Chart Calls · Kyler MurrayHit · 100Fitzmaurice expects Kyler Murray to be Minnesota's Week 1 starter and calls him one of the better quarterback values in 2026 drafts; he also views Jordan Love as a top-10 real-life quarterback but only a QB2 in fantasy.
- Steven RuizDepth Chart Calls · Michael Penix Jr.Miss · 0In a retrospective tiering of all 32 starting quarterbacks, Ruiz treats Michael Penix Jr. as the Falcons' Week 1 starter over Kirk Cousins, whom he places in his lowest tier.
- Mike FlorioDepth Chart Calls · Shedeur SandersMiss · 0Florio reports the Browns will start Deshaun Watson in Week 1 but predicts Shedeur Sanders will likely be the starting quarterback by Week 3.