MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan said “conviction” drove the team’s decisions Thursday night as the club traded up and down in the first round before selecting Alabama offensive tackle Kadyn Proctor at No. 12 overall and San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson at No. 27.

After the opening night of the 2026 NFL Draft, Sullivan said both players stood out because of their traits, upside and fit within Miami’s long-term plans.

“He’s unique. He’s rare,” Sullivan said of Proctor. “He’s a 350-pound man with unique athletic traits that can play four spots across the line of scrimmage — left tackle, right tackle, both guards. The athletic traits for a man his size are through the roof.”

Proctor, 20, is 6-foot-7 and 359 pounds and is expected to compete for a starting role on the Dolphins’ offensive line. Sullivan said the team was fully aware of concerns about Proctor’s weight but felt confident after extensive evaluation.

“We did our due diligence with our resources. We feel really good about where he is at,” Sullivan said. “We brought him in on a 30 visit. I could feel his conviction and his desire to be a good football player and do the things that he needs to do to be the best pro that he can be.”

Sullivan added that Proctor’s versatility made him too valuable to pass on.

“There wasn’t another one in the draft like him, period,” he said.

While some observers projected Miami could target other top prospects, including Ohio State safety Caleb Downs or local defensive lineman Rueben Bain Jr., Sullivan said the Dolphins never wavered.

“Downs and Bain are marvelous players,” Sullivan said. “But we had a lot of conviction on Proctor being a very unique player in this draft and one that we can build around for years.”

Sullivan also said protecting quarterback Malik Willis was part of the long-term vision.

“We invested in Malik, and it was important for us to protect him,” he said. “We feel really good about what we invested in tonight.”

Later in the first round, Miami traded up three spots to select Johnson, a 6-foot, 193-pound cornerback who broke out at San Diego State with elite production and ball skills.

“When you watch Chris, he’s got great feet, great balance and body control,” Sullivan said. “He’s physical. He’s a big corner. He can play nickel, play outside corner. He’s got ball skills.”

Johnson, 21, finished his college career with 13 passes defended, four interceptions and two pick-sixes in his senior season, earning All-American honors and Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year.

Sullivan said Johnson’s athletic testing helped confirm what the Dolphins already believed.

“You watched him play in the fall, and then he ran real fast and jumped real high,” Sullivan said. “It just gives you peace of mind. Not only is the film really good, but all the traits in the world that you could want in a guy who has to cover players at this level, he’s got them.”

Sullivan emphasized that both selections reflected organizational alignment between scouts, coaches and analytics.

“When you have conviction on a player, organizational conviction, I think you have to listen to that,” he said. “At the end of the day, the buck stops with me.”

Miami entered the night with multiple trade scenarios in play but ended with two first-round picks and additional assets, a result Sullivan said the team felt strongly about.

“We started the day with 11 picks, we’ve got 11 now,” he said. “We stayed whole. We feel really good about it.”

Sullivan acknowledged that every draft brings scrutiny but said the Dolphins are confident in their process.

“I understand the questions, that’s just the way this business goes,” he said. “But we really like what we did tonight.”

As of Friday, the Dolphins’ draft capital includes:

• Round 1, pick 12: Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor

• Round 1, pick 27: San Diego State cornerback Chris Johnson (trade with San Francisco)

• Round 2: No. 43

• Round 3: Nos. 75, 87, 94

• Round 4: Nos. 130, 138

• Round 5: Nos. 151, 177 (Dallas), 180 (Dallas)

• Round 7: Nos. 227, 238

Miami traded its sixth-round pick to the New York Giants in exchange for tight end Darren Waller.

The 2026 NFL Draft continues Friday at 7 p.m. ET for Rounds 2 and 3.

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