The Miami Dolphins were already walking a fine line entering Day 2 of the 2026 NFL Draft, and their Round 3 pick continued that path.
With the No. 87 overall pick, Miami selected Ohio State tight end Will Kacmarek, a player widely projected to come off the board much later. Many evaluators had him slotted anywhere from the sixth round to the back end of the draft, with some consensus boards even grading him as a priority free agent.
Dolphins’ Will Kacmarek Pick Sparks Confusion on Day 2 of NFL Draft
That disconnect between where he was expected to go and where he actually went feels off. Miami did not just take a developmental tight end. The Dolphins reached for one earlier than almost anyone expected, and it quickly became one of the more puzzling moments of Day 2.
On “Football Debate Club, PFSN’s NFL draft analyst Ian Cummings captured the tone of the pick.
“It’s a it’s the blocking tight end revolution,” Cummings said. “This is the new NFL. So welcome. It’s glorious. But also a little confusing.”
That quote captured what Miami is trying to do, but it didn’t line up with the value. Teams across the league have started to lean more into physical tight ends who can anchor the run game and help in pass protection. Kacmarek fits that mold.
At the same time, the timing of the selection is what’s concerning. Cummings acknowledged the archetype but questioned the urgency.
“Again, I would have waited until day three,” he added.
The Dolphins may have identified a role player they like, but the cost of acquiring him at No. 87 felt steep given how the rest of the league viewed his value. It also marked a strange bit of draft history, as Kacmarek became the first player widely ranked as an undrafted prospect to be selected at this stage.
Dolphins Value Kacmarek’s Physical Profile Over Receiving Upside
To understand the pick, you have to look at what Kacmarek actually brings to the table. His profile is not built around production or dynamic receiving ability. It is rooted in size, strength, and physicality.
After beginning his career at Ohio, Kacmarek transferred to Ohio State and settled into a TE2 role. His best season came in 2025, when he posted 15 catches for 168 yards while earning a 76.7 PFSN TE Impact Score, good for a C grade and a No. 76 ranking among tight ends.
That stat line tells the story. He was not a featured weapon in the passing game and even lost reps to Max Klare there. His true value came as a blocker.
At 6-foot-5 and 259 pounds, Kacmarek has the frame and strength to hold his own at the point of attack. He plays with force, can function as a sixth offensive lineman in protection, and brings the kind of toughness teams want in heavy personnel packages.
Cummings highlighted identity while also pointing out its limitations.
“He’s kind of in the same tier, the same arc type… you’re looking at a guy who has the power profile right, who’s very physical at the point of attack,” he said, before noting that his receiving upside is “a little limited past that point.”
BE AN NFL GM: PFSN’s Ultimate GM Simulator
That limitation is where the risk comes in. Kacmarek is not especially fluid or explosive, and his route tree is restricted by stiffness. While he can contribute in short areas and provide occasional value on swing routes or in the red zone, he is unlikely to develop into a true mismatch weapon.
