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A Dolphins rookie has a unique connection to Arch Manning

The Miami Dolphins will hope that the 2026 NFL Draft class will help lay the foundation for years to come as the team addressed a majority of their needs with their 13 selections. However, one position the Dolphins did not address was quarterback.

This goes against what general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan had previously said. When asked about the quarterback position after being hired, Sullivan said, “We will draft quarterbacks every year, if not every other year, because I think you have to.”

Of course, Sullivan did address the quarterback position in free agency, as the team signed quarterback Malik Willis to a three-year, $67 million contract. While the Dolphins will certainly hope Willis is the answer at the position, if he isn’t, Miami will likely be in a position in next year’s draft to select one of the premier quarterback prospects.

And now, the team has a new link to Texas quarterback Arch Manning in one of the rookies from this year’s draft class.

Miami Dolphins Connection to Arch Manning

Texas defensive back Michael Taaffe, who the Miami Dolphins selected in the fifth round, was the host for Arch Manning during his recruiting visit. Regarding Taaffe, Manning previously said, “(Michael Taaffe) was a hell of a host. I’ll tell you that. Just having him as a friend and a teammate, he’s the biggest leader I’ve ever been around. He was a walk on, moved his way up the depth chart, got on scholarship, became an All-American. Someone should write a movie about the guy.”

Manning is currently projected by USA Today in their way-too-early 2027 mock draft to be the first overall pick. USA Today’s Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz wrote:

“A year ago, Manning was a staple of these exercises despite having only a minimal body of work. Those projections proved premature, but they weren’t off base. After a tumultuous start to taking over the reins for the Longhorns, Manning settled down and showcased the tantalizing skill set that puts him at the head of the class for next year. There’s still work to be done, particularly in becoming much more precise when throwing on the move, but Manning would provide an unparalleled level of hope and excitement to a franchise that doesn’t look equipped to end the lengthiest active postseason drought in North American men’s team sports anytime soon.”

Manning was projected to land with the New York Jets, while the Dolphins were projected to have the second pick and select Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith.

Michael Taaffe’s Prospect Ranking

While having the Arch Manning connection is a fun story, and may prove useful in the future, Taafe is a solid prospect in his own right. He was ranked by The Ringer’s Todd McShay as the 153rd-best prospect. Regarding Taaffe, McShay wrote:

“Taaffe is lean with short arms and good—but not elite—top-end speed. However, he’s a much better football player than his athleticism suggests, and he’ll have a high floor in the NFL. He makes quick reads, closes quickly, and times his hits well when driving on passes. He reads the quarterback, tracks the ball well in single-high looks, and can turn and run with running backs when he lines up in the box. He doesn’t have the length or range of a true center fielder, and his smaller frame raises concerns about his ability to match up with tight ends and bigger slot receivers in the NFL. He can overreact to play-action.”