Miami Dolphins Eye Athletic Defensive Lineman Rene Konga in 2026 NFL Draft
Dolphins intrigued by freakishly athletic prospect in 2026 NFL draft
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The Miami Dolphins are exploring options for a defensive lineman after releasing Benito Jones. They are considering Rene Konga, a 23-year-old prospect from Canada, who impressed with a 9.78 Relative Athletic Score and is projected to be a seventh-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
- 01The Dolphins need to fill a gap left by Benito Jones, who played 24.4% of defensive snaps.
- 02Rene Konga had a standout college career with 63 tackles and 6 sacks over 44 games.
- 03Konga achieved a 9.78 Relative Athletic Score, ranking him highly among defensive linemen since 1987.
- 04He participated in a top-30 visit with the Dolphins this week.
- 05Konga is projected to be selected in the seventh round of the upcoming draft.
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The Miami Dolphins are on the lookout for a defensive lineman following the release of Benito Jones, who contributed to 24.4% of the team's defensive snaps in 2025. One potential candidate is Rene Konga, a 23-year-old athlete from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Konga, a former three-star recruit, played four years at Rutgers and completed his college career at Louisville, where he recorded 63 tackles, 8 passes defensed, 6 sacks, and 1 forced fumble over 44 games. His athletic prowess is highlighted by an impressive 9.78 Relative Athletic Score, placing him 50th out of 2,270 defensive linemen since 1987, thanks to his 4.79-second 40-yard dash, 37-inch vertical jump, and 122-inch broad jump. Konga is currently projected to be a seventh-round pick, allowing the Dolphins to focus on more pressing needs before potentially selecting him late on Day 3 of the draft.
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The Dolphins' decision to explore new defensive linemen could enhance their overall defensive strategy.
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