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The 2025 NFL draft is officially in the books for the Miami Dolphins and the team has eight new rookies on the roster. That won't be all, though.
A few hundred undrafted free agents will get phone calls for an opportunity to compete for a roster spot, and the Dolphins will certainly bring in several more first-year players. But before the smoke clears, he's how we evaluated the Dolphins' performance in the draft:
Grant is an immediate impact player who is a run-stopping presence and will be a disruptor in the Dolphins' defensive trenches. Despite his size, he has the potential to develop into a viable interior pass-rushing presence too.
"We do think he has the ability to generate (pressure)," Grier said of Grant, “And you've heard us talk about the pass rush, it's not always about sacks. The ability to push the pocket in the middle is a huge thing in the NFL now. And we think he has tremendous work ethic and upside to do that.”
Grant played a big role in Michigan's national championship run in 2023, and he could be a dominating force for the Dolphins. With Zach Sieler at his side, the 6'4 331-pound rookie can feed off the veteran and vice versa, and the tandem should create opportunities for their teammates.
The only potential negative is the value, as many thought the Dolphins could've traded down the draft order and still landed Grant a bit later.
After climbing from No. 48, which left the Dolphins without a third-round selection, Grier kept to the theme of trench help, and got a versatile offensive lineman in Arizona's Jonah Savaiinaea. He moves very well for his size at 6'4, 324 pounds. Savaiinaea can get out in space and help at the next level, and help protect quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Savaiinea plays with the nasty demeanor that proved to be the theme of this draft for the Dolphins. He could also provide value as a tackle in a pinch, but he is surely to help ball carriers break longer runs with his ability to pull and run into space.
The culture change attempt is evident, and Savaiinaea could be the missing piece to a consistent offensive line that generates power in short yardage, and provides valuable protection for the quarterback.
In lieu of picking early on Day 3, Miami sent away the No. 116 and 224 selections to the Texans for a 2026 third-round pick and a sixth-round selection that turned into running back Ollie Gordon II.
The "B-" is for a solid deal that helps next year. But going more than 100 selections without a pick hurt the teams ability to accrue talent right away.
With a pick they received Friday from the Raiders, Miami added more to trenches by taking Phillips. The strong, athletic interior defensive lineman comes with major upside and leadership ability, and has a chance to develop in defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver's rotation. He is a player who you need not look at raw stats to see his production. His wrestling background creates very good leverage, ans Phillips can play in a variety of techniques. He could prove to be a steal at this point in the selection process down the round at just 20 years old.
Marshall is a solid-sized boundary corner at 6'0 with plenty of athleticism and experience, who has the skill set to do well in press coverage. He's a Miami native who played four years of starting football for Florida.
While he's better at breaking up passes than reeling in interceptions, Marshall likely would have been a higher draft pick if not for a season-ending shoulder injury seven games into his 2024 season. He finished his four years with the Gators with 98 tackles, eight for loss, a pair of interceptions, and 25 pass breakups.
Trader is a versatile, hybrid safety who can lineup in a variety of spots, and has sound tackling technique. The former lacrosse player brings plenty of athleticism and toughness, and can go sideline-to-sideline to get his hands on the ball. In his four years at Maryland he picked off five passes and recorded 15 pass breakups to go with three tackles for loss.
He could be a big help in defending the tight end as well as slowing mobile quarterbacks. Trader will join a Dolphins safety room that has depth in numbers, but an open competition for the starting roles.
Gordon is a welcomed change-of-pace back in the Dolphins backfield. He's a powerful pile-pusher in short-yardage situations and on the goal line, as well as a sound pass protector. Additionally, Gordon can catch the ball as a running back, and had 80 receptions in his college career.
The Dolphins picked a developmental quarterback with high upside due to his arm talent. Ewers had 9,128 passing yards at Texas with 68 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. Given a quarterback whisperer like Mike McDaniel, Ewers will get a chance to unlock and hone his raw talent in Miami.
The Dolphins finished their class with another addition on the defensive line. Biggers is 6'6, 321 pounds and can add to special teams as well as defense. In college, he managed to block four kicks. It's a fine flier as Miami's last pick of the process.
The Dolphins had a plan and they executed it well. It was top-heavy, trenches-oriented approach that sets the team up nicely for 2026 in terms of draft capital and bookkeeping.
The class is headlined by an excellent pair of players in Grant and Savaiinaea to change the culture and create a power mindset up front on each side of the ball.
Adding defensive backs late should create camp competition at both safety and cornerback, which is needed in both rooms. This was a workman-like, inside-out formula for the Dolphins that madde a very well-rounded, solid haul for Grier and Miami.
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Grading the Dolphins' 8 selections
Continue reading...
A few hundred undrafted free agents will get phone calls for an opportunity to compete for a roster spot, and the Dolphins will certainly bring in several more first-year players. But before the smoke clears, he's how we evaluated the Dolphins' performance in the draft:
Round 1, No. 13: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan (A-)
Grant is an immediate impact player who is a run-stopping presence and will be a disruptor in the Dolphins' defensive trenches. Despite his size, he has the potential to develop into a viable interior pass-rushing presence too.
"We do think he has the ability to generate (pressure)," Grier said of Grant, “And you've heard us talk about the pass rush, it's not always about sacks. The ability to push the pocket in the middle is a huge thing in the NFL now. And we think he has tremendous work ethic and upside to do that.”
Grant played a big role in Michigan's national championship run in 2023, and he could be a dominating force for the Dolphins. With Zach Sieler at his side, the 6'4 331-pound rookie can feed off the veteran and vice versa, and the tandem should create opportunities for their teammates.
The only potential negative is the value, as many thought the Dolphins could've traded down the draft order and still landed Grant a bit later.
Round 2, No. 37: Jonah Savaiinaea, G, Arizona (A-)
After climbing from No. 48, which left the Dolphins without a third-round selection, Grier kept to the theme of trench help, and got a versatile offensive lineman in Arizona's Jonah Savaiinaea. He moves very well for his size at 6'4, 324 pounds. Savaiinaea can get out in space and help at the next level, and help protect quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Savaiinea plays with the nasty demeanor that proved to be the theme of this draft for the Dolphins. He could also provide value as a tackle in a pinch, but he is surely to help ball carriers break longer runs with his ability to pull and run into space.
The culture change attempt is evident, and Savaiinaea could be the missing piece to a consistent offensive line that generates power in short yardage, and provides valuable protection for the quarterback.
Dolphins trade with Raiders for No. 37 pick (B-)
In lieu of picking early on Day 3, Miami sent away the No. 116 and 224 selections to the Texans for a 2026 third-round pick and a sixth-round selection that turned into running back Ollie Gordon II.
The "B-" is for a solid deal that helps next year. But going more than 100 selections without a pick hurt the teams ability to accrue talent right away.
Round 5, No. 143: Jordan Phillips, DT, Maryland (A)
With a pick they received Friday from the Raiders, Miami added more to trenches by taking Phillips. The strong, athletic interior defensive lineman comes with major upside and leadership ability, and has a chance to develop in defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver's rotation. He is a player who you need not look at raw stats to see his production. His wrestling background creates very good leverage, ans Phillips can play in a variety of techniques. He could prove to be a steal at this point in the selection process down the round at just 20 years old.
Round 5, No. 150: Jason Marshall Jr, CB, Florida (B)
Marshall is a solid-sized boundary corner at 6'0 with plenty of athleticism and experience, who has the skill set to do well in press coverage. He's a Miami native who played four years of starting football for Florida.
While he's better at breaking up passes than reeling in interceptions, Marshall likely would have been a higher draft pick if not for a season-ending shoulder injury seven games into his 2024 season. He finished his four years with the Gators with 98 tackles, eight for loss, a pair of interceptions, and 25 pass breakups.
Round 5, No. 155: Dante Trader Jr, S, Maryland (B)
Trader is a versatile, hybrid safety who can lineup in a variety of spots, and has sound tackling technique. The former lacrosse player brings plenty of athleticism and toughness, and can go sideline-to-sideline to get his hands on the ball. In his four years at Maryland he picked off five passes and recorded 15 pass breakups to go with three tackles for loss.
He could be a big help in defending the tight end as well as slowing mobile quarterbacks. Trader will join a Dolphins safety room that has depth in numbers, but an open competition for the starting roles.
Round 6, No. 179: Ollie Gordon II RB, Oklahoma State (A-)
Gordon is a welcomed change-of-pace back in the Dolphins backfield. He's a powerful pile-pusher in short-yardage situations and on the goal line, as well as a sound pass protector. Additionally, Gordon can catch the ball as a running back, and had 80 receptions in his college career.
Round 7, No. 231: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas (B-)
The Dolphins picked a developmental quarterback with high upside due to his arm talent. Ewers had 9,128 passing yards at Texas with 68 touchdowns and 24 interceptions. Given a quarterback whisperer like Mike McDaniel, Ewers will get a chance to unlock and hone his raw talent in Miami.
Round 7, No. 253: Zeek Biggers, DT, Georgia Tech (B+)
The Dolphins finished their class with another addition on the defensive line. Biggers is 6'6, 321 pounds and can add to special teams as well as defense. In college, he managed to block four kicks. It's a fine flier as Miami's last pick of the process.
OVERALL GRADE: B
The Dolphins had a plan and they executed it well. It was top-heavy, trenches-oriented approach that sets the team up nicely for 2026 in terms of draft capital and bookkeeping.
The class is headlined by an excellent pair of players in Grant and Savaiinaea to change the culture and create a power mindset up front on each side of the ball.
Adding defensive backs late should create camp competition at both safety and cornerback, which is needed in both rooms. This was a workman-like, inside-out formula for the Dolphins that madde a very well-rounded, solid haul for Grier and Miami.
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: 2025 NFL draft: Grading the Dolphins' 8 selections
Continue reading...
