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Here’s what NFL draft analysts are saying about the Miami Dolphins’ draft after the first round, which saw the team select Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant with the No. 13 pick Thursday night.
ESPN (Mel Kiper): “The Dolphins could have had Will Johnson (though he reportedly has a knee issue). They could have had Jahdae Barron. If they do trade Jalen Ramsey, their cornerback room would include Kader Kohou, Storm Duck, Cam Smith and Ethan Bonner. That’s a problem, and Miami opted to skip the position to draft a nose tackle. Yes, Grant is explosive, and sources told me the league was hot on him heading into the draft. But he was 30th on my board.”
The Athletic: ”This was a little earlier than expected for Grant, whom Brugler had rated No. 25 in this class. Grant is stout and solid, though, and can take up blockers in the Dolphins’ 3-4 defense. He is the perfect defensive tackle to play over the center or between the A-gap and occupy double teams. As his frame suggests, Grant is massive, yet he’s still quicker than most men his size. Playing alongside Graham at Michigan, Grant compiled a combined 11.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks plus 11 passes defensed over the last two years. He also has a wide wingspan (82 5/8 inches).” Grade: B
NFL.com: “Grant could grow to become a powerful tackle in the Dexter Lawrence mold. He possesses good feet for his size. He’ll need to play with a lower pad level against NFL interior linemen, though, and must show the ability to affect the passer to be more than a two-down tackle. It’s not clear to me that Grant was the top tackle on the board at No. 13, with Derrick Harmon still available. It’s also worth noting that Jahdae Barron could have filled a pressing need in the secondary for the Dolphins.” Grade: B-
CBSSports.com: “The Dolphins had to get an interior defensive lineman and Grant fits in perfectly. He is a big, power player who can line up next to Zach Sieler. I like this pick for a team desperate for defensive line help.” Grade: B+
USAToday.com: “A magnet for double teams and a force against the run, the 6-4, 331-pounder will certainly make his presence felt for a Dolphins team needing to create more of a push up front. But Grant still has substantial work to do to harness his considerable athleticism in pass-rushing scenarios, and he might never be a prolific playmaker in the backfield. That makes this pick a little rich in a class that’s long on interior defenders who can hold the point of attack.” Grade: C
Yahoo Sports: “Kenneth Grant is a big, athletic nose tackle who will immediately help the Dolphins get more physical against the run. Grant has some pass rush upside that’s unusual for a 330-pound defensive tackle, but Miami’s offensive tackle situation is in such a tough spot. It might’ve been a bit more prudent to draft an offensive tackle here.” Grade: B-
ProFootballNetwork.com: “The Dolphins addressed the trenches – but perhaps not on the side of the ball fans would’ve preferred. However, options were sparse on the offensive line at this value, making it easier for the Dolphins to follow their board and select Kenneth Grant.
“Grant is a unique player in that he fills a specific niche very well in theory. At 6’3”, 330 pounds, he’s a block of rock on the interior, with “dancing bear” athleticism and agility both in the pass-rush phase and in recovery as a run defender. He’s a visibly better space-eater and gap defender at 0-tech and 1-tech than Mazi Smith was coming out, and there’s legitimate pass-rush juice, too.
“As a complete NFL player, Grant still has some development to undergo, as down-to-down consistency and conditioning can sometimes be an issue. On the draft board, in a very deep DT class with multiple nose tackle candidates, this was a reach – but few nose tackles have Grant’s sheer upside alongside Zach Sieler if he can continue trending up.” Grade: C
FoxSports.com: “The injury to Tua Tagovailoa was obviously the biggest factor in Miami’s disappointing 8-9 season, but don’t overlook the loss of defensive tackle Christian Wilkins to the Raiders in free agency. This club needed girth and power inside and few in this class provide that more than Grant, a burly intimidator in the middle. Grant is unique in that along with his bulk, he’s also a very smart defender, getting his hands up to knock down passes and kicks. That said, while the position was clearly one of need for Miami, I didn’t see Grant as worthy of a top-20 selection and question the value of this pick.” Grade: C-
SBNation.com: “I would’ve loved Derrick Harmon here, but Grant is a Michigan man who is after owner Stephen Ross’ own heart. He’s a massive player who can defend the run immediately, and has a bit of pass rush upside. It might take some time, but there’s a path to Grant being a very impactful player.” Grade: B-
BleacherReport.com: “The Dolphins just picked a nose tackle with far less upside as a pass-rusher than Dexter Lawrence, who entered the league as the 17th overall pick in the 2019 draft. Grant isn’t a Haloti Ngata-caliber prospect, either, and he went 12th overall. Is Grant a great athlete? Absolutely. The potential is oozing off this mammoth of a man. But he’s not a three-down defender, and he may never be. Still, size matters for NFL prospects. Grant didn’t dominate the way that he should have in college, but he has the physical tools that every NFL team wants in its defensive linemen.” Grade: D
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ESPN (Mel Kiper): “The Dolphins could have had Will Johnson (though he reportedly has a knee issue). They could have had Jahdae Barron. If they do trade Jalen Ramsey, their cornerback room would include Kader Kohou, Storm Duck, Cam Smith and Ethan Bonner. That’s a problem, and Miami opted to skip the position to draft a nose tackle. Yes, Grant is explosive, and sources told me the league was hot on him heading into the draft. But he was 30th on my board.”
The Athletic: ”This was a little earlier than expected for Grant, whom Brugler had rated No. 25 in this class. Grant is stout and solid, though, and can take up blockers in the Dolphins’ 3-4 defense. He is the perfect defensive tackle to play over the center or between the A-gap and occupy double teams. As his frame suggests, Grant is massive, yet he’s still quicker than most men his size. Playing alongside Graham at Michigan, Grant compiled a combined 11.5 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks plus 11 passes defensed over the last two years. He also has a wide wingspan (82 5/8 inches).” Grade: B
NFL.com: “Grant could grow to become a powerful tackle in the Dexter Lawrence mold. He possesses good feet for his size. He’ll need to play with a lower pad level against NFL interior linemen, though, and must show the ability to affect the passer to be more than a two-down tackle. It’s not clear to me that Grant was the top tackle on the board at No. 13, with Derrick Harmon still available. It’s also worth noting that Jahdae Barron could have filled a pressing need in the secondary for the Dolphins.” Grade: B-
CBSSports.com: “The Dolphins had to get an interior defensive lineman and Grant fits in perfectly. He is a big, power player who can line up next to Zach Sieler. I like this pick for a team desperate for defensive line help.” Grade: B+
USAToday.com: “A magnet for double teams and a force against the run, the 6-4, 331-pounder will certainly make his presence felt for a Dolphins team needing to create more of a push up front. But Grant still has substantial work to do to harness his considerable athleticism in pass-rushing scenarios, and he might never be a prolific playmaker in the backfield. That makes this pick a little rich in a class that’s long on interior defenders who can hold the point of attack.” Grade: C
Yahoo Sports: “Kenneth Grant is a big, athletic nose tackle who will immediately help the Dolphins get more physical against the run. Grant has some pass rush upside that’s unusual for a 330-pound defensive tackle, but Miami’s offensive tackle situation is in such a tough spot. It might’ve been a bit more prudent to draft an offensive tackle here.” Grade: B-
ProFootballNetwork.com: “The Dolphins addressed the trenches – but perhaps not on the side of the ball fans would’ve preferred. However, options were sparse on the offensive line at this value, making it easier for the Dolphins to follow their board and select Kenneth Grant.
“Grant is a unique player in that he fills a specific niche very well in theory. At 6’3”, 330 pounds, he’s a block of rock on the interior, with “dancing bear” athleticism and agility both in the pass-rush phase and in recovery as a run defender. He’s a visibly better space-eater and gap defender at 0-tech and 1-tech than Mazi Smith was coming out, and there’s legitimate pass-rush juice, too.
“As a complete NFL player, Grant still has some development to undergo, as down-to-down consistency and conditioning can sometimes be an issue. On the draft board, in a very deep DT class with multiple nose tackle candidates, this was a reach – but few nose tackles have Grant’s sheer upside alongside Zach Sieler if he can continue trending up.” Grade: C
FoxSports.com: “The injury to Tua Tagovailoa was obviously the biggest factor in Miami’s disappointing 8-9 season, but don’t overlook the loss of defensive tackle Christian Wilkins to the Raiders in free agency. This club needed girth and power inside and few in this class provide that more than Grant, a burly intimidator in the middle. Grant is unique in that along with his bulk, he’s also a very smart defender, getting his hands up to knock down passes and kicks. That said, while the position was clearly one of need for Miami, I didn’t see Grant as worthy of a top-20 selection and question the value of this pick.” Grade: C-
SBNation.com: “I would’ve loved Derrick Harmon here, but Grant is a Michigan man who is after owner Stephen Ross’ own heart. He’s a massive player who can defend the run immediately, and has a bit of pass rush upside. It might take some time, but there’s a path to Grant being a very impactful player.” Grade: B-
BleacherReport.com: “The Dolphins just picked a nose tackle with far less upside as a pass-rusher than Dexter Lawrence, who entered the league as the 17th overall pick in the 2019 draft. Grant isn’t a Haloti Ngata-caliber prospect, either, and he went 12th overall. Is Grant a great athlete? Absolutely. The potential is oozing off this mammoth of a man. But he’s not a three-down defender, and he may never be. Still, size matters for NFL prospects. Grant didn’t dominate the way that he should have in college, but he has the physical tools that every NFL team wants in its defensive linemen.” Grade: D
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