Souza's Miami Dolphins 2025 Draft Recap

The NFL draft has come and gone. In a draft with many big storylines, the Dolphins managed to stay mostly under the radar. The Dolphins had clear needs coming into the draft, some of which were addressed, but there are still a few holes to be filled. The decision to only draft one offensive lineman is puzzling, but they managed to land a few playmakers to bolster the defense. Let's take a look at the new Dolphin rookies.

Round 1, Pick 13- Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

Unlike most teams, there wasn't a general consensus in mock drafts about which position group the Dolphins would target. The main ones were defensive line, offensive line, or defensive back. The Dolphins ended up selecting Kenneth Grant, which came as a bit of a surprise. Many mocked Grant to be a late first-round pick, so it may have been a slight reach, but he's undoubtedly talented.

The Dolphins lost Calais Campbell and Da'Shawn Hand on their interior defensive line and badly need both run-stopping and pass-rushing help. Grant had three sacks and seven tackles for loss in 2024 and was a part of the 2023 team that won the national championship. He's 6'4", 330 pounds, with tons of power and physical gifts, and only 21. He'll be a key piece to the Dolphins' defensive line for years to come.

Round 2, Pick 5 (37)- Jonah Savaiinaea, G, Arizona

The Dolphins traded up to draft Savaiinaea, moving from 48 to 37. In doing so, they also gave up their third and fourth-round picks and received another fourth-round pick in return. They were clearly very high on Savaiinaea because they paid quite a hefty price. However, he becomes an immediate starter at guard following the departure of Robert Jones. He can also cover multiple positions; he started 10 games at right tackle in 2023 and split time between left and right tackle in 2024. It's a solid pick; I'm just not sure I agree with trading out of the third and fourth rounds.

Round 5, Pick 5 (143)- Jordan Phillips, DT, Maryland

Here is the pick that the Dolphins received in their trade with the Raiders, and they used it on another IDL. Phillips is only 20, but he played over 1,000 snaps in his two years at Maryland. He's primarily a run-stopper, as he had no sacks in two seasons. However, he tested very well in the athletic drills, and the Dolphins need the numbers on the defensive line.

Round 5, Pick 13 (150)- Jason Marshall Jr., CB, Florida

Jason Marshall Jr. is the first of two defensive backs the Dolphins took in the fifth round. It was no secret that the Dolphins would go after help for their secondary during the draft; the only surprise is that it didn't come sooner. Kendall Fuller was cut, and Jalen Ramsey looks to be on his way out, so it'll be a new-look cornerback room in 2025. Marshall Jr. was a five-star recruit coming out of high school and played four years at Florida.

He's prone to lapses in concentration, and his production was limited in college. He's also coming off an injury, which will always tank a player's draft stock a bit, but the physical tools are there, and it's a depleted secondary in Miami.

Round 5, Pick 19 (155)- Dante Trader Jr., SAF, Maryland

Safety is another position of need, with Jevon Holland signing with the Giants and Jordan Poyer not returning. The Dolphins signed Ifeatu Melifonwu and Ashtyn Davis to one-year deals, and they're in pole position to be starters. Trader Jr. is a three-year starter at Maryland, so he has experience for a rookie. His athletic numbers were poor, only a 31-inch vertical and a 4.65 forty-yard dash time, but the Dolphins will hope that his football skills can overshadow them.

Round 6, Pick 3 (179)- Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State

It was hardly a surprise when the Dolphins took a running back in this draft after Mike McDaniel said that he was looking to add 2-3 running backs following the departure of Raheem Mostert. The first was free agent signing Alexander Mattison, and Ollie Gordon is now the second. Gordon is a real bruiser back, at 6'1", 225 pounds, and will provide a completely different dimension to the other running backs on the roster.

De'Von Achane is a slight, speedy running back, and Jaylen Wright is heavier but still only stands at 5'10". Gordon's size will help on the goal line, and he showed that in 2023. Gordon scored 21 rushing touchdowns and rushed for 1,732 yards en route to finishing seventh in Heisman voting. His 2024 season wasn't nearly as productive, but he played on an awful team that ended the season with a 3-9 record.

Round 7, Pick 15 (231)- Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas

The biggest name the Dolphins drafted was, ironically, a seventh-round pick, Quinn Ewers. Ewers was the number one prospect in the nation coming out of high school, and as recently as last year, he was seen as a potential first-round pick. Ewers' slide was due to consistency issues, injuries, and struggles in some of the biggest games. Even still, it was surprising to see him fall all the way to the seventh round.

The offense Ewers ran at Texas was similar to McDaniel's Miami offense—it involved lots of pre-snap motion, quick passes, and speedy receivers. The Dolphins are a good fit for Ewers, but as it stands, he's the clear third-string quarterback behind Tua and Zach Wilson, who was signed from the Broncos in March.

Round 7, Pick 37 (253)- Zeek Biggers, DT, Georgia State

With the fifth-to-last pick of the draft, the Dolphins took another defensive lineman in Zeek Biggers. He lives up to his name; Biggers is 6'6", 321 pounds. He ran a 5.14 forty-yard dash and jumped 34.5 inches, frankly ridiculous numbers for a man of his size. However, Biggers did not have strong production in college and doesn't shed blocks quickly enough. He'll have to fight to make the roster.

Final Draft Grade: B-

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