Miami Dolphins slammed for draft strategy after 'head-scratching' first-round choice of Michigan DT
Context:
The Miami Dolphins faced criticism for their first-round pick of Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant in the 2025 NFL Draft, with analysts questioning the value and fit of the selection. ESPN's Matt Miller and Mel Kiper highlighted the team's pressing needs in the secondary, which were not adequately addressed until later rounds. Kiper gave the Dolphins a C+ grade, emphasizing that while Grant is a capable player, his selection as a nose tackle did not align with Miami's more urgent defensive back needs. Concerns are mounting over Miami's ability to handle passing offenses, given the departures of key secondary players like Jevon Holland and potential trade of Jalen Ramsey. As the season approaches, the Dolphins' secondary remains a major area of uncertainty and potential vulnerability on defense.
Dive Deeper:
Critics, including ESPN's Matt Miller, expressed that the Dolphins' choice of Kenneth Grant in the first round was poor value, as he was deemed more appropriate for early round two, especially given Miami's needs at cornerback and safety.
Mel Kiper echoed concerns over the Dolphins' decision, awarding a C+ draft grade and noting that Miami missed an opportunity to spark their lineup by choosing a defensive tackle instead of addressing more pressing issues in the secondary.
The Dolphins' secondary was identified as a significant weakness, particularly after Jevon Holland's departure to the Giants and the potential exit of Jalen Ramsey, leaving the team with unproven options at cornerback and safety.
Despite selecting eight players in the draft, Miami only added Jason Marshall Jr. and Dante Trader Jr. to their secondary, with Marshall being a fifth-round pick, which raised concerns about their defensive readiness.
CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin questioned the Dolphins' defensive strategy, pointing out the potential difficulty in stopping passing attacks, which could become a storyline as the 2025 season approaches.
The critical reception of Miami's draft choices underscores a broader worry about the team's ability to compete defensively, especially in the secondary, where they face numerous uncertainties.
Shane Shoemaker, who reported on the draft, has a background in sports journalism and is noted for his extensive experience covering football and baseball, fostering a deep understanding of team strategies and dynamics.
The Miami Dolphins came away with eight picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
But it appears few are high on the Dolphins’ first-round selection of Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant — including ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller.
“This was both a poor value — Grant was an early-Round 2 player for me — and a luxury, given the Dolphins' needs at cornerback and safety,” Miller said. “Grant is certainly a good player, but the value just felt off.”
Overall, ESPN's Mel Kiper gave the Dolphins a C+ grade.
“This is a team in need of a spark, and it was a good year to have a bunch of picks. But then Miami used its first-round pick on ... a nose tackle,” Kiper wrote. “Kenneth Grant is a good player, no doubt. The 331-pounder stops runners in their tracks and breaks up passes at the line of scrimmage. The Dolphins needed an impact player next to Zach Sieler on the defensive line. I just don't know that No. 13 overall was the place to find that player — especially because Grant's pass-rush upside is limited.”
Like Miller, Kiper also noted Miami’s secondary as a major concern, which remains thin heading into 2025.
“The bigger need falls in the secondary,” Kiper added. “Even before Miami was exploring a [Jalen] Ramsey trade, cornerback was a problem. Miami came to Green Bay with some combination of Storm Duck, Cam Smith and Ethan Bonner penciled in at CB2 to replace Kendall Fuller. That wasn't going to work. Safety was an even bigger issue after Jevon Holland signed with the Giants. Yet it was crickets at both positions until Day 3. Jason Marshall Jr. (CB32) and Dante Trader Jr. (S16) were the only adds.”
Marshall, a fifth-round pick out of Florida, was Miami’s lone addition to the secondary in the draft.
“What's going on in the secondary?” CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin asked. “It’d be one thing to recite concerns about Tua Tagovailoa and Mike McDaniel adapting on a big stage. But the defense might have trouble stopping the pass against, well, everyone in 2025. With Jevon Holland gone and Jalen Ramsey seemingly also on the way out, they're working with lots of unknowns on the back end.”
With this level of criticism mounting, Miami’s secondary — or lack thereof — could be a critical storyline as the season approaches.