The Miami Dolphins had a disappointing 2024 season, following up two consecutive playoff berths with an 8-9 season and no playoff appearance. The Dolphins had PFSN’s 26th-ranked offensive line in 2024 and have had issues protecting QB Tua Tagovailoa.
Will they spend some of their 2025 draft capital on OL? The Dolphins’ draft grades explain how Miami’s 2025 NFL Draft unfolded in Green Bay.
Looking for all 32 teams’ draft grades? Head to our 2025 NFL Draft Grades for All 32 Teams Tracker to see how we’ve graded other drafts.
Overall Dolphins Grade: C+
To the Dolphins’ credit, they did what many people wanted them to do: Focus on the trenches. They spent their first two picks, and half of their overall selections, on trench players, and their second-round pick – Jonah Savaiinaea – was one of the best confluences of need and “best player available” in the entire draft.
Savaiinaea should be an impact starter at guard, and even though the Kenneth Grant selection was too rich, Grant does have high upside in a niche where that kind of two-phase, three-down potential is relatively difficult to find. The problem is, the Dolphins didn’t build off of the Grant selection as well as they could have.
They essentially drafted three variations of nose tackles. Jordan Phillips is a young block absorber who offers little disruptive ability at this point in time. Zeek Biggers is an explosive space-eater who’s also limited beyond his primary function at the moment.
Next to Grant and Zach Sieler, the Dolphins still have a deficiency on the defensive line, and that could impact Grant’s development. But beyond that, Miami’s other picks were solid enough.
Jason Marshall Jr. has some potential as a nickel defender, and Dante Trader Jr. is a natural mover at safety. Quinn Ewers was acceptable value in Round 7, and if Ollie Gordon II can recapture his 2023 magic, he’ll be a steal. Miami did enough to stay afloat, but can they deliver on their bolder picks? That remains to be seen.
Grades for Every Dolphins Draft Pick
- Round 1, Pick 13
Kenneth Grant, DT | Michigan
Grade: C
With the 13th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Miami 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.
- Round 2, Pick 37
Jonah Savaiinaea, OG | Arizona
Grade: A
The Dolphins are hitting the interior of their trenches hard. Their first-round pick caught scrutiny across the board, but their second-round pick appears to be a much better value acquisition.
Jonah Savaiinaea, at 6’5 “, 330 pounds, has the high-level athleticism and power profile to not only be a picture-perfect scheme fit but an eventual impact starter.
Savaiinaea mainly played right tackle at Arizona, but he projects much better on the interior, where he can use his explosive athleticism, space blocking ability, low center of gravity, torquing capacity, and finisher mentality to overwhelm opponents. He fills a major need, and he does so with effective traits.
- Round 5, Pick 143
Jordan Phillips, DT | Maryland
Grade: C+ - Round 5, Pick 150
Jason Marshall Jr., CB | Florida
Grade: D - Round 5, Pick 155
Dante Trader Jr., S | Maryland
Grade: C - Round 6, Pick 179
Ollie Gordon II, RB | Oklahoma State
Grade: C- - Round 7, Pick 231
Quinn Ewers, QB | Texas
Grade: B+ - Round 7, Pick 253
Zeek Biggers, DT, Georgia Tech
Grade: A
Dolphins draft war room is clueless. Every pick is a long reach. No patience. So disappointing.