The 2025 NFL Draft is approaching and the Miami Dolphins have the 13th pick. This is a breakdown of their team needs and potential players they could select in the Draft.
State of the Union
The Dolphins have been stuck in limbo over the past several seasons, which is not a place you want to be in the NFL. In fact, they have been in limbo for over two decades. The Dolphins are not often thought of as one of the bottom-feeders in the NFL, but in reality, they have the longest playoff win drought of any franchise in the league. The Miami Dolphins have not won a playoff game since 2001. That is a real stat. Over the last 16 years, they have only made the postseason three times, and they lost in the Wild Card Round all three times.
Mike McDaniel did make the postseason his first two years in Miami but took a step back last year, finishing 8-9 and missing the postseason. In McDaniel’s defense, it was a tough year when it came to injuries, with Tua Tagovailoa only starting 11 games due to more concussion issues. However, the Dolphins were only 6-5 in the games that Tagovailoa started, so it wasn’t much better than it was without him. Tagovailoa’s injury issues, mainly concussions, have been a problem his entire NFL career. That is something that the Dolphins need to be prepared for and adding a top-level backup quarterback should be a priority for them this offseason (however, they already added Zach Wilson, so they might not be heeding that advice).
McDaniel’s seat is definitely warm entering the 2025 season. The Dolphins have waited 24 years to win a playoff game, and they won’t be patient much longer. McDaniel is a bright offensive mind, but whether it is his fault or not, things just aren’t quite clicking with this current roster. The Miami defense was solid last year, finishing 8th in defensive EPA/play and 9th in opponent points per game. However, they struggled on key drives when they needed a score or a stop. The offense without Tua Tagovailoa was also largely incompetent. The Dolphins need to return to postseason form, or it could be the end of the Mike McDaniel and Tua Tagovailoa era in Miami.
Potential Departures
LG Robert Jones – Jones played 94.7% of the snaps for Miami last season at guard. While he wasn’t a brilliant player, he was incredibly reliable and stayed healthy all season. The Dolphins will need to fill that gap on the offensive line and add more depth on the interior around the starter that they bring in.
Safeties Jordan Poyer, Jevon Holland – Jevon Holland was a standout player for the Dolphins’ defense last season and left in free agency for the Giants. Poyer was disappointing last season and has yet to sign anywhere, so there is a chance Miami brings him back. However, the Dolphins are now vulnerable at safety without Holland.
CB Kendall Fuller – While Fuller is no longer at the peak of his powers, he had a solid season for the Dolphins in 2024-25. The Dolphins will need to replace that production at corner this offseason.
RB Raheem Moestert – Moestert and Mike McDaniel have been together for years now, dating back to San Francisco. Moestert was phased out of the offense by the end of the season in favor of De’Von Achane. Achane will be the primary back for the Dolphins next year, with young running back Jaylen Wright behind him.
Team Needs
Interior Offensive Line – The Dolphins lost Robert Jones to the Cowboys in free agency, and they need to improve the quality that they have on the offensive line, particularly on the interior. They were able to re-sign Liam Eichenberg, which will help, but they still need more bodies on that line.
Interior Defensive Line – Miami doesn’t have a dominant force at defensive tackle. They could use a big run-stuffer who can also get after the quarterback to help them in both phases defensively.
Secondary – The Dolphins lost one of their standout defensive players, safety Jevon Holland, in free agency. They also will lose a veteran presence at safety, Jordan Poyer. At cornerback, they are likely to lose Kendall Fuller, who is both a good veteran presence and still playing at a high level. They already brought in Ashytn Davis from the Jets at safety, but he is more of a solid depth piece than a replacement for someone like Holland.
Potential Draft Picks
G Tyler Booker (Alabama) – The Dolphins don’t need to look any further than Tyler Booker for interior offensive line help. Booker has great physical traits, but really excels in the mental aspect of the game. He was a team captain and a great leader at Alabama. His blocking technique and football IQ are both fantastic, and he utilizes those attributes to counter-balance his average athleticism. Booker played mostly at left guard, so he could easily slide into Robert Jones’ vacated role on the offensive line.
DT Kenneth Grant (Michigan) – Kenneth Grant is going to be the second defensive lineman taken in this draft but don’t let that fool you. Grant is a monster on the interior defensive line and is more of a true nose tackle compared to Mason Graham’s DT/EDGE hybrid style. Grant is a monstrous 6’4 330 pounds and is a fantastic athlete for that size. He is already a fantastic run-stuffer but could use some improvement in his pass-rushing technique. That being said, he would be an instant impact player for Miami.
S Malaki Starks (Georgia) – Malaki Starks could be the perfect fit for Miami. He would immediately fill the gap that Jevon Holland left, and hopefully raise the bar even higher. Starks played in so many huge games during his tenure at Georgia, including winning a National Championship. Starks was slightly disappointing at the NFL Combine, but his college production speaks for itself. Starks played alongside and against high-end talent almost every week and showed that he is capable of greatness. Starks just needs to be more consistent and not lose focus for certain drives or even games, like he did in college.
