Dolphins Nuggets

[hoops]

Also had 2 linbackers in the top 32:

25. Jordyn Brooks, Miami Dolphins​

Brooks resurrected his career in 2024 with his move to Miami, earning the highest PFF overall grade of his career (71.3) and ranking fifth in PFF WAR at the linebacker position. Before that, he had posted sub-60.0 PFF grades in each of his four seasons in Seattle.

If Brooks can keep the momentum going in 2025, he will prove he’s one of the top 25 linebackers in the NFL.

29. Tyrel Dodson, Miami Dolphins​

After posting the highest PFF overall grade (90.2) among linebackers in 2023 for Buffalo — albeit on less than 600 snaps — Dodson signed with the Seahawks but failed to catch on before being released after nine games. The Dolphins claimed him, and he went on to generate an 85.6 PFF coverage grade, the highest at the position from Week 11 onward. If Dodson can repeat that effort in a full season in 2025, he will be well worth his modest contract.

PFF Linebacker Rankings: Top 32 ahead of the 2025 NFL season

Linebacker is one of the trickiest positions in the modern NFL, but these 32 players have excelled in some form at the position's three major facets.

www.pff.com

I can see brooks there and at least they haven’t overrated him. I’m not impressed with Dodson at all.
Played one good game after he was signed and was bad after. Plays very skinny.

 

[Sticky Gloves]

Maybe but if he wasn't healthy he shouldn't have been cleared in the first place.

This is commonplace in the NFL. There's that alpha dog mentality, and guys play through injuries all the time, and sometimes very much to their detriment.

 

[Ryan1973]

This is commonplace in the NFL. There's that alpha dog mentality, and guys play through injuries all the time, and sometimes very much to their detriment.

Ya but not with McDaniel. He seems to sit guys way longer than he should when it comes to injured players.

 

[hoops]

Ya but not with McDaniel. He seems to sit guys way longer than he should when it comes to injured players.

Ahem waddle week 18 of 23 when he was doing everything in practice that week leading up.

 

[hoops]

Wonder what philips thinks of being rated below Andrew van ginkel.

I’m sure that sticks in his craw. Lol

 

[The Ghost]

I hear ya...and with that type of player, its my stance you can't bubble-wrap 'em and break glass in case of emergency. Gotta get 'em out there. If they keep getting season-ending injuries and it takes them out of the league, well you prevented a bad contract in finding out as soon as you could. And its not a knock on Phillips...he didn't get injured playing risky or doing something stupid like Tua. Some bodies just can't deal with it, and that's fine, you'd just rather know before dropping $20M+.

But we are unlikely to sign him anyway. If you’re going to maximize what value he has to offer, that would be the second half of the season and the post season.

If he gets hurt in the first of the season, he’ll be making peanuts next year, on a one year deal.

Banking on for 17 games is not something I would plan to do. Especially with Chop Robinson already on the roster.

 

[hoops]

Also had 2 linbackers in the top 32:

25. Jordyn Brooks, Miami Dolphins​

Brooks resurrected his career in 2024 with his move to Miami, earning the highest PFF overall grade of his career (71.3) and ranking fifth in PFF WAR at the linebacker position. Before that, he had posted sub-60.0 PFF grades in each of his four seasons in Seattle.

If Brooks can keep the momentum going in 2025, he will prove he’s one of the top 25 linebackers in the NFL.

29. Tyrel Dodson, Miami Dolphins​

After posting the highest PFF overall grade (90.2) among linebackers in 2023 for Buffalo — albeit on less than 600 snaps — Dodson signed with the Seahawks but failed to catch on before being released after nine games. The Dolphins claimed him, and he went on to generate an 85.6 PFF coverage grade, the highest at the position from Week 11 onward. If Dodson can repeat that effort in a full season in 2025, he will be well worth his modest contract.

PFF Linebacker Rankings: Top 32 ahead of the 2025 NFL season

Linebacker is one of the trickiest positions in the modern NFL, but these 32 players have excelled in some form at the position's three major facets.

www.pff.com

Boy has that position in the nfl deteriorated.

When Zach baun is 2nd that’s a perfect example. And he’s very scheme specific and use dependent.

 

[Finsup1981]

Boy has that position in the nfl deteriorated.

When Zach baun is 2nd that’s a perfect example. And he’s very scheme specific and use dependent.

Also crazy that Bobby Wagner is number 1-3 going on 13 years now.

Speaks to the deteoriation of the position like you stated

 

[hoops]

Also crazy that Bobby Wagner is number 1-3 going on 13 years now.

Speaks to the deteoriation of the position like you stated

Yeah there’s no way Wagner is playing at that level still

 

[Golphindolphin]

Kinda funny that they seem to call their own grading into question with Roquan ranked at #4 - " On the surface, Smith’s 66.8 PFF overall grade in 2024 would seem like a drop that would push him further down this list". Like saying "When you look at our grades, we don't really believe them either."

Nothing like a little PFF on PFF crime

 

[Rick Cartman]

He looks like he's carrying a less muscle mass this off-season
He looked like he was blasting trying to recover from his injury this past off-season which may have led to his subsequent injury this past season

 

[hoops]

Kinda funny that they seem to call their own grading into question with Roquan ranked at #4 - " On the surface, Smith’s 66.8 PFF overall grade in 2024 would seem like a drop that would push him further down this list". Like saying "When you look at our grades, we don't really believe them either."

Nothing like a little PFF on PFF crime

At least they admit it. First time I’ve seen em say something of that ilk.

 

[39wildman]

Dolphins need to easy Phillip back into playing. There is no need to rush him back.

 

[Pacer]

I wouldn't let Phillips play the first 10 games of the season. He needs to finish the season on the active roster if his career is going to go somewhere and if he wants a decent pay check at seasons end, even if its only for one year. I am glad he's getting paid this year though, at least he has life changing money locked up.

I love the kid, he's a testament to hard work.

Jaelen Phillips was the best defensive player we've had on our roster since Howard was in his prime. Phillips was just becoming elite in 2023, especially after his thrashing of Lane Johnson.

In a walk year for the player and one that may also be a transition year for the team I don't see any advantage to saving him. If he is ready let him play and help the team. The cost to extend will be the same if he plays well all year vs playing well the last half a year. Only way the cost goes down is if he is injured again or shows to have lost a step (which I doubt at his age).

That said, with all the guys we now have it makes sense to rotate and keep them fresh, which also reduces injury chances.

 

[rickd13]

Didnt we say this exact same thing until this past September?

Yeah, and he started on opening day and was playing well until he was taken out by his own teammate on a fluke play. What’s your point?