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Athletic post draft outlook for every team heading into the summer, here’s the AFC East…basically said nothing good about us but glowing reviews for the rest of the teams:
Dolphins Offseason Thread (Mandatory Mini-Camp 6/10 - 6/12)
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Draft Network had a very positive view of our draft:
Round 1 (No. 13): Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
The Dolphins have been searching for an interior presence since losing Christian Wilkins in free agency last offseason. They found it in Kenneth Grant. Grant is a quick-footed defender with the capability to wreck a game plan. He’s a big-bodied defensive lineman who possesses exceptional change of direction for his size. He'll utilize power and athleticism to overwhelm offensive linemen at the next level.
Round 2 (No. 37): Jonah Savaiinaea, IOL, Arizona
Mike McDaniel entered the draft with major question marks at both guard positions. Before the three-day event, the underperforming Liam Eichenberg and oft-injured James Daniels were penciled into starting roles. Jonah Savaiinaea will almost certainly replace one of them as a Week 1 starter. Savaiinaea has mass and length with the required anchor to stifle interior pass rushers.
Round 5 (No. 143): Jordan Phillips, DT, Maryland
Faced with a massive gap between their second-round pick and the next selection, the Dolphins did well to land a quality player in Jordan Phillips. Defensive line depth was a major need, so Phillips could quickly contend for snaps next to Grant and Zach Sieler. The Maryland standout is a powerful run defender with quickness, good hands, and a red-hot motor.
Round 5 (No. 150): Jason Marshall Jr., CB, Florida
With Jalen Ramsey on the chopping block, cornerback was a big-time need. It's a bit surprising the Dolphins didn't address the position earlier. They decided to keep Florida's Jason Marshall Jr. in state. Marshall Jr. possesses terrific size to play the boundary, and he uses reactive athleticism to contend the catch point (27 career pass breakups). The 6-foot, 194-pound athlete ran 4.49 at the NFL Combine.
Round 5 (No. 155): Dante Trader Jr., SAF, Maryland
There's a sizable hole at safety following Jevon Holland’s departure. The Dolphins have veteran short-term solutions at the position in Ifeatu Melifonwu and Ashtyn Davis. Dante Trader Jr. has developmental potential to become a starter. Trader Jr. is physical, competitive, and versatile enough to wear multiple hats.
Round 6 (No. 179): Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State
Ollie Gordon II was among college football's most promising running backs, though an injury and inconsistencies prevented him from flashing his full potential in 2024. He's joining a crowded position room that already contains De'Von Achane, Jaylen Wright, and Alexander Mattison. Gordon II will attempt to establish himself as a short-yardage back.
Round 7 (No. 231): Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
It was an incredibly difficult campaign for former Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers. Once viewed as a potential first-round pick, Ewers slid to the seventh round after dealing with injuries and poor play in 2024. He'll attempt to defeat Zach Wilson in training camp for the right to back up Tua Tagovailoa.
Round 7 (No. 253): Zeek Biggers, DT, Georgia Tech
Zeek Biggers was the third defensive lineman the Dolphins drafted. Biggers is athletic, having leaped an outstanding 34.5-inch vertical and 9-foot-3 broad jump at the NFL Combine. He's a smooth athlete with quality lateral agility.
Round 1 (No. 13): Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
The Dolphins have been searching for an interior presence since losing Christian Wilkins in free agency last offseason. They found it in Kenneth Grant. Grant is a quick-footed defender with the capability to wreck a game plan. He’s a big-bodied defensive lineman who possesses exceptional change of direction for his size. He'll utilize power and athleticism to overwhelm offensive linemen at the next level.
Round 2 (No. 37): Jonah Savaiinaea, IOL, Arizona
Mike McDaniel entered the draft with major question marks at both guard positions. Before the three-day event, the underperforming Liam Eichenberg and oft-injured James Daniels were penciled into starting roles. Jonah Savaiinaea will almost certainly replace one of them as a Week 1 starter. Savaiinaea has mass and length with the required anchor to stifle interior pass rushers.
Round 5 (No. 143): Jordan Phillips, DT, Maryland
Faced with a massive gap between their second-round pick and the next selection, the Dolphins did well to land a quality player in Jordan Phillips. Defensive line depth was a major need, so Phillips could quickly contend for snaps next to Grant and Zach Sieler. The Maryland standout is a powerful run defender with quickness, good hands, and a red-hot motor.
Round 5 (No. 150): Jason Marshall Jr., CB, Florida
With Jalen Ramsey on the chopping block, cornerback was a big-time need. It's a bit surprising the Dolphins didn't address the position earlier. They decided to keep Florida's Jason Marshall Jr. in state. Marshall Jr. possesses terrific size to play the boundary, and he uses reactive athleticism to contend the catch point (27 career pass breakups). The 6-foot, 194-pound athlete ran 4.49 at the NFL Combine.
Round 5 (No. 155): Dante Trader Jr., SAF, Maryland
There's a sizable hole at safety following Jevon Holland’s departure. The Dolphins have veteran short-term solutions at the position in Ifeatu Melifonwu and Ashtyn Davis. Dante Trader Jr. has developmental potential to become a starter. Trader Jr. is physical, competitive, and versatile enough to wear multiple hats.
Round 6 (No. 179): Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State
Ollie Gordon II was among college football's most promising running backs, though an injury and inconsistencies prevented him from flashing his full potential in 2024. He's joining a crowded position room that already contains De'Von Achane, Jaylen Wright, and Alexander Mattison. Gordon II will attempt to establish himself as a short-yardage back.
Round 7 (No. 231): Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
It was an incredibly difficult campaign for former Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers. Once viewed as a potential first-round pick, Ewers slid to the seventh round after dealing with injuries and poor play in 2024. He'll attempt to defeat Zach Wilson in training camp for the right to back up Tua Tagovailoa.
Round 7 (No. 253): Zeek Biggers, DT, Georgia Tech
Zeek Biggers was the third defensive lineman the Dolphins drafted. Biggers is athletic, having leaped an outstanding 34.5-inch vertical and 9-foot-3 broad jump at the NFL Combine. He's a smooth athlete with quality lateral agility.
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PFF article on highest graded players at each position from the 2023 draft in their first 2 seasons…love me some Achane, a true bright spot on the team that always gives me something to look forward to on Sundays.
QB: C.J. STROUD, HOUSTON TEXANS (85.2)
Before there was Jayden Daniels, there was C.J. Stroud. The Texans quarterback had, arguably, one of the greatest ever seasons by a rookie signal-caller in 2023, completing 63.9% of his pass attempts for 4,103 yards and 23 touchdowns while throwing only five interceptions.
Stroud’s 83.2 PFF overall grade was the highest ever for a rookie quarterback, and his play mirrored that of a ten-year veteran, helping the Texans to a 10-win season and their first AFC South title since 2019.
The 2024 season presented more challenges, and Stroud was sacked 52 times behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. Despite the struggles, Stroud earned a 79.9 PFF overall grade and has comfortably been the best quarterback in the 2023 class to date.
RB: DE'VON ACHANE, MIAMI DOLPHINS (91.3)
Achane was the next step in the Dolphins’ plan to overrun the NFL with speed. The former Texas A&M running back brought his 98th-percentile speed to an offense that was already littered with game-breaking talent, and Achane took the league by storm in his rookie year. His 92.1 PFF overall grade in year one was the highest among all running backs, and he averaged a hard-to-believe 7.8 yards per carry while scoring 11 touchdowns on 130 touches.
Although his volume hasn’t been as high as that of Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs, Achane has been efficient with his touches, and his 3.6 yards after contact per attempt average since 2023 ranks third among running backs.
WR: PUKA NACUA, LOS ANGELES RAMS (92.1)
Nacua set the record for the most catches and receiving yards by a rookie receiver in 2023, recording 105 grabs for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns. And his 87.9 PFF overall grade ranked 10th among all receivers. One year later, he recorded the highest PFF overall grade among wide receivers in just 11 games.
His two-year career to date has been wildly impressive, and his 92.1 PFF overall grade leads all receivers drafted in 2023. It also places him second among all receivers in the NFL. The sky is the limit for the former fifth-round pick.
TE: SAM LAPORTA, DETROIT LIONS (77.8)
LaPorta hit the ground running at a position where few produce early in their careers. In his rookie season, he caught 86 passes for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns, earning a 76.5 PFF overall grade and helping the Lions' offense become one of the best in the NFL.
He caught fewer passes in 2024, just 60, but LaPorta became more of a big-play threat, averaging 12.1 yards per reception while flashing his ability to produce after the catch. Through two seasons, LaPorta has the highest PFF overall grade among tight ends drafted in 2023, and his impact has outweighed that of every other tight end in the class.
T: DARNELL WRIGHT, CHICAGO BEARS (74.8)
Wright was the second offensive tackle off the board in 2023, landing with the Chicago Bears to help them fix a shaky offensive line. The former Tennessee tackle struggled with penalties and pressures in his rookie season, earning a 62.4 PFF overall grade, but rebounded in 2024, posting a 79.3 mark while allowing 21 fewer pressures and six fewer penalties than in his rookie season.
Only six tackles recorded a higher PFF run-blocking grade than Wright in 2024, and his ability to maul defenders in space with his 6-foot-5 frame means he’ll likely be a big scheme fit in Ben Johnson’s incoming offense.
G: MATTHEW BERGERON, ATLANTA FALCONS (68.1)
The Falcons drafted Bergeron with the No. 38 pick, providing him with an excellent ecosystem to grow. The former Syracuse guard was a day-one starter for the team, earning a 59.1 PFF overall grade in his first season and allowing 33 pressures. His grade improved to 70.9 in 2024, and no guard drafted in 2023 has a better career grade than Bergeron.
A big part of his improvement is in run blocking. In 2024, the Falcons posted the second-highest team PFF rushing grade and ranked eighth in EPA per rush, and Bergeron earned a 73.1 PFF run-blocking grade.
C: JOE TIPPMANN, NEW YORK JETS (70.3)
Tippmann flashed in 2024, even on a bad Jets offensive line. The former second-round pick earned a 73.4 PFF overall grade, the eighth highest among centers, and his 77.8 run-blocking grade was a massive improvement from his rookie campaign.
Five centers from the 2023 NFL Draft have played significant snaps for their teams, but none have logged more than Tippmann, who has been a near-constant for the Jets in two seasons. Ultimately, his 70.3 PFF overall grade leads the position class.
DI: JALEN CARTER, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (85.1)
Carter has been a force to be reckoned with since stepping onto an NFL field. As a rookie, he earned an 89.0 PFF overall grade, registering 49 pressures and seven sacks in the regular season while finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. The former No. 9 pick has already asserted himself as one of the best interior pass-rushing options in the league, and though his PFF overall grade in 2024 dropped to 74.1, Carter still notched 53 pressures and 12 quarterback hits.
Big players shine in big moments, and Carter went on a tear in the Eagles’ run to the Super Bowl. He tallied 22 pressures and two sacks in four games and earned a 79.4 PFF pass-rushing grade. In just two years in the NFL, Carter has elevated himself to an All-Pro level.
EDGE: WILL ANDERSON JR., HOUSTON TEXANS (88.1)
Anderson was the second of the Texans’ two first-round picks in 2023 and was viewed as one of the safest picks in the draft — a toolsy, powerful defensive end with a high floor as a run defender and the traits to rush the passer. So far, Anderson has lived up to the billing. He owns the highest PFF overall grade among all edge rushers drafted in 2023 and has 110 pressures in his first two seasons.
His 85.1 PFF overall grade in 2024 ranked 10th among all edge rushers, and his 77.0 mark against the run was a top-20 figure at the position. Anderson is already one of the best every-down edge defenders in the NFL.
LB: IVAN PACE JR., MINNESOTA VIKINGS (74.1)
Some players are just perfect fits for their systems, and Pace is the perfect example. The Vikings’ linebacker boasts the highest grade among those in the 2023 class, despite being an undrafted free agent. Pace plays quick and smart downhill and has been an excellent blitzer in Brian Flores’ defense, registering 34 pressures in two seasons.
He has logged 174 total tackles in two seasons with the Vikings and earned an 85.4 PFF grade against the run in 11 games in 2024.
CB: DEVON WITHERSPOON, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (85.0)
Witherspoon was a top-five pick for the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft and has since been the highest-graded cornerback from the 2023 class, earning an 85.0 mark in two seasons. The former Illinois defensive back has been excellent in coverage, allowing just 10.4 yards per reception in two seasons, the 30th-lowest mark among cornerbacks.
Where Witherspoon has really stood out is as a run defender. He’s an excellent tackler in space, and has nine tackles for loss or no gain against the run since 2023 — the third-most at the position. Witherspoon earned a 90.0 PFF grade against the run in 2024, also the third-highest mark at the position.
S: RONNIE HICKMAN JR., CLEVELAND BROWNS (87.0)
The Browns picked up Hickman as an undrafted free agent after the 2023 NFL Draft, but the former Ohio State Buckeye has been the highest-graded safety in a class that featured Brian Branch. Hickman has been a good rotational safety covering the back end for a Cleveland defense that was red-hot in 2023 but struggled in 2024.
He has allowed only 6.4 yards per reception on 19 targets, and he earned an 81.7 PFF grade against the run in 2024. Hickman is more often used as a roaming free safety and has proven to be a valuable tool for the Browns’ defense thus far.
QB: C.J. STROUD, HOUSTON TEXANS (85.2)
Before there was Jayden Daniels, there was C.J. Stroud. The Texans quarterback had, arguably, one of the greatest ever seasons by a rookie signal-caller in 2023, completing 63.9% of his pass attempts for 4,103 yards and 23 touchdowns while throwing only five interceptions.
Stroud’s 83.2 PFF overall grade was the highest ever for a rookie quarterback, and his play mirrored that of a ten-year veteran, helping the Texans to a 10-win season and their first AFC South title since 2019.
The 2024 season presented more challenges, and Stroud was sacked 52 times behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL. Despite the struggles, Stroud earned a 79.9 PFF overall grade and has comfortably been the best quarterback in the 2023 class to date.
RB: DE'VON ACHANE, MIAMI DOLPHINS (91.3)
Achane was the next step in the Dolphins’ plan to overrun the NFL with speed. The former Texas A&M running back brought his 98th-percentile speed to an offense that was already littered with game-breaking talent, and Achane took the league by storm in his rookie year. His 92.1 PFF overall grade in year one was the highest among all running backs, and he averaged a hard-to-believe 7.8 yards per carry while scoring 11 touchdowns on 130 touches.
Although his volume hasn’t been as high as that of Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs, Achane has been efficient with his touches, and his 3.6 yards after contact per attempt average since 2023 ranks third among running backs.
WR: PUKA NACUA, LOS ANGELES RAMS (92.1)
Nacua set the record for the most catches and receiving yards by a rookie receiver in 2023, recording 105 grabs for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns. And his 87.9 PFF overall grade ranked 10th among all receivers. One year later, he recorded the highest PFF overall grade among wide receivers in just 11 games.
His two-year career to date has been wildly impressive, and his 92.1 PFF overall grade leads all receivers drafted in 2023. It also places him second among all receivers in the NFL. The sky is the limit for the former fifth-round pick.
TE: SAM LAPORTA, DETROIT LIONS (77.8)
LaPorta hit the ground running at a position where few produce early in their careers. In his rookie season, he caught 86 passes for 889 yards and 10 touchdowns, earning a 76.5 PFF overall grade and helping the Lions' offense become one of the best in the NFL.
He caught fewer passes in 2024, just 60, but LaPorta became more of a big-play threat, averaging 12.1 yards per reception while flashing his ability to produce after the catch. Through two seasons, LaPorta has the highest PFF overall grade among tight ends drafted in 2023, and his impact has outweighed that of every other tight end in the class.
T: DARNELL WRIGHT, CHICAGO BEARS (74.8)
Wright was the second offensive tackle off the board in 2023, landing with the Chicago Bears to help them fix a shaky offensive line. The former Tennessee tackle struggled with penalties and pressures in his rookie season, earning a 62.4 PFF overall grade, but rebounded in 2024, posting a 79.3 mark while allowing 21 fewer pressures and six fewer penalties than in his rookie season.
Only six tackles recorded a higher PFF run-blocking grade than Wright in 2024, and his ability to maul defenders in space with his 6-foot-5 frame means he’ll likely be a big scheme fit in Ben Johnson’s incoming offense.
G: MATTHEW BERGERON, ATLANTA FALCONS (68.1)
The Falcons drafted Bergeron with the No. 38 pick, providing him with an excellent ecosystem to grow. The former Syracuse guard was a day-one starter for the team, earning a 59.1 PFF overall grade in his first season and allowing 33 pressures. His grade improved to 70.9 in 2024, and no guard drafted in 2023 has a better career grade than Bergeron.
A big part of his improvement is in run blocking. In 2024, the Falcons posted the second-highest team PFF rushing grade and ranked eighth in EPA per rush, and Bergeron earned a 73.1 PFF run-blocking grade.
C: JOE TIPPMANN, NEW YORK JETS (70.3)
Tippmann flashed in 2024, even on a bad Jets offensive line. The former second-round pick earned a 73.4 PFF overall grade, the eighth highest among centers, and his 77.8 run-blocking grade was a massive improvement from his rookie campaign.
Five centers from the 2023 NFL Draft have played significant snaps for their teams, but none have logged more than Tippmann, who has been a near-constant for the Jets in two seasons. Ultimately, his 70.3 PFF overall grade leads the position class.
DI: JALEN CARTER, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (85.1)
Carter has been a force to be reckoned with since stepping onto an NFL field. As a rookie, he earned an 89.0 PFF overall grade, registering 49 pressures and seven sacks in the regular season while finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. The former No. 9 pick has already asserted himself as one of the best interior pass-rushing options in the league, and though his PFF overall grade in 2024 dropped to 74.1, Carter still notched 53 pressures and 12 quarterback hits.
Big players shine in big moments, and Carter went on a tear in the Eagles’ run to the Super Bowl. He tallied 22 pressures and two sacks in four games and earned a 79.4 PFF pass-rushing grade. In just two years in the NFL, Carter has elevated himself to an All-Pro level.
EDGE: WILL ANDERSON JR., HOUSTON TEXANS (88.1)
Anderson was the second of the Texans’ two first-round picks in 2023 and was viewed as one of the safest picks in the draft — a toolsy, powerful defensive end with a high floor as a run defender and the traits to rush the passer. So far, Anderson has lived up to the billing. He owns the highest PFF overall grade among all edge rushers drafted in 2023 and has 110 pressures in his first two seasons.
His 85.1 PFF overall grade in 2024 ranked 10th among all edge rushers, and his 77.0 mark against the run was a top-20 figure at the position. Anderson is already one of the best every-down edge defenders in the NFL.
LB: IVAN PACE JR., MINNESOTA VIKINGS (74.1)
Some players are just perfect fits for their systems, and Pace is the perfect example. The Vikings’ linebacker boasts the highest grade among those in the 2023 class, despite being an undrafted free agent. Pace plays quick and smart downhill and has been an excellent blitzer in Brian Flores’ defense, registering 34 pressures in two seasons.
He has logged 174 total tackles in two seasons with the Vikings and earned an 85.4 PFF grade against the run in 11 games in 2024.
CB: DEVON WITHERSPOON, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (85.0)
Witherspoon was a top-five pick for the Seahawks in the 2023 NFL Draft and has since been the highest-graded cornerback from the 2023 class, earning an 85.0 mark in two seasons. The former Illinois defensive back has been excellent in coverage, allowing just 10.4 yards per reception in two seasons, the 30th-lowest mark among cornerbacks.
Where Witherspoon has really stood out is as a run defender. He’s an excellent tackler in space, and has nine tackles for loss or no gain against the run since 2023 — the third-most at the position. Witherspoon earned a 90.0 PFF grade against the run in 2024, also the third-highest mark at the position.
S: RONNIE HICKMAN JR., CLEVELAND BROWNS (87.0)
The Browns picked up Hickman as an undrafted free agent after the 2023 NFL Draft, but the former Ohio State Buckeye has been the highest-graded safety in a class that featured Brian Branch. Hickman has been a good rotational safety covering the back end for a Cleveland defense that was red-hot in 2023 but struggled in 2024.
He has allowed only 6.4 yards per reception on 19 targets, and he earned an 81.7 PFF grade against the run in 2024. Hickman is more often used as a roaming free safety and has proven to be a valuable tool for the Browns’ defense thus far.
Antarctica has been adding ice the last few years. Yes, the ice sheet is growing! Proving once again the climate radicals are just hoaxers using it to funnel money to their global constituents.
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Well he was the head SC coach when Tua put on bad weight during the offseason and gained even more during the season.
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TrogdorTheBurninator
Active Roster
....for 2 years.
But between 2021 and 2023, those glaciers experienced significant mass gain, reversing the accelerated loss they had undergone.
If we're going to keep religion and politics off the boards, can we keep the flat earthers off too?
Oh, I forgot let's all be sheep and keep the climate hoax alive! News flash-Climate changes! But back to the live action...How 'bout them Dolphins!
TrogdorTheBurninator
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The go to accusation of a conspiracy theorist, everyone else is just sheep.
Surprised these idiots wash their hands. Afterall, Germ Theory is 'jUsT a ThEoRy'.
Surprised these idiots wash their hands. Afterall, Germ Theory is 'jUsT a ThEoRy'.
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Fins had 2 players make the rookie watch list for non first rounders:
Jordan Phillips, DT, Miami Dolphins(No. 143): Phillips was a wrestler and weightlifter in high school, and that shows up on his tape. He is one of the most physical run defenders in the rookie class and plays with excellent leverage. Miami landed Kenneth Grant with its first-round pick, but Phillips will also help the Dolphins become much more physical and tougher on the defensive line.
www.espn.com
3. Jonah Savaiinaea, G, Miami Dolphins (No. 37)
It was clear that Miami valued Savaiinaea during the draft, making an aggressive push up the board to get him. He gives the Dolphins a legitimate starting guard candidate right out of the gate; they had a desperate need to upgrade the position. Savaiinaea showed excellent positional versatility in college, but he should slide inside as a starting guard in Miami's zone-heavy scheme. He allowed only two sacks over three seasons at Arizona.Jordan Phillips, DT, Miami Dolphins(No. 143): Phillips was a wrestler and weightlifter in high school, and that shows up on his tape. He is one of the most physical run defenders in the rookie class and plays with excellent leverage. Miami landed Kenneth Grant with its first-round pick, but Phillips will also help the Dolphins become much more physical and tougher on the defensive line.
Ranking top impact NFL rookies from Rounds 2-7: Who could immediately play a key role?
We picked out players drafted on Days 2-3 of the 2025 draft who could contribute right away, including Jets tight end Mason Taylor.
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Address the holes among starters, THEN address holes in depth. I would have loved for Miami to address all holes, but that's not reality.
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Chicago Washington Indianapolis and Tennesse all have QBs on rookie scale contracts so they can afford a bit more. Everyone else in the top 8 was not very good this past year, and I think Cincinnatti is going to regret having so much money tied up in Chase and Higgins. You can afford one superstar WR but when you pay for two the rest of the team suffers too much imo, would rather spread out that money.
This makes me think we have a stellar year - all those years smoke was being blown up fan's asses, we sucked in the end.