Phins Quandary at #13: DT, OL, or DB?

Phins will get to draft an excellent talent in the 1st Round at #13

The Miami Dolphins will have a great opportunity in the 1st Round pick in the 2025 Draft to find a talented player, but also the difficult decision on which position to pull the trigger on. The Phins have three critical needs they must fill in this draft: defensive line, defensive back / safety, and offensive line. I’m not sure Chris Grier is as concerned about the offensive line as I am, so he likely has his targets on the defensive needs and will find an offensive lineman later in the draft. Hopefully, it won’t be until the 3rd Day.

You can bet with the best pay per head that the most hopeful scenario is that Miami trades back into the 18th-24th range and acquire more ammo because there will be great buys in that range. Barring a trade back though, Miami will have to wait to see who falls to them of course, but they must find a quality talent and a position that will impact this season the most..

…if the goal is to have real success.

It’s not an easy decision on who’s the best target

The Dolphins are thin in both their secondary and defensive line. If Miami wants any hope to compete, they must have a stout defense. Anthony Weaver did an excellent job last season and was more often than not the backbone to the Dolphins success, but he needs talent and can’t be forced to be a miracle maker.

The loss of Calais Campbell and Kendall Fuller has left sizeable holes. Cambell’s absence is enormous in both leadership and production. Every Phins fan is hoping he returns, but I don’t like those odds. Fuller was mostly injured, so it won’t be felt as much. Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer’s loss is more about a loss of veteran leadership than production.

Currently, the defensive line only has Zach Sieler, who is a stud, and Benito Jones, who is meh. Certainly, Brandon Chubb will help on the defensive line a little because he’s a big guy at 270lbs and Jalen Phillips will eventually work his way back into the lineup. Still, the defensive front big boys are still a very thin group even more so than the secondary.

The defensive back group including safeties has star Jalen Ramsey, promising free agent safety Ashtyn Davis, free agent safety Ifeatu Melifonwu coming off a season ending injury, free agent corner Artie Burns, and it seems like Kadar Kohou unless someone outbids the Dolphins. There are other bodies in the group: Storm Ducks, Ethan Bonner, and Cam Smith, who has been a bust so far. There’s a lot of questions in this group that could become answers… or could end up holes.

Defensive line vs defensive back pros & cons

Defensive linemen take time to find their way just like cornerbacks. Xavien Howard took a few years and so did Christian Wilkins. Safeties tend to find their way quicker to being good producers. You can find guys like Eagles Quinyon Mitchell and Titans De’Vondre Sweat who dominate right out of the box. So, it’s not like we can’t find guys to contribute right away. The problem is it gets much harder to find guys like that in the 2nd Round and beyond.

Do you want a soft front and stouter cover group that has to cover longer or a more potent front supporting a thinner secondary covering for less time? Not an easy decision. I guess Grier would figure his edge group could generate the pressure?

Grier likes to believe in his picks to the point of lunacy at time, but he can’t believe Cam Smith can hold down boundary corner, can he? Considering Smith was a 2nd Round pick, it’s a huge blow if he can’t. Could Grier view safety as more pressing or a middle ground and choose Makkai Starks? Or will Grier do a very un-Grier thing and cut the strings on Smith and draft Jahdae Barron or Will Johnson?

Defensive line is a bit of a no man’s land at #13 unless Mason Graham somehow falls. I love Kenneth Grant, although I was shocked and a little concerned at his 22 bench reps. I just don’t see Grier going with Grant at #13. Derrick Harmon also looks to be a good one, but he’s a pick in the late teens or 20’s of the 1st Round.

It does seem to me Grier will shoot at the secondary in the first round.

‘What if’ curveball has top O-lineman falling to #13?

So, what will Grier do if a huge curveball comes is way and say an offensive lineman like Membou or Campbell fall in his lap? Can he pass on that kind of talent? Imagine adding one of these players to this offensive line. It surely would cost the defense though.

This scenario would be a very interesting and tense moment for Grier and Co…. and fans at #13.

Whatever Grier does in Round 1, it will force him to up his game in later rounds to keep this 2025 from being Swiss Cheese somewhere! Grier has been terrible historically in the mid rounds. Fingers crossed and let’s hope they nail it! Go Phins!!!