Will this be Chris Grier’s last stand as Phins GM?
The NFL 2025 Draft will begin on Thursday Night at 8PM and the Dolphins have big blue chip in the 13th overall pick as well as 10 draft picks overall. Miami’s top selection must be an immediate day 1 starter and hopefully someone that turns into a Pro Bowl type of player very quickly. Most of the best bookie services are betting that Miami is going to select a cornerback since they recently told the media they are looking to trade Jalen Ramsey, and their secondary is already razor thin.
So, who will fall to them at #13, if any, of the top cornerback selections?
Cornerback seems the best bet at #13
Travis Hunter is the clear-cut best cornerback in the draft. Unfortunately, he’ll be long gone before the Dolphins get their chance to pick. Will Johnson from Michigan and Jahdae Barron from Texas are the two corners that Miami will get to choose from, if they don’t get picked earlier. Both players would be week one starters, and both played for big time football programs.
My choice would be Will Johnson, but Dolphins usually never select who I prefer. Johnson is tall, fast, physical and is known as a ball hawk, the only real knock on him is he has injury concerns. Barron is a Swiss Army Knife type player and would be excellent for us too, mostly as a nickel player. Problem is Kader Kohou is slotted at the nickel, and he’s struggled at the boundary.
Cornerback is also a position that Grier and the Dolphins put value on drafting in the first round, so it seems the most logical choice.
However, these are the Miami Dolphins, and they don’t often do things that make the most sense, so there still is a chance Miami drafts another position instead in the 1st RD.
IF not cornerback then…
The next most pressing needs are Offensive Lineman and Defensive Tackle. Both positions would be considered a high need for the Dolphins and there are some quality players that could be worthy of the 13th selection. According to most mocks though, these players are considered a reach unless someone like DT Mason Graham or Will Campbell or Armand Membou drop to #13.
One top Defensive Tackle prospect, who played with Graham at Michigan, Kenneth Grant, might end up worth the reach. While not as highly rated as Graham, Grant is considered a plug and play guys that would fit nicely alongside Zach Sieler. Getting bigger and tougher on the defensive line is always a good thing, and both of these players can do that for Miami.
Would Grier draft and O-linemen at #13?
For Offensive Linemen Miami could go Tackle or Guard, since they need help in both positions. But if the top two best Tackle prospects Campbell and Membou are off the board, Kelvin Banks is someone Miami has been looking at. Banks has the ability to also play both tackle and guard and is quite the athlete.
The best Guard prospect in the draft is Tyler Booker, who seems like he has the ability to be a potential Pro Bowl guard at the NFL level early in his career. But drafting a talented but slower moving guard at #13 isn’t Grier style.
The best Center prospect is Grey Zabel, but we have Aaron Brewer and #13 would be too early. However, Zabel has the ability to play guard and tackle as well, which is something Miami always likes from Offensive lineman.
Not long until we start unwrapping our presents
I still think the best bet is to trade back, but that’s not in Grier’s control.
After the first round Miami has 9 other selections, and if Miami can somehow find a few immediate starters then they will be on their way to having a successful draft. But as we know that’s a big IF.
Will Grier hit it of the park or whiff again, and how much is riding on how well he does? We’ll see soon enough!
What are the rest of the Miami Dolphins news fans thoughts on who Miami should select with their first pick?
