Some players are the rarest of outliers in talent–Phillips is a FREAK when it comes to power
The Miami Dolphins finally decided to draft for size and strength, hitting the trenches with four draft picks. But when it comes to power, 5th-round selection Jordan Phillips is the most powerful of them all. The great news is, if Phillips does indeed become a fixture on the defensive line, then Miami may have found a third starter from this draft—and that’s something Miami has done since 2020. Phillips could be our new “Van Ginkel” find as a 5th-round gem, and it’s not far-fetched given his ultra-rare strength.
Let’s just hope Chris Grier doesn’t squander that gift like he did with Van Ginkel.
Phillips will certainly push nose tackle Benito Jones for reps—not only based on his talent but also on how poor Jones has been. Either way, this kid offers legitimate hope to man the “pit,” over the center and between the guards, this season… and for years to come.
Understand just how powerful Phillips is
Mistakenly, the bench press is often viewed as the main gauge of a player’s strength. While it’s never a good thing to post poor numbers on the bench, consider this: Calais Campbell pushed 225 lbs. just 18 times at his combine all those years ago, while Liam Eichenberg managed 33 reps. You can see how these numbers don’t always translate to the field. Better indicators—though not tested at the combine—are the squat and overhead press, as they require full-body strength.
Phillips posted a respectable 29 reps on the bench, but he also squats 660 lbs and, most absurdly, has a 365-lb overhead press personal best. To put that in perspective, Eddie Hall, the World’s Strongest Man, holds the record at 476 lbs—and he hit that mark in his 30s.
Phillips is only 20 years old and is just 110 lbs off the world record!
That’s a rare genetic gift to post numbers like that at such a young age. This kind of strength will absolutely help him absorb blocks and shed them. Phillips’s role will be as a two-gap nose tackle, sucking up two blockers—so you can see why fans should have real hope this kid will help the defense, even if it takes some time.
The great Michael Pierce was a UDFA
I’m not saying Phillips is Michael Pierce, but the best nose tackle in the league for years was Pierce with the Ravens—and he went undrafted. Nose tackles tend to fall and be overlooked because the league passes so much. Unless they’re two-dimensional players like Vita Vea, Dexter Lawrence, or Haloti Ngata—who can both stop the run and rush the passer—they tend to drop in the draft.
Phillips does have some pass-rush skills, but he’s more of a run-stopper. Also, notice how the Ravens—whose defense we mimic—had Pierce and Travis Jones, and now we have similar prototypes in Phillips and Grant, respectively.
If Phillips develops into the player he can be, it will allow Sieler and Grant to work outside the pit of the A-gap and play at their best. You can bet—with the best pay-per-head—that if it works out that way, Miami will have struck serious gold.
Now, Phillips is only 20 years old and still has a lot to learn about the game, and struggling against stronger men is almost always an issue early for rookie trench players. The great news is, Phillips won’t have a problem being overpowered. So maybe—just maybe—the Phins have found themselves two excellent players on the defensive line for years to come.
Now wouldn’t that be something to hang your hat on? Go Phins!!!