Phins Primed for Defensive Back at #13

Will Johnson was considered a Top 10 pick before his injuries

The Miami Dolphins need a ton of talent on their 2025 roster and the 13th pick will offer them plenty of choices across many position groups. Miami has added a bunch of placeholder players in Free Agency, so they won’t be forced to draft to help an ultra-needy position group. There are plenty of position groups that are dangerously thin, just none are completely devoid of talent to force Grier’s hand to go need over best player.

But when you look at the two most thin groups that will offer the best value at #13, you can bet with the best pay per head, it’s defensive back. Defensive tackle is a clear need, but the value is better at that position a little later in the round.

Whoever we draft and whatever the position, they must be both talented and not prone to injuries. Miami has had zero luck with players and injuries, so even if they are talented, I’d prefer more reliable even if there’s a little less talent.

Phins in prime spot of defensive back selection

Miami can use help plenty of help in their defensive backfield at either safety or cornerback. With the way the draft needs are tending, both top safeties and very likely at least one of the top cornerbacks should be sitting at #13.

The top 4 selections possibly available

• CB Jahdae Barron: elite speed (4.39), slightly better press corner, better nickel corner, excellent tackling, elite instincts & processing, physical, a little over aggressive in coverage, concerns about deep coverage due slight weakness in burst, smaller frame at 5’11” 200lbs
• CB Will Johnson: elite speed (4.39), playmaker in zone coverage, elite IQ, elite boundary skills, elite height 6’2”, patient technician, slower in transition than straight line speed, press needs growth, poor tacking, injuries (turf toe, hamstring), short arms
• S Maleki Starks: elite processing & instincts, brutal tackler, elite change of direction & short area speed, elite speed (4.35), overconfident at times in coverage& occasionally late on breaking routes, smaller 197lbs, poor angles in tackling from high
• S Nick Emmanwori: Freak athletics, elite size 6’3” 220lbs, elite speed (4.38), elite explosion, good route recognition in zone, physical mentality, relies on talent & technique can slip, high cut & is a little stiff in transition, needs work on processing

Fuller & Holland are gone & Cam Smith isn’t it

Miami has elite, but older, talent in Jalen Ramsey, but they are near barren at Safety. From a need standpoint, safety is more of a need, but cornerbacks are harder to find. Second Round pick Cam Smith has been a huge disaster with numerous injuries and poor play when healthy. Barron and / or Johnson falling to #13 would likely have Grier pull the trigger, but Johnson has a little concern with his injuries. Starks and Emmanwori have a healthy history as does Barron. Johnson does have the highest value from positional and skillset standpoint though, but availability is continuing problem with Dolphins players.

The more I think about it, despite all the needs, I keep coming back to these four players as the ones Grier is eyeing. I keep thinking Johnson will be the one corner to fall and the one we’ll pull the trigger on.

Of course, a crazy fall from an offensive linemen or defensive tackle out of the Top 10 could change this.

We are getting closer to opening the wrapping on our shiny new toy. Let’s just hope we nail this pick and they are both talented and healthy. Go Phins!!!