When it comes to the Miami Dolphins in 2025, the outlook appears bleak.
Head coach Mike McDaniel, reportedly facing locker room tension, enters his fourth season on the hot seat after failing to reach the playoffs in 2024. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa remains a major question mark following another injury-riddled campaign.
MORE: USA Today says Mike McDaniel’s job with Dolphins now riding on Tua Tagovailoa’s fragile future
Meanwhile, the rest of the roster is full of uncertainty, including the unresolved trade speculation surrounding Jalen Ramsey — a move that would only further deplete the team’s overall talent.
Naturally, the 2025 NFL Draft was viewed as a key opportunity for Miami to reload. But from their first-round selection of Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant onward, the Dolphins have faced criticism for how they used their picks.
“Kenneth Grant is a good player, no doubt. The 331-pounder stops runners in their tracks and breaks up passes at the line of scrimmage,” ESPN’s Mel Kiper wrote, giving Miami a C grade for its draft. “The Dolphins needed an impact player next to Zach Sieler on the defensive line. I just don’t know that No. 13 overall was the place to find that player — especially because Grant’s pass rush upside is limited.”
Kiper, like many analysts, believed Miami had far more pressing needs. And now, Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski has added a more troubling outlook, predicting that Grant could struggle as a rookie.
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“Kenneth Grant has an uphill battle to climb as this year’s 13th overall pick,” Sobleski wrote. “He’s a nose tackle by trade, and most won’t appreciate his primary job of taking up space and keeping his teammates clean so they can make plays. At the same time, a nose tackle drafted that high in the process better be the next Dexter Lawrence or Haloti Ngata.
“The 6’4″, 331-pound rookie doesn’t have the same type of athleticism or pass-rush upside as either of those mentioned.”
According to scouting reports, Grant’s biggest challenge will be becoming a consistent pass rusher — particularly in maintaining pad level and leverage at the point of attack. Sobleski believes his best-case scenario is developing into a three-down interior presence who clogs running lanes and pressures opposing offenses.
Adding to the concern, even McDaniel has publicly acknowledged Grant’s early struggles.
“… I’ve seen early-down production where he wins based on technique and fundamentals early in the snap,” McDaniel told reporters. “And I’ve seen late-down wins where he’s straining and utilizing grit and finish to make plays as well. He’s got a lot of work to do.”
For a team that desperately needed to nail its 2025 draft, the early reviews of Grant don’t inspire much confidence. And with the Dolphins already surrounded by doubt heading into the season, this only adds to the growing skepticism about their status as contenders.
