Dolphins Must Think Big in 2025 Draft

The positional choice should be clear for the Miami Dolphins when it comes to the 13th overall selection
New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson tries to elude the pressure of Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Dec. 17, 2023.
New York Jets quarterback Zach Wilson tries to elude the pressure of Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Dec. 17, 2023. / Jim Rassol / USA TODAY NETWORK
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A popular name when it comes to the Miami Dolphins and early mock draft is Georgia safety Malaki Starks, a talented prospect who definitely would fill what appears to be a need this offseason.

But the Dolphins have other needs as well, and they should be thinking bigger when it comes to the 13th overall selection in the 2025 draft.

Big, as in linemen.

It doesn't necessarily have to be an offensive lineman, even though that would be the pick that really would please the majority of fans who have watched the Dolphins struggled to pick up the tough yards over the past couple of seasons.

The defensive line also could use some reinforcements because the Dolphins need a big body to complement Zach Sieler, and defensive tackles Calais Campbell, Da'Shawn Hand and Benito Jones all are scheduled to become unrestricted free agents this offseason.

A look at the AFC and NFC title games should explain clearly why bigger when talking about prospects with similar potential.

In the NFC Championship Game, the big story was Saquon Barkley's rushing performance, but let's not forget the holes opened by the offensive line, which clearly dominated the Washington Commanders front seven.

In the AFC Championship Game, beyond Patrick Mahomes' brilliance and all the talk about the Kansas City Chiefs getting the benefit of many calls (which they did), a key factor was the Chiefs' ability to stop short-yardage situations, something that Josh Allen mastered in the regular season (7-for-7 on fourth-and-1 runs/sneaks). And they did it in large part because their defensive line stood their ground against the Buffalo Bills offensive line.

By contrast, did anybody notice anything from any of the safeties involved in the game?

Sure, it may be oversimplifying thing, but winning in the trenches is a huge factor in every NFL game.

The Dolphins offensive line play in 2024 probably wasn't quite as bad as it's been made out to be, but it still was sub-standard, particularly after Austin Jackson went on IR and Terron Armstead began having to play through a knee injury that all kept him out of practice.

The defensive line play was better, but it wasn't perfect, and again the biggest issue there is having to potentially replace three contributors. And even if Campbell does return, he'll be 39 next September, so it would be foolish to depend on him too much because age will catch up to him at some point (we think).

WHAT THE DOLPHINS HAVE DONE

Sieler gives the Dolphins one great piece on the defensive line and it would be great for the Dolphins if they could find him somebody like his old D-tackle partner, Christian Wilkins.

This is the part where we remind everyone he was taken with the 13th overall selection in 2019, the last time the Dolphins picked in that slot.

Wilkins gave the Dolphins five really good seasons before he left because he became too expensive.

The Dolphins could do worse than drafting another Wilkins.

The Dolphins also had the 13th overall pick in 2016, and that year they wound up taking Laremy Tunsil after his dramatic draft-night drop caused by the infamous bong video.

This became another pick that panned out because Tunsil became one of the best tackles in the NFL after one year at guard, and then brought back a bounty of draft picks in his trade to the Houston Texans.

For those advocating for a safety because of the expected departures of Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer, they can point to Minkah Fitzpatrick becoming an All-Pro (albeit with the Pittsburgh Steelers) after being the 11th overall pick in the 2018 draft.

There have been other safeties picked in the first half of the first round who have become impact players — Kyle Hamilton of the Baltimore Ravens comes to mind — but the reality is that it's a lot easier for a safety to be taken out of a game than a defensive lineman or an offensive lineman because a play might not come to the safety but it always will start up front.

Having said all that, the Dolphins absolutely should not reach for a lineman if there are no prospects available at number 13 who would justify that high a selection. But they most definitely should focus on the trenches if there's little to no difference in the upside and readiness of prospects in the secondary or one of the lines.

In simple terms, if all things are equal, bigger is better.


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Alain Poupart
ALAIN POUPART

Alain Poupart is the publisher/editor of Miami Dolphins On SI and co-host of the All Dolphins Podcast. Alain has covered the Miami Dolphins on a full-time basis since 1989 for various publications and media outlets, including Dolphin Digest, The Associated Press and the Dolphins team website. In addition to being a credentialed member of the Miami Dolphins press corps, Alain has covered three Super Bowls (for NFL.com, Football News and the Montreal Gazette), the annual NFL draft, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL Scouting Combine. During his almost 40 years in journalism, which began at the now-defunct Miami News, Alain has covered practically every sport at one time or another, from tennis to golf, baseball, basketball and everything in between. The career also included time as a copy editor, including work on several books, such as "Still Perfect," an inside look at the Miami Dolphins' 1972 perfect season. A native of Montreal, Canada, whose first language is French, Alain grew up a huge hockey fan but soon developed a love for all sports, including NFL football. He has lived in South Florida since the 1980s.