How Dolphins GM Chris Grier has fared drafting defensive tackles since taking over in 2016
Christian Wilkins.
That’s the name that ultimately comes up when you think Chris Grier defensive tackle picks for the Miami Dolphins. Outside of Wilkins, there hasn’t been a top-end selection in the Grier era.
“I think Christian [Wilkins] is probably the biggest one,” the Dolphins general manager told reporters April. “The last time we went early on a guy. I think we’ve drafted a few guys mid or late that have been OK. But Christian is probably the biggest one.”
Outside of him, the Dolphins had not drafted heavily along the interior defensive line during Grier’s tenure. Three other defensive tackles — Vincent Taylor (2017), Davon Godchaux (2017) and Raekwon Davis (2020) — were taken. Based off that alone, Grier can find starters, a good sign ahead of this week’s NFL Draft.
“Would I say I’m perfect?” Grier said. “No, I’m not. There’s no GM that’s perfect, but working with our scouts and our coaching staff and what we do in the scheme that they believe in and finding the fits for players is always important and it’s been a pretty smooth process the last couple years.”
Defenisve tackle has become a critical position for the Dolphins with Calais Campbell’s departure to the Arizona Cardinals. As it stands, the Dolphins’ defensive tackle group has just one key name: Zach Sieler. With Sieler drastically outplaying his current contract, it’s paramount that Grier finds him a running mate for the coming years. Luckily, defensive line happens to be one of the deepest position groups of the draft.
“Defensive line is stacked,” ESPN NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reid said.
“There are good dudes at defensive tackle who can play and make an immediate impact,” NFL Media Draft analyst Bucky Brooks added. “Even if you wait to the top of the second round, you can find really good players that can come in and make an immediate impact.”
Luckily, Grier has experienced some success in that area. Out of the four defensive tackles who have been picked during Grier’s tenure, Wilkins has had the best career. A 2019 first-round pick, Wilkins had a breakout 2023 season in his last year for the Dolphins, registering nine sacks, 65 total tackles and 23 quarterback hits. He subsequently left for the Las Vegas Raiders in the 2024 offseason.
Godchaux and Davis would be the next best additions during the Grier era as Taylor, drafted in the same year as the former, lasted just five seasons in the league and started just two games. A 2017 fifth-round pick, Godchaux has been a serviceable player in the NFL, starting 42 of a potential 52 games during his four-year career with the Dolphins. Though Godchaux signed with the New England Patriots in 2021, he finished his Miami career with two-and-a-half sacks, 179 combined tackles and 16 quarterback hurries.
Davis, on the other hand, saw his starts decline in Miami prior to his departure ahead of the 2024 season. The 2020 second-round pick started 48 games with the Dolphins, racking up two sacks during his tenure in Miami.
The Davis selection looks a little off, however, considering Baltimore Ravens picked a defensive tackle by the name of Nnamdi Madubuike 15 picks later. A back-to-back Pro Bowler over the last two years, Madubuike had 13 sacks in 2023 alone.
With Grier’s ability to find defensive tackles in the draft, the Dolphins should be able to find a serviceable starter with their 10 picks. That should be a huge advantage for any rookie who wants to play immediately because as Grier previously said, they need NFL-ready talent.
“We’re going to need NFL-ready players,” Grier said. “There’s no like, ‘Hey, let’s hope this guy is ready.’ These guys are going to be forced into play, and that’s a good thing. So we just have to be right on the person and the character of the guys that we bring in here, that they’re going to do that.”
