Dolphins’ 2025 rookie class with a lot to prove. An update on one who plateaued
Pro Football Focus recently averaged its grades for every team’s rookie class, and the result wasn’t a surprise:
Miami’s 2025 rookie group graded out not only worst, but by far the worst.
That doesn’t mean the class is a bust. But what’s unsettling about Chris Grier’s final draft class is that it’s highly questionable whether Miami drafted a single impact player.
First-round pick Kenneth Grant showed flashes at times, and improved late in the year, but PFF rated him 103rd of 129 interior defenders.
Second-round pick Jonah Savaiinaea allowed the most sacks and quarterback pressures of any NFL guard, and PFF rated him 81st and last at his position.
One of the three fifth-round picks (Jordan Phillips) was serviceable but had only one tackle for loss and was rated 76th of 129 interior defenders.
Fifth-round picks Dante Trader Jr. and Jason Marshall had bloated passer ratings in their coverage areas — 130.8 for Trader, 109.5 for Marshall.
Here’s the good news: Grant finished the season well; Trader graded out very well as a run defender; Marshall closed the season playing much better than he started it; seventh-round defensive tackle Zeek Biggers flashed during the final six games; and seventh-rounder Quinn Ewers displayed that he can be a good backup quarterback, at the very least.
Then there’s the somewhat mystifying case of sixth-rounder Ollie Gordon Jr., who was great early and then seemingly hit a wall.
After rushing nine times for 45 yards against Washington in Madrid, Gordon had just 20 carries for 34 yards during the final six games and was jumped by Jaylen Wright for the No. 2 running back job.
More puzzling was the plunge in short-yardage effectiveness:
And after converting 8 of his first 10 short-yardage situations (third- and fourth-and-1 and 2), he had a dry stretch for several weeks, finishing 12 for 19 for the season.
Overall, Gordon averaged 2.8 yards per carry (70 for 199) and three rushing touchdowns. The 2.8 is meager, but the fact he had so many short-yardage situations should be factored into any judgment. He had seven catches for 32 yards and a touchdown.
Where must he improve? “The biggest thing I would like to see him improve on is pad level,” former running backs coach Eric Studesville said. “Guys don’t want to tackle him because he’s big and strong. Derrick Henry has that. You think of some of the bigger backs, and they start hitting in the legs a lot. “Lowering the pad level will be the biggest thing for him. He’s used to running through people. Corners and safeties tackle him low.”
As for the young defensive tackles, free agent tackle Benito Jones says it’s now clear that the Dolphins “really found three guys for sure” on their defensive line with Grant, Phillips and Biggers.
Here was his scouting report on each, from working with them closely all season:
On Phillips: “Great power. He doesn’t know exactly how strong he is. Once he knows he can run through any offensive lineman, he’s going to be a really talented young player.”
On Grant: “KG has got a little more twitch than Jordan. Jordan is straight downhill, going to knock you out and put his hands on your real fast. They are going to be around this game a long time.”
On Biggers: “He’s got length. And he’s got power. He’s not a finesse guy. Length and power is all he needs. It’s like you’re trying to reach a tree and the limbs are in front of you. Once you got great length like him, it’s hard to block. Offensive linemen drop back when he has his hands on you.”
The good news with this draft class is there’s no clear-cut bust. It wouldn’t be surprising if every pick is in the league in six years. But whether there’s a genuine difference-maker in the group remains the mystery.
This and that
Former Dolphins quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell joined the Carolina Panthers as associate head coach... Former Dolphins receivers coach Wes Welker will be on Washington’s offensive staff this season after serving as a personnel analyst for the team last season, coach Dan Quinn said... The Dolphins haven’t yet announced a coaching staff; the most prominent jobs still open: quarterback coach and tight ends coach.
This story was originally published February 11, 2026 at 12:41 PM.
