After a season marked by explosive offensive play and a late-year falter that exposed glaring issues in the trenches, the Miami Dolphins entered the 2025 NFL Draft with one clear priority: get bigger, get tougher, and fix the line of scrimmage. And that’s exactly what general manager Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel set out to do over the course of three days.
Rather than chasing flashy skill players or high-profile trades, the Dolphins made a deliberate pivot to size and strength, using four of their seven selections on offensive and defensive linemen. The move signals a shift in philosophy—one that places greater emphasis on controlling the line of scrimmage and building a foundation that can withstand the physical toll of deep playoff football.
“We knew we had to get more physical,” Grier said in a press conference following the draft’s conclusion. “You can have all the speed and talent in the world on the perimeter, but if you can’t win up front—especially in December and January—you’re going to fall short. We addressed that this weekend.”
Miami’s first-round pick set the tone. With the 21st overall selection, the Dolphins drafted offensive tackle Amari Booker out of Oklahoma. At 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds, Booker was one of the most polished pass protectors in the draft, praised for his footwork, hand placement, and football IQ. He’s expected to compete immediately for the starting right tackle spot, a position that has lacked consistency in recent years.
“Booker brings a pro-ready approach,” McDaniel said. “He’s seen a lot of different fronts in college, he’s battle-tested, and he fits the kind of zone and power hybrid schemes we want to run. Most importantly, he’s a finisher. He plays through the whistle.”
In the second round, Miami stayed in the trenches but flipped to the other side of the ball, selecting defensive lineman Keon Wallace from Michigan. Wallace is a versatile interior defender with the ability to line up at nose tackle or slide out to the 5-tech in odd fronts. His combination of strength, quickness off the snap, and relentless motor made him a standout on a Wolverines defense that was among the best in the nation.
“Keon’s a tone-setter,” said defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. “He plays with an edge, and he’s got the kind of leverage and lower-body strength that makes life miserable for guards and centers. We see him as a three-down player who can help collapse the pocket and stop the run.”
The Dolphins doubled down on offensive line help in the fourth round, taking guard Xander Clay from Mississippi State. Clay is a mauler in the run game with surprising agility, making him a natural fit for Miami’s outside zone runs. Though raw in pass protection, coaches believe he has starter potential with the right development.
In the fifth round, Miami added further depth to the defensive line with the selection of edge rusher Jalen Corbett from Texas A&M. While not as heralded as other edge prospects, Corbett has long arms, a quick first step, and a high motor that could translate well as a rotational pass rusher early in his career.
Beyond the trenches, the Dolphins still managed to find value and upside at other positions. In the third round, they took wide receiver Dorian Bradley from USC—a silky route-runner with reliable hands and excellent body control. Bradley offers depth behind Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle and could step into a bigger role in the coming years as the Dolphins navigate cap management and potential roster turnover.
Miami’s sixth-round pick brought in cornerback Marcus Bell from UCF, a physical, press-heavy defender who can contribute immediately on special teams. The Dolphins rounded out their class with seventh-round tight end Hunter Greaves, a hybrid blocker-receiver from Iowa State, praised for his football IQ and willingness to do the dirty work in short-yardage packages.
Still, it’s the focus on the lines that has drawn the most attention and praise from analysts. After years of inconsistent protection and vulnerability against the run, the Dolphins appear to be building with the long game in mind.
“This draft won’t light up highlight reels, but it might be one of the most important in terms of building sustainable success,” said former NFL GM Scott Pioli during a broadcast recap. “They didn’t go for headlines. They went for need, toughness, and identity.”
That identity is something McDaniel has been working to shape since his arrival. Known for his offensive creativity and quarterback-friendly schemes, McDaniel’s offenses have often been limited by poor protection, forcing quick throws and stalling promising drives. With improved size and talent up front, he now has the personnel to expand the playbook and give Tua Tagovailoa more time to operate.
“You want to give your playmakers time to be special,” McDaniel said. “You want to build a team that doesn’t fold when it’s third-and-two in cold weather or when it needs to close out a game. That starts up front.”
Time will tell if this class lives up to its potential, but one thing is clear: the Dolphins know where they’ve been vulnerable, and they’ve taken direct steps to fix it. By going bigger in the 2025 draft, they’re betting that size, toughness, and trench warfare will carry them further than speed alone ever could.
