Miami Dolphins' 2025 NFL draft class is hated by analytical model

4 hours ago 1

The Miami Dolphins may not have made sweeping changes to their coaching staff this offseason, but they did part ways with wide receivers coach/pass-game specialist Wes Welker and special teams coordinator Danny Crossman.

In free agency, Miami lost Hevon Haolland, Calais Campbell, Durham Smythe, Anthony Walker, Kendall Lamm, Emmanuel Ogbah, Raheem Mostert, Braxton Berrios, River Craft, Da'Shawn Hand, Siran Neal and Jack Stoll.

However, they also signed James Daniels, Zach Wilson, Pharaoh Brown, Willie Gay, Ashtyn Davis, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Alexander Mattison, Artie Burns, Ifeatu Melifonowu, Larry Borom, K.J. Britt and Ryan Stonehouse.

After all of those transactions, the Dolphins entered the 2025 NFL draft and walked out with eight new rookies on their roster. While there could be impact players in the bunch, The Athletic gave Miami's draft class an "F," when considering player value, positional value and trade value.

"Miami only made two selections in the first 142 picks, so again, it isn’t shocking to see the Dolphins down here," Austin Mock wrote. "And according to the consensus board, they reached for the players they took at Nos. 13 and 37. Now, I think the consensus was criminally low on Kenneth Grant, but the pick that doomed them was “reaching” for interior offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea with the 37th pick. Ideally, teams should stay away from reaching for players at non-premium positions."

The Dolphins were one of just four teams to receive such a grade by this model, putting them in the basement with the Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints and Detroit Lions.

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Grant and Savaiinaea could end up being starting offensive linemen and defensive linemen for Miami for the next decade, but because they were taken earlier than expected and play guard and defensive tackle, these were seen as a poor decision by general manager Chris Grier.

An argument could be made that the Dolphins needed to address their offensive line, but they may have needed offensive tackle more. They also could've targeted another position of need, including cornerback, which doesn't look great right now and could look even worse if they part with Jalen Ramsey before the season.

Grier is probably entering 2025 on the hot seat, and if his picks don't pan out quickly, he could find himself looking for a new opportunity next offseason.