The Dolphins 2025 first-round pick Kenneth Grant is predicted to make a big impact in his rookie season.
Miami Dolphins First-Round Pick Predicted To Play Pivotal Role in 2025 originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The Miami Dolphins are attempting to shake off the stink of a poor 2024 season by bouncing back with a strong 2025. After an 11-6 record and playoff appearance in 2023, the Dolphins fell to an 8-9 record in 2024, as the team regressed across the board. Changes need to be made in 2025, and the Dolphins could be leaning towards a more aggressive brand of football, especially on the defensive side of the ball.
After letting Christian Wilkins walk in 2024, the Dolphins needed an interior presence to pair with star defender Zach Sieler, and a year later, they drafted Michigan interior defensive lineman Kenneth Grant with the No. 13 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Grant made a name for himself in college thanks to his run-stuffing ability, and he’s predicted to make a real impact in his rookie season.
Per Dan Parr of NFL.com, Grant will be a pivotal piece of the Dolphins' defense in 2025, and likely their most important rookie, as the defense shifts to a tougher approach.
“If the Dolphins are going to be a more competitive squad in 2025, they will have to play a tougher brand of football,” Parr writes. “Grant is the linchpin to that effort on defense. I could say the same thing about second-round pick Jonah Savaiinaea on offense, but the depth looks a touch stronger on the O-line, at least on paper.”
The Dolphins allowed 4.4 yards per rushing attempt in 2024, the 12th-lowest in the NFL, but opponents rushed against them at the sixth-lowest rate. That percentage could increase in 2025, but the addition of Grant, who had seven tackles for loss in 2024, will aid the Dolphins' stifling ability up front.
“Grant has the potential to wreck shop from the middle of the D-line if he puts it all together. His run-stuffing ability is ahead of his pass rush at the moment, but he has the size and explosiveness to win in any situation,” Parr adds. “Miami is going to need quick and constant disruption from its front line to ease the burden on a secondary that is looking extremely vulnerable at cornerback due to a combination of injuries and the departure of Jalen Ramsey.”
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The Dolphins' secondary has been plagued by injuries throughout training camp, and the unit could struggle to defend the pass in 2025, especially if the pass-rush isn’t able to hold up its end of the deal. That’s why Grant’s impact could mean so much in his rookie year. The Dolphins need him to hit the ground running, and his growth as a pass-rusher could be the difference between the defense being one of the worst in the NFL or a surprising, frisky outfit.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 8, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Football
