By Barry Jackson
Welcome to our live blog with news on the Dolphins in the hours leading up to Thursday’s NFL Draft.
Keep checking back for updates, which will be placed at the top.
2 p.m. update: In theory, it makes sense for the Dolphins to take a guard in rounds two, three or four -- hoping to get an immediate starter to play opposite James Daniels. But with this organization, the odds historically of landing a quality starting guard are very, very low. Consider:
Since Don Shula wisely picked future three-time Pro Bowl guard Keith Sims with the 39th overall pick in the 1990 draft, the Dolphins have selected 18 guards or tackles in the second, third or fourth rounds.
Do you know how many of those 18 turned out to be very good players? One: Current Dolphins right guard Robert Hunt, a second-round pick in 2020, and the book on his career is far from complete.
And even in his case, Hunt has done his best work at guard and didn’t become the solution at tackle that some envisioned (for reasons for which he shouldn’t be blamed). The Dolphins, regrettably, lost him in free agency to Carolina 13 months ago.
Three others, among the 18, turned out to be serviceable NFL starters: Todd Wade (started four years here), John Jerry and Billy Turner.
A few others either failed to come close to reaching expectations (Dallas Thomas, Michael Dieter) or have yet to do so (Liam Eichenberg).
The rest of the list is filled with busts – Eddie Blake, Andrew Greene and Brent Smith in the 1990s; Wade Smith, Taylor Whitley, Joe Toledo and Shawn Murphy in the first decade of this century; and Jonathan Martin, Jamil Douglas, Solomon Kindley this past decade.
For three decades, the Dolphins have had less success drafting offensive linemen, after the first round, than any other position except quarterback.
The jury is out on one of the 18 (Patrick Paul, who is slated to start at left tackle).
So take a guard in the second, third or fourth rounds at your own risk. The safer move is signing a stopgap proven vet in free agency, because identifying very good post-first round offensive linemen has largely been an organizational blind spot/shortcoming over many decades and many regimes.
1:35 p.m. update: We wrote below about how defensive tackle is a Dolphins priority this weekend, as it should be. Even if Michigan’s Mason Graham - the draft’s top defensive tackle - doesn’t fall to Miami’s pick at No. 13, there is another Wolverines defensive tackle being linked to Miami.
Though Kenneth Grant has generally been projected to go in the 20s in most mock drafts, SI.com’s Albert Breer reported this week that he has heard Grant’s name connected to Miami, via sources.
And ESPN’s Mel Kiper reported Thursday that Grant “is gaining some late steam, and I’ve been told he could come off the board in the middle of the first round. Grant is explosive and instinctive.”
1:30 p.m. update: Unless Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham or Missouri tackle/guard Armand Membou fall to 13 (or unless Miami has a strong conviction on corners Will Johnson or Jahdae Barron), trading down from 13 would make sense to pick up an extra second-day pick.
The problem is not many teams want to trade up. Denver, which picks 20th, is one team reportedly interested in a trade-up, and NFL Net’s Daniel Jeremiah has Miami trading down to the Broncos’ pick. (See below for that.)
But Kiper said this of the Colts pick at 14, one spot after Miami’s “Everyone is connecting the Colts to the tight ends. As such, I’ve heard that a few teams might even be trying to trade ahead of Indianapolis to get [Michigan tight end Colston] Loveland, though it’s unclear which ones.”
If true, the Dolphins should try to seize on that and see if they can parlay a first-round trade down into a third pick on Friday, when they will select 48th and 98th.
1:20 p.m. update: The Dolphins enter this draft intent on adding defensive tackles, including one who can be a plug-and-play player. They almost have no other choice.
The list of remaining 3-4 free agent defensive tackles is extremely thin. The best is probably Jonathan Bullard, a decent run-stuffer who was a 17-game starter for Brian Flores’ Vikings defense last season.
Free agent Za’Darius Smith, a skilled pass rusher, can play defensive end but is more of an edge player, especially in this scheme.
So Miami needs to emerge with a defensive lineman and a cornerback more than anything else in this draft.
At least there are a handful of veteran free agent guards and cornerbacks still available who could walk in the building and start ahead of Liam Eichenberg and Cam Smith, respectively.
That list includes (but is not limited to) Rasul Douglas, James Bradberry, Mike Hilton and Asante Samuel Jr. at cornerback and Isaiah Wynn, Brandon Scherff, Dalton Risner and Will Hernandez at guard.
1 p.m. update: ESPN’s Field Yates released his latest mock draft and has Miami taking Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, noting: “Even before the news that Jalen Ramsey’s days in Miami are likely over, I saw cornerback as a big need for the Dolphins.
“Storm Duck, Cam Smith and Ethan Bonner are the other starter options on the roster right now. Johnson was limited to six games in 2024 by a foot injury.”
12:45 p.m. update: Whether the Dolphins prefer Johnson over Texas’ Jahdae Barron remains to be seen. Johnson is bigger (6-2 to 5-11), but Barron is less of an injury risk and was more productive last season.
The Miami Herald’s Greg Cote, citing a source, said the Dolphins rate Johnson ahead of Barron.
But ESPN’s Mel Kiper, in something speculative and not sourced, said Thursday that “Miami definitely needs a cornerback, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it favors Texas’ Jahdae Barron over Johnson. Barron had five picks and moved all over the Texas defense last season.”
ESPN’s Adam Schefter also linked Miami to Barron.
SI.com’s Albert Breer said some teams have flagged Johnson’s knee, concerned it might limit his longevity.
9:15 am update: Rams general manager Les Snead told reporters that he has spoken to the Dolphins about a trade for Jalen Ramsey - who wants out of Miami - but isn’t sure where Miami stands in the process.
The problem for the Dolphins is that Ramsey’s 2025 Dolphins cap hit would rise from $16.6 million to $25.2 million if he’s trraded before June 1. If he’s traded after June 1, his 2025 Dolphins cap hit would drop to $6.7 million.
A source has said Ramsey is unhappy here. Our old Miami Herald pal, Armando Salguero, reported that Ramsey wants “to play to be on a winner” and that the Dolphins have spoken with the Rams, Falcons, Lions, Commanders, Eagles and others.
That report said Miami might fetch only a fifth-round pick in return. And there was this other bombshell: Salguero reports “one NFL source said” Ramsey taking a pay cut (being asked?) is “the reason he’s on the market in the first place.”
When I broached the pay cut report to a league source, I received a response along the lines of that not making sense because his contract is guaranteed this season and the team has no leverage to ask him to take a pay cut.
Ramsey is due to pocket $25.1 million this season, according to overthecap.com. The Dolphins gave him an extension and raise just a year ago.
9 a.m update.: Could the Dolphins have a chance to draft one of two players who have been projected to be gone long before Miami picks 13th?
Matt Miller, one of ESPN’s four draft experts, says yes. He has Missouri tackle/guard Armond Membou falling to 13th and Miami taking him.
“According to multiple sources, Miami’s targets are offensive tackle, safety and cornerback, with the pick coming down to the highest grade on the board,” Miller said. “Membou is a player I’m told the Dolphins like a lot given his ability to play guard or tackle as a rookie.”
(One quick aside: There is one part of Miller’s report that I’m skeptical about. They know they need a couple of defensive tackles, and it would be a surprise, at least to me, if they don’t one on the first two days.)
And speaking of defensive tackles., Jacksonville reportedly will bypass Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham at No. 5, and that could cause him to slide. Miller has him falling to 11th.
Meanwhile, NFL Net draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah has Miami trading down to 20th and taking Georgia safety Malaki Starks, a player they’re believed to hold in high regard. He has Miami trading the 13th pick to Denver and picking up a second-rounder (and losing a fourth-rounder) in the transaction.
This story was originally published April 24, 2025 at 9:21 AM.
