After navigating up the draft board to select Arizona offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea in the second round, the Dolphins received a fifth-round pick from the Las Vegas Raiders as part of the deal.
Miami used that fifth-round selection to draft Maryland defensive tackle Jordan Phillips with the No. 143 overall pick. The 6’3, 305-pound defensive lineman joined Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant as the second Dolphins defensive tackle by way of the Big Ten.
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Phillips began his collegiate career at Tennessee as a three-star signee in the 2022 class. After redshirting with the Vols, Phillips transferred to Maryland where he morphed into a starter.
Phillips started 23 games over his final two collegiate seasons with the Terps, tallying 57 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss in the 2023 and 2024 campaigns.
After not recording a collegiate sack, Phillips needs to show that he can develop into a productive pass-rusher or that he can at least be a consistent run plugger in the pros.
Let’s revisit the Dolphins’ fifth-round choice, including reaction from Miami to the selection and the Dolphins’ impression of Phillips since making the pick:
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Feb 27, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Maryland defensive lineman Jordan Phillips (DL28) participates in drills during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Stats: 28 games played, 23 starts, 58 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss
What the Dolphins said after drafting Jordan Phillips
Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier answers questions from reporters April 15, 2025.
“With Jordan, one thing is he is a really good run stopper, run player,” Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said in April after selecting Phillips. “So what he was asked to do for them, he excelled in what he could do. We had some of our coaches working the East-West game and he was there and really showed some stuff in the pass rush stuff when different stance, different techniques he was being taught down there.
“So for us, we were excited watching that and I know Coach (Anthony) Weaver was the first one who came to us and Austin (Clark) were like, ‘Hey, watch this from the East-West and what he was doing.’ He’s 20 years old, has an unbelievable love for football, so we do think there’s some things we can unlock with him. At the Senior Bowl, Mike Locksley was the one who told me, he said, ‘This kid will be an even better player in the pros.’ He said he’s so young still in what he can do, so we’re excited for him.”
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Jordan Phillips’ comments on joining the Dolphins
Sep 7, 2024; College Park, Maryland, USA; Maryland Terrapins defensive lineman Jordan Phillips (8) takes the field before the game against the Michigan State Spartans at SECU Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images
Phillips had multiple years of collegiate eligibility remaining, but the Terps star shared why he felt the time was right to jump into the NFL ranks in April after the Dolphins chose him.
“Honestly, I go about my business like a grown man and I’m mature enough to do so,” Phillips said. “And on the field, I’m violent, I’m aggressive. I’m able to have great production and help out my team in an effective way and all those things are what you need in order to be sustainable in the NFL in order to be a great player.”
Phillips is looking forward to the combination that he and Grant will form together.
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“Kenneth Grant, very talented, very athletic for a big guy,” Phillips said. “I got a chance to see him a little bit during the Shrine Bowl. I got a chance to just be around him. I didn’t see him perform at the Shrine Bowl, but he’s definitely athletic and just physical at the point of attack and his game definitely does stand out to me. And I think that us together, we’ll do some special things together.”
Dolphins’ rookie minicamp update
Jun 4, 2024; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver talks to cornerback Jalen Ramsey (5) during mandatory minicamp at Baptist Health Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports
Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver spoke with reporters in May after Miami’s rookie minicamp and shared some of his initial thoughts on the defensive tackles that the Dolphins selected.
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In addition to both Grant and Phillips, Miami also added Georgia Tech defensive tackle Zeek Biggers in the seventh round.
“Thrilled about the draft process. It was a collective work of so many, just targeting the guys that we did,” Weaver said. “Really happy about Jordan Phillips, guy who was kind of under the radar a little bit, but the way he plays on film and just the person that he is, it’s the same thing. He’s going to reach that ceiling.”
Phillips joins the Dolphins after earning a 71.4 overall defensive grade from Pro Football Focus last season. The hope will be that Phillips can help plug the Dolphins’ defensive interior straight away.
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins NFL draft rewind: Miami nabs Big Ten DT Jordan Phillips