MOBILE, Ala. — Edge rushers are always in demand in the NFL, and the Miami Dolphins are among the neediest teams. Miami primarily returns Chop Robinson, its 2024 first-round pick who recorded just 6.0 sacks last season, and veteran Bradley Chubb, who is due to count $31 million against the salary cap, is questionable to return.

The Dolphins could find help in numerous forms at the Senior Bowl this week ranging from players such as Clemson’s TJ Parker, a projected first-round pick, and Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez to North Carolina State’s Cian Slone or Auburn’s Keyron Crawford.

Some of the top edge rushers such as the Miami Hurricanes’ Reuben Bain and Ahkeem Mesidor, who was battling an elbow injury throughout the College Football Playoff, opted not to attend the Senior Bowl.

“I understand why some of them had to drop like the Rueben Bains and Mesidores of the world,” Senior Bowl executive director Drew Fabianich, a former NFL scout and general manager for Auburn and West Virginia said.

“When I talked to Reuben, and I recruited Rueben at Auburn, and I thought about it and I go, ‘Those guys have been going at it for 27 straight weeks. And they got one week off for the bye. And they’re beat up.’ Mesidor was injured … (but) the edge rushers this year are the strength of the draft.”

Parker (6-foot-3, 263 pounds) is versatile and athletic. He combines good hands with a good football IQ and a competitive streak. Dolphins coach Jeff Hafley employed varied looks as the Green Bay Packers’ defensive coordinator, and that fits Parker’s multiple skill set. Parker has size and strength that he uses effectively against the run and pass.

Parker was low key in 11-on-11 drills Tuesday but was a standout in 1-on-1s.

Texas Tech’s Romello Height (6-2, 234), a likely mid-round pick, had 10.0 sacks and two forced fumbles last season. He’s explosive and brings a deep tool box. He got overshadowed by teammate and fellow edge rusher David Bailey, the projected top 10 pick. But Height, who will be 25 years old when the draft rolls around and attended four schools (Auburn, USC, Georgia Tech, Texas Tech), can do damage. The sixth-year senior isn’t a good run defender but his pass rush skills are polished and strong. 

Height flashed in Tuesday’s practice both as a pass rusher and setting the edge but struggled at times. On one run play SMU tight end Matthew Hibner blocked him fairly easily.

“I felt like it was a great day,” Height said. “I’ve still got a lot to work on. I feel like I set the edge pretty well today. I feel like a lot of guys competed out there, it was great competition, best on best.”

Auburn’s Keyron Crawford (6-3, 251), a projected mid-round pick, also got overshadowed by a teammate and fellow edge rusher, Keldric Faulk, a projected top 20 pick. But Crawford (5.0 sacks, one forced fumble, one recovered fumble, one interception) combines speed and quickness effectively. He had a team-best 44 pressures and his 27 hurries were second on the team to Faulk.

Others at the Senior Bowl who could interest the Dolphins are Iowa’s Max Llewellyn (6-5, 255), who posted 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles last season, North Carolina State’s Cian Slone (6-3, 239), the Utah State transfer who posted 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one interception last year, and Texas Tech’s Jacob Rodriguez (6-1, 233), a playmaker who had 128 tackles, four interceptions and seven forced fumbles last season. 

Llewellyn had good showings in both 1-on-1s and 11-on-11 drills Tuesday. He had a sack on North Dakota State quarterback Cole Payton and a near sack on Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson.

Nussmeier learned from the best

LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, listed at 6-foot-1, 202 pounds, honed his craft at LSU while watching the Washington Commanders’ Jayden Daniels, the 2024 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and a Pro Bowl selection.

Nussmeier said his biggest takeaway was nuanced.

“When I was behind Jayden, I had to learn from him in different ways,” said Nussmeier, whose father, Doug, the New Orleans Saints offensive coordinator and former NFL quarterback, also played in the Senior Bowl.

“I couldn’t just necessarily watch him pull outside zone and take off for 65 yards for a touchdown and say, ‘Alright, I’m going to do that.’ That wasn’t really my game. So there are some things in his game that I can learn as well. Obviously, he’s a great passer and things like that as well. The most I learned from Jayden was how he interacted with his teammates, the way he went about his business, how he studied, how he prepared, things like that. That’s where Jayden helped me the most, and so I’m thankful for that.”

Can Dolphins find starting QB at this week’s Senior Bowl?

UM players, locals participating

The only UM players at the Senior Bowl are center James Brockermeyer and offensive tackle Markel Bell.

Among other locals are Cal cornerback Hezekiah Masses, who attended Deerfield Beach High, SMU wide receiver Romello Brinson, who attended UM and Miami Northwestern High, Florida defensive tackle Tyreak Sapp, who attended St. Thomas High, and FIU running back Kejon Owens, who attended Miami Central High.

Observations

Defensive lineman Hunter Lee of Texas Tech was unstoppable in 1-on-1 and 11-on-11 drills, splitting double teams and effectively making stops in the run game. …

Baylor wide receiver Josh Cameron had a nice late-practice grab over Masses, who is projected as a Day 2 draftee (rounds two and three). But Masses, who is long and sticky in coverage, had a good day overall. …

Wide receiver Tyren Montgomery of John Carroll (Don Shula’s college) had a spectacular leaping reception late in practice. …

Georgia Tech guard Keylan Rutledge was impossible to miss as he finished blocks better than anyone all day. Rutledge, who said he has spoken to the Dolphins and “it went great,” was seen at least three times taking defensive linemen to the ground. …

Iowa right tackle Dunker Gennings flashed, especially against Texas Tech’s Height, a well-regarded prospect. The Dolphins could use a backup right tackle behind Austin Jackson. …

Kansas State center-guard Sam Hecht, who fits a need for Miami, had a few nice plays in 11-on-11 drills.