As organized team activities continued in South Florida for the Miami Dolphins, head coach Mike McDaniel spoke to media, providing several updates.

Unlike recent history, Miami’s 2025 NFL draft class could be playing significant snaps straight away.

“I think we have a good amount of young players that are very, very football-focused, and their approach every day gives them a chance to be productive NFL players early. I think the days of, you know, just the way I see patterns of roster construction, the days of putting rookies or an entire rookie class on ice are over,” McDaniel said.

Over the last three drafts prior to 2025, general manager Chris Grier made several selections that could be classified as developmental picks at the time.

Going back to 2022, Grier was limited in picks because of trades, and the players he selected did not come close to contributing anything as rookies. Channing Tindall, Erik Ezukanma, and Cameron Goode barely scratched the surface of playing time, and Skylar Thompson is now in Pittsburgh after 10 lackluster appearances at quarterback for Miami. There is a conceivable scenario where the 2025 roster will feature zero remaining players from the 2022 draft when final cuts are made.

The 2023 class is salvaged only by third-round running back De’Von Achane thus far. Having only four picks, sixth-rounder Elijah Higgins didn’t make it to training camp for Miami, while seventh-round offensive lineman Ryan Hayes is a practice squad player. Second-round pick Cam Smith played just 20 snaps as a rookie and still has yet to make any impact at all heading into year three.

Last year’s class had first-round pick Chop Robinson. Although he was thrown into the mix early, Robinson took a little bit to get going before enjoying an excellent second half of the season.

An argument can also be made for Malik Washington, who, like Robinson, slowly but steadily improved as a rookie. Washington had a fine last quarter of the season as a wide receiver and return man, nearly quadrupling his offensive production in the final four games.

However, starting with second-round pick Patrick Paul and going down the list, not many other rookies saw significant time if at all in 2024. Paul, who was drafted as a replacement for now-retired Terron Armstead, played 30% of Miami’s offensive snaps last season.

Seventh-round wide receiver Tahj Washington was placed on season-ending injured reserve last summer, safety Patrick McMorris barely saw any defensive time and fifth-round edge rusher Mohamed Kamara only played 26 defensive snaps and 30 on special teams. Jaylen Wright, a talented running back from Tennessee, was certainly under-used in his first season as a pro.

The current draft class will need to step up early in their careers, as several of them play at positions of major need for the Dolphins.

First and foremost, first-round defensive lineman Kenneth Grant will be a day-one factor. Grant can immediately claim the No. 2 spot behind veteran Zach Sieler in a room that desperately needed to add talent. 

The defensive line was addressed two more times during day three, with Maryland’s Jordan Phillips and Georgia Tech’s Zeek Biggers. A seventh-rounder, Biggers has the size at 6-foot-6 and the athleticism to become a fixture as a depth player in the defensive line rotation that DC Anthony Weaver likes to utilize.

Phillips was taken in the fifth round and his youth mixed with his work ethic could make for an instant impact with a bright future ahead. The former Terp turns 21 on June 30.

Phillips’ former college head coach, Mike Locksley, recently was a guest on the Miami Dolphins’ podcast “Drive Time” with Travis Wingfield where he spoke glowingly of Phillips. Locksley said the Dolphins found a “steal” and that “his best football is still ahead of him.”

Phillips’ Terrapin teammate and fellow fifth-rounder, Dante Trader Jr., also received top marks from Locksley, who pointed out the leadership and professionalism of the safety and collegiate lacrosse player.

In a safety group that is anyone’s position room in terms of potential starters and look of the depth chart, Trader Jr. could emerge to battle for a starting role. Locksley cited Trader Jr.’s leadership and ability to be a quarterback of the defense in his talk as well with Wingfield.

“There’s no doubt [about] Dante and his aptitude and his football intelligence,” Locksley said. “He was a guy that, if you can teach it, then you can execute it.”

Sticking with the secondary, local Miami product and University of Florida cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. was another fifth-round draft pick for the Dolphins. A four-year starter at Florida, Marshall could find his way into the mix and make a name for himself early. Marshall has already been impressing coaches with his play and work ethic early in OTA’s.

In a cornerback room that could soon be even thinner with the pending departure of Jalen Ramsey, Marshall is competing with several undrafted free agents and unproven players from the last few seasons and he has a history of marking the opponent’s No. 1 wide receiver from his SEC days.

Going back to the second round, it’s a no-brainer that Arizona offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea will start as a rookie, but the question is which side? Both guard spots were question marks heading into the offseason, and Miami signed veteran James Daniels and traded up to select Savaiinaea at pick No. 38. Savaiinaea and Daniels can be penciled into the starting guard roles, but this summer will clarify which sides they will man.

During one of their draft weekend trades, Miami was able to add a sixth-round pick in which they drafted Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II. Even though Miami has a surefire star in Achane as well as a solid No. 2 in Wright, Gordon can work his way into becoming a specialist in a few different areas with his ability to run powerfully, catch the ball out of the backfield, as well as pass protect.

In the most ideal of situations, the only 2025 Dolphins draft pick that should not see the field is seventh-round Texas quarterback, Quinn Ewers. This is a developmental pick for a quarterback with a live arm who needs time. But, Ewers could perhaps compete with newly-signed Zach Wilson for the backup role to Tua Tagovailoa. 

It’s plausible seven of the eight rookies could be playing quality and consistent snaps for a Dolphins team that is going through what some say is a soft retool or rebuild.

It’s a class full of leaders from their college days with both production and professionalism and it could materialize into one of the more talented groups in recent memory for the Dolphins.

“You have to have guys that have the appropriate mindset that they will do what needs to be done to do right by their teammates,” McDaniel said of his 2025 draft class.