The Miami Dolphins had the oldest roster in the NFL last season. Now it’s set to get much younger in 2025, especially after the team prioritized youth in the NFL draft.
According to Daniel Griffis of Action News Jax, the average age of the Dolphins’ eight draft picks was 21.5 years old — the youngest in the NFL.
Four of the Dolphins’ draft picks — Kenneth Grant, Jonah Savaiinaea, Jordan Phillips, and Ollie Gordon II — played only three years of college football. Seventh-round Zeek Biggers played four years at Georgia Tech, but played his first game with the Yellow Jackets while he was still 17.
The oldest player in the draft class, cornerback Jason Marshall Jr., will turn 23 in September.
Rule changes in college football that have allowed players to transfer often, along with the effects of COVID-19, meant that there were many NFL draft prospects who are older than usual. New Orleans Saints second-round pick Tyler Shough, who will turn 26 early in his rookie year, began his collegiate career in 2018 as backup to Justin Herbert at Oregon.
In addition to the eight youthful draft picks added to the roster, the Dolphins also said goodbye to many of their oldest players. Defensive lineman Calais Campbell, who turns 39 in September, joined the Arizona Cardinals in free agency, 34-year-old safety Jordan Poyer is a free agent, 33-year-old offensive tackle Terron Armstead retired last month, and 33-year-old running back Raheem Mostert was released.
The oldest player remaining is 31-year-old Tyreek Hill, who is one of only four players on the roster no longer in his 20s. That includes 30-year-old cornerback Jalen Ramsey, who is seemingly set to leave the team soon.