SB Nation NFL mock draft: Dolphins add ‘runaway boulder’ of a DT at pick No. 13

The Dolphins finished the 2024 season with an 8-9 record yet somehow still managed to finish second in an underperforming AFC East.

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa once again missed time with injuries as he played in just 10 games. That directly led to star wideout Tyreek Hill failing to hit 1,000 yards receiving for the first time since 2019 (12 games played). The Dolphins offense is still too talented to be down for long and it helps that the defense was surprisingly good despite the overall record. By the end of the regular season, Miami’s defense ranked fourth in yards allowed (314.3) and 10th in points allowed (21.4).

So with the 13th overall pick, what’s the move here? Do the Dolphins hope for a bounce-back by the offense and continue reinforcing a promising defense or do they make sure the offense has no excuse not to pop off in 2025 while banking on the defense to keep their momentum into a new year?

Why don’t we just go ahead and find out?

With the 13th overall pick in the SB Nation Community Mock Draft, the Dolphins are selecting Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant.

Nogle: The Dolphins have to address several needs, with the line of scrimmage a top priority. There are several moves Miami could make here, including trading back, but with no deals materializing, the goal is to add a Day 1 starter along the interior of the offensive or defensive lines or a safety. With Calais Campbell returning to the Arizona Cardinals, the need for an interior defensive lineman makes a move to select Grant here an option the Dolphins cannot pass up. He is not a finished product yet, but he will fit into the defensive line, providing a big body to clog run lanes and eat blocks freeing up the pass rushers around him.

Analysis: The Dolphins benefitted from a strong season by ageless wonder Calais Campbell in 2024, but he’s now moved back to Arizona on a one-year deal to return to where he started. To make sure they don’t lose too much talent along the interior, the Dolphins nab Grant here after the Niners started the run on defensive tackles (Walter Nolen) two picks prior.

Grant is a massive human being with tree trunk limbs and massive 10 1/8” hands. He’s a hassle and a half to stop on the football field and even when he isn’t getting to the quarterback as a pass rusher, he keeps his eyes up and arms ready to shoot up for a pass deflection. With the size and girth to be a two-gap nose and the runaway boulder momentum to roll through blockers, there’s a lot to like here.

Top five remaining players:

Once again, a team takes a player that was not on our top five remaining players list. It’s really starting to fluster me how tight end Tyler Warren is still sitting here entering pick 14. Someone’s GOT to draft this guy soon, right? He’s like a unicorn for the position. They don’t make them like this often. Coincidentally, the Colts are up next and they happen to be one of the teams in the NFL sorely hurting for a new starting tight end to help out their quarterback situation.