The NFL draft is quickly approaching, and we’re starting to get a good idea of the direction some teams will go.
The Miami Dolphins are in an interesting position. The team wasn’t bad enough in 2024 to land a top pick, but also wasn’t good enough to make the playoffs. Now, the team will be trying to do whatever they can to get out of football purgatory this offseason.
Alex Slitz/Getty Images
The team is currently slated to have the No. 13 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. With several needs on the roster, there appears to be quite a few directions the team could go in the first round.
Today, let’s identify the three players who make the most sense for the Dolphins in the first round.
Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas
Kelvin Banks Jr. has been one of the most commonly mocked players to the Dolphins this offseason, and it’s easy to see why.
Star left tackle Terron Armstead announced his retirement this offseason, making the offensive line an even bigger need for the team. Banks played 934 snaps at left tackle for Texas in 2024 and earned an elite 86.2 Pro Football Focus grade.
Banks has protypical NFL tackle size at 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds. The tackle also has long-enough arms to stick at tackle at the next level, but could also immediately contribute at guard as well due to his solid footwork and strength.
The Dolphins need help at guard and tackle, making Banks the perfect plug-and-play option on the line.
Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
Another player that makes a ton of sense for the Dolphins is Alabama offensive lineman Tyler Booker.
Unlike Banks, Booker played most of his snaps at guard in college. Booker played 701 snaps at left guard and 77 at left tackle in 2024, earning a solid 66.5 overall Pro Football Focus grade.
Currently, the Dolphins have Liam Eichenberg and James Daniels penciled in to start at the guard spots. Booker has a much higher ceiling than Eichenberg, and Daniels is coming off a serious injury. At the very least, Booker would be solid insurance at guard, and best-case scenario, the guard develops into an All-Pro in Miami.
Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
The Dolphins desperately need help on the offensive line, but the defensive line is a sneaky problem area as well.
Currently, Matt Dickerson and Benito Jones are listed as starters on the Dolphins’ defensive line. That’s not ideal, and Derrick Harmon would be the perfect addition to this group.
In 2024, Harmon racked up 45 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and five sacks for the Ducks. Harmon has always been known as a solid run-stuffer, but the defender’s added pass-rush efficiency in 2024 make the lineman a very intriguing prospect.
In Miami, Harmon could slot in at nose tackle next to Zach Sieler, giving the team a fearsome duo on the defensive interior.