Five best picks of the first-round of the 2021 NFL Draft

With their second selection in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins shifted their focus back to the defensive side of the ball and filled out their outside linebacking group with a true pass-rusher who can disrupt the game against both the run and pass.

Making the most of his athletic frame and an innate sense for feeling his blocker throughout the course of the pass-rush. Combined with an elite motor, Phillips is a feisty edge always poking his nose into the offensive backfield.

Against both run and pass, Phillips has a knack for getting himself around the ball and into position to make plays. To be fair, it’s not difficult to make such plays on a consistent basis when possessing such a combination of length and mobility. Posting a 36-inch vertical, 21 bench reps, and a 4.56-forty, Phillips is a uniquely dynamic athlete perfectly suited for the Dolphins amoeba-front.

What elevates Phillips to the level of potential franchise-altering pass-rusher though is his forethought in his pass-rush. Going into seemingly every snap with a plan of action, Phillips progressively sets up his opposition with space-creating stabs and well-timed counter-moves to the interior.