Did the Miami Dolphins find their next Christian Wilkins with the selection of Kenneth Grant with the No. 13 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft?
Those are large shoes to fill, obviously, but at 6-foot-4, 331 pounds, the former Michigan defensive star has the size, athleticism and powerful nature to fit that shoe size. While Wolverines Mason Graham teammate garnered all the hype through the 2024 season and pre-draft, Grant made his own impact with 32 combined tackles and 3.0 sacks.
Can he continue his trajectory of growth to the NFL level?
So far, so good for Grant in a Dolphins’ uniform. Not only has he impressed early in camp and with a strong performance in his NFL preseason debut, but he has also drawn praise from defensive coaches who described him as “awesome” and “everything we thought he’d be” as both an elite run stopper and a pocket collapsar.
Dolphins have found another force in the middle in Kenneth Grant
To state the obvious, the Dolphins need Grant to shine and due to what he brings to the table for this AFC East squad, one NFL analyst has highlighted just how important the rookie will be in 2025.
In unveiling each NFL team’s most pivotal rookie, NFL.com’s Dan Parr called Grant the “linchpin” on defense based on all he can bring to the table for the Dolphins.
He writes:
“Grant has the potential to wreck shop from the middle of the D-line if he puts it all together. His run-stuffing ability is ahead of his pass rush at the moment, but he has the size and explosiveness to win in any situation. Miami is going to need quick and constant disruption from its front line to ease the burden on a secondary that is looking extremely vulnerable at cornerback due to a combination of injuries and the departure of Jalen Ramsey.”
NFL Mocks completely agrees!
Grant’s ability to impact the game as a run stopper who can create some pressure up the middle gives him a high ceiling for a Dolphins team still looking to replace Wilkins. If he can be the force in the middle he was at Michigan and then some, he will help that Dolphins defense tremendously, especially with the secondary suspect after the loss of Ramsey.
Where the Dolphins hope he exceed expectations is his pass rush. Can Grant create consistent pressure up the middle? If he does, it will allow Miami’s edge rushers like 2024 first-round pick Chop Robinson, Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips to wreak even more havoc on the opposing quarterback, thus shielding the limitations of the secondary as Parr points out in his assessment.