Who should the Miami Dolphins select in the 2025 NFL Draft?
I’m back with the follow up to my debut mock draft from last week where I selected players for all 10 picks the Miami Dolphins hold in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft!
Last week, Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams was my first overall selection due to the precarious nature of Bradley Chubb’s health and contract situation — and let’s just say… some of you were not happy with that selection!
Well, prepare to be even more upset this week as my first round pick is someone I’ve seen Dolphins fans lose their minds over when commenting on social media posts from various Miami personalities!
As a reminder, once a week, every week until the 2025 NFL Draft, I’ll be doing a full 7-round mock, and then giving you a chance to grade my results. Each draft will look slightly different, because, let’s be honest, the Dolphins have a ton of needs and can go in a million different directions come late April when the actual NFL Draft kicks off.
This exercise will allow us to examine different pathways to success for our beloved South Florida franchise, while hopefully having some fun in the process!
So, without further adieu, let’s unwrap my latest mock draft!
ROUND 1 – Pick #13
Will Johnson — CB — Michigan
What the experts are saying:
Teams love big, fluid cornerbacks with ball production and that is exactly what Johnson offers. He’s instinctive and plays with good body control and change of direction in space. He can play man coverage, but he’s at his best when playing with his eyes forward instead of chasing routes downfield. Johnson displays good pre-snap recognition and can read and anticipate routes/throws at a high level. While he plays the role of thief in coverage, he needs to balance that mentality with a healthy respect for NFL route-runners, as he might lack the recovery speed to close the distance at a desired rate. He has coveted traits and his areas of concern fail to stand out as impediments for what could become a long, successful career as a future Pro Bowler.. (Lance Zierlein, NFL.com)
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ROUND 2 – Pick #48
Tre Harris — WR — Ole Miss
What the experts are saying:
Ole Miss Rebels wide receiver Tre Harris is a physical height/weight/speed combination on the perimeter who thrives tracking the football and winning down the field. Harris has effective physicality at the line of scrimmage, some crafty double moves to create false steps on the perimeter, and the desired ball skills to go airborne and attack the football at its highest point.
The Ole Miss offense hasn’t necessarily cultivated a complete skill set at the wide receiver position, and Harris lacks the kind of short-area agility and quickness to thrive running certain hard-angled routes. However, his size and linear explosiveness will play well as a vertical threat in an NFL passing offense.
He’ll have the chance to further round out his ability to play through press and win on in-breakers into the teeth of the defense as he continues to develop. (Kyle Crabbs, The 33rd Team)
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ROUND 3 – Pick #98
Elijah Arroyo — TE — Miami (FL)
What the experts are saying:
Miami Hurricanes flex tight end Elijah Arroyo projects as a dangerous receiving weapon at the NFL level. He’s a player who has struggled through injury for the heart of his career with the Hurricanes program but illustrated the full scope of his ability in 2024.
Arroyo has a massive wingspan, plucky hands, and explosive athleticism at his disposal — the Canes used that in many of their RPO, play pass, and screen game work this season. That level of receiving versatility is admirable and should be considered a template for what a role could look like in an NFL offense.
Teams with vanilla expectations in 11p may find him less useful for their offensive attacks, and he’s much more of a flex player than a traditional ‘Y’ tight end and should be planned for accordingly. As Arroyo has gotten in-line responsibilities, his effectiveness in such roles will be dependent on much development moving forward. (Kyle Crabbs, The 33rd Team)
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ROUND 4 – Pick #115
Deone Walker — DT — Kentucky
What the experts are saying:
A defensive lineman with rare traits, Walker might require a heavier lean on projection over tape. He’s tight-hipped and too upright to really sink in and command the gaps as an even-front defensive tackle. His success rate rises once he’s able to kick out wider in the alignment and engage in more man-to-man battles. Consistent pocket pressure could come if he starts playing with better aggression to overwhelm protection with physical gifts. The tape was better in 2023 and there were times in 2024 that his conditioning showed up as an issue. Walker’s traits and upside could make him a more consistent NFL talent if he improves his technique and ramps up his motor. (Lance Zierlein, NFL.com)
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ROUND 4 – Pick #135
Jaylen Reed — SAF — Penn State
What the experts are saying:
Penn State Nittany Lions safety Jaylen Reed projects as a potential starter at the pro level. He offers likable physicality, football instincts to handle a multitude of assignments and alignments, and good effort on the field.
His athletic profile in space isn’t the most refined, and transitions can test his ability to attack the football as a coverage option. He made the most of the errant passes that reached him in 2024, but his ball production otherwise is slight, and he appears to have a modest ceiling for game-changing upside.
He’d be best served covering smaller portions of grass as compared to tackling the vast challenges that await serving as the centerpiece of a team’s back end. (Kyle Crabbs, The 33rd Team)
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ROUND 5 – Pick #151
Jalen Rivers — OT — Miami (FL)
What the experts are saying:
A burly offensive lineman with natural anchor and above-average length, Rivers is best-suited for short spaces, where his athletic limitations can be mitigated. He could get a shot at right tackle but slow feet will put him in harm’s way against NFL edge rushers. He’s sturdy at the point against bull-rushers and space-eaters. He works with stiff hips and below-average base footwork, which often short-circuit attempts to leverage and clear the gaps. He’s a clunky mover who will be tied to scheme, but his mass and length increase his likelihood of finding starting reps at some point, provided he can stay healthy. (Lance Zierlein, NFL.com)
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ROUND 5 – Pick #156
Damien Martinez — RB — Miami (FL)
What the experts are saying:
Miami Hurricanes RB Damien Martinez projects as a powerhouse running back that can serve as a valuable piece of a running back puzzle at the NFL level. Martinez is an angry runner with excellent contact balance, a fearless demeanor tucking runs into piles as a short-yardage runner, and enough diversity in his running style not to be an obvious play design tell for opposing defenses.
He’s not overly refined as a passing-down player at this stage of his career, but Martinez should be considered a scheme-diverse talent who can win between the tackles and offers room to grow as a pass protector. (Kyle Crabbs, The 33rd Team)
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ROUND 7 – Pick #226
Kobe King — LB — Penn State
What the experts are saying:
Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Kobe King is a stout linebacker with a run-defending resume that will offer him NFL value from the jump. King’s length, hands, and functional power allow him to frequently negotiate or knock back blocks and keep him free to pursue the football.
He isn’t the most dynamic athlete, and there are concessions to be made with his lateral agility and transitions in space as a coverage player. Still, King boasts early down value plus good production and consistent pressure in blitz opportunities to help bolster and prop up his passing down value. (Kyle Crabbs, The 33rd Team)
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ROUND 7 – Pick #233
Xavier Truss — OG — Georgia
What the experts are saying:
Sixth-year senior who saw more reps at tackle but will need to play guard on the next level. Truss is tough but inconsistent. He’s adequate as a base blocker but lacks the core strength and body control to stay centered and connected over the rep. He moves well enough to play in space but only at an average level. Truss does a nice job of keeping rushers at the end of his punch and he scans for potential trouble in both of his gaps. Athletic limitations and a lack of bend could create anchor and recovery issues inside. Truss is a likely Day 3 selection with backup potential as a guard. (Lance Zierlein, NFL.com)
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ROUND 7 – Pick #252
Tyler Shough — QB — Louisville
What the experts are saying:
Pocket passer with a seven-year college career prompted by three consecutive years of injuries while at Texas Tech. Shough will turn 26 in September, was in the same recruiting class as Trevor Lawrence and backed up Justin Herbert at Oregon. He’s a talented passer with a live arm who is capable of making pro throws both intermediate and deep but battles inconsistency. He plays with good field vision, using his eyes to hold defenders and set up his throwing windows. Shough is confident and accurate when protected, but will flinch when pressure mounts, leading to spotty decision-making and big sacks. His size and passing talent will be enticing, but durability and mobility concerns are impediments he will need to overcome. (Lance Zierlein, NFL.com)