Mock Draft
1/6/25
9 min read
Miami Dolphins 2025 7-Round NFL Mock Draft: Protecting Tua Is Top Priority
The Miami Dolphins nearly made the AFC playoffs, but a disappointing season has the franchise turning its attention to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Miami needed a win and a Denver Broncos loss in Week 18 to advance to the postseason. Instead, the Dolphins' record dropped to 8-9, and they had more questions than answers heading into the 2025 season.
Head coach Mike McDaniel and general manager Chris Grier are retaining their positions, but if the Dolphins are unable to reload through the draft and free agency to compete in 2025, they could easily be replaced next offseason.
To avoid that, here's a seven-round mock draft that could put the Dolphins right back into playoff contention.
Dolphins 2025 NFL Mock Draft
Drake Maye needs help.
— ZeeBee (@BellinoZee) December 15, 2024
Halftime reminder 📣 that the 2025 draft has a very underrated OL class. Will Campbell is just one example. pic.twitter.com/d7pNdTAuam
Round 1, 13th overall
Pick: Will Campbell, OL, LSU 
Terron Armstead is one of the top offensive tackles in the league, but the rest of the offensive line is in need of some serious upgrades this offseason to keep Tua Tagovailoa upright and keep the run game going with Miami's explosive backfield.
Will Campbell's stock has dipped a bit during the 2024 season, but that doesn't mean he's not still a good OL prospect. He allowed just four sacks in three seasons as a starter for LSU and never allowed more than 18 pressures in a season.
Campbell has the ideal size profile for a tackle at 6-foot-6 and 323 pounds, along with the movement skills and fluidity to handle himself in pass pro. His skill set could also allow him to kick inside to guard if needed, where he could potentially play early in his career before replacing Armstead as the successor at left tackle.
Will Campbell's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
Round 2, 48th overall
Pick: Lathan Ransom, SAF, Ohio State
Jordan Poyer was not an adequate fill-in this season at safety, and the 33-year-old will be a free agent again this offseason.
Lathan Ransom would be an ideal safety pairing with Jevon Holland, provided Miami is able to bring back their talented young safety on an extension. The Ohio State prospect has continued to skyrocket up draft boards as a versatile enforcer on the back end of the Buckeyes defense. He shined in the Rose Bowl win against Oregon, flying downhill and sticking ball carriers with legitimate stopping power.
In addition to being an asset as a run defender, Ransom has the length and movement skills to be useful in man coverage against tight ends, along with the downhill explosiveness and instincts to trigger and blow up plays on underneath passes.
With Ransom in the box and Holland deep, the Dolphins would have a legitimate safety duo for years to come.
Matthew Golden is a stud. Keep feeding him pic.twitter.com/72BJp3O6Zl
— Billy M (@BillyM_91) January 1, 2025
Round 3, 98th overall
Pick: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
Tyreek Hill made it clear after Sunday's loss that he no longer wishes to play for the Dolphins going forward. If that ends up being the case, then Grier needs to start figuring out a plan on how to replace one of the best vertical threats in the league.
Matthew Golden wasn't the Texas receiver scouts were talking about heading into the 2024 season, but he is now. The former Houston wideout has burst onto the scene in the postseason for the Longhorns, catching 17 passes for 360 yards and a touchdown during the last three games.
Golden can do a little bit of everything as a receiver, whether it's creating separation as a route runner, hauling in contested catches, or showing impressive body control by toe-tapping on the sideline. However, Golden's best trait is his deep speed, and he has the deep-ball tracking skills to get under just about any deep shot from Quinn Ewers.
That versatile skill set screams long-term starter in the league, and by the time the pre-draft process is done, he might be considered a much earlier pick. For now, however, the Dolphins can land Golden with their third-round pick and hope he can blossom into a star in McDaniel's offense.
Round 3, 99th overall
Pick: Tate Ratledge, iOL, Georgia
Given Tua's injury history, Miami should prioritize heavily investing in the offensive line, especially early.
The guard position has been particularly disappointing this year, so the Dolphins could double-up with Campbell in the first round and another SEC lineman in Georgia's Tate Ratledge.
Ratledge had a down year after missing most of the early season with an ankle injury that required surgery. He didn't look like the same player when he returned, especially after seeing how dominant he could be in 2023 for the Bulldogs.
Still, Ratledge was Georgia's most reliable offensive lineman throughout the 2024 season. He has great leg drive, pad level, and play strength to move bodies in the run game, and he has enough athletic ability and fluidity to hold his own in pass protection.
A healthy Ratledge could be a starting-caliber OL as a rookie, making him a worthwhile pick for the Dolphins in the third round.
Tate Ratledge's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
Toledo DL Darius Alexander had a monster game vs. Pitt yesterday. 58-yard pick six was obviously this biggest highlight but he consistently pushed the pocket, got quick wins at the LOS with his quickness and swim moves.
— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) December 27, 2024
6 tackles, 1 sack, 1 INT TD. Will be down in Mobile too pic.twitter.com/pwlM4FOzTn
Round 4, 115th Overall
Pick: Darius Alexander, DL, Toledo
Calais Campbell's time in Miami is likely finished, and the Dolphins need to start figuring out how to build a deep defensive line to make up for the loss of one of their best defenders.
Darius Alexander is one of the most intriguing small-school prospects in this draft. He bullied opponents in the MAC this year, generating 3.5 sacks and 35 pressures on the season. He has good length at 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds and can win in a variety of ways.
With length, play strength, and quickness off of the snap, Alexander looks like a prospect who can win in multiple ways. He's far from polished but could be a developmental Day 3 guy who could turn into a successful starter with the right coaching.
Round 5, 149th overall
Pick: Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State
Chop Robinson has been a steal of a draft pick for the Dolphins, so they might as well draft one of his former teammates at Penn State in the fifth round.
Dani Dennis-Sutton is a former 5-star recruit, and it's easy to see why. He has an imposing physical frame at 6-foot-5 and 258 pounds and the athletic ability to force the issue on offensive tackles when rushing the passer. He can time up the snap with good get-off, and has the bend and length to be a problem.
While Dennis-Sutton still needs to develop counter moves and improve his bull rush, the athletic tools make him a worthwhile flier in the later rounds.
There are several reasons Oregon is the favorite to win it all, but No. 1 on that list (IMO) is the Dillon Gabriel to Tez Johnson connection.
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) December 9, 2024
Two guys who will be dinged as NFL prospects due to size, but both just keep making plays. Ballers. pic.twitter.com/vYaNZIMo6Y
Round 5, 156th Overall
Pick: Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon
If there's any quarterback that makes sense as a backup in Miami's offense, it's Oregon's Dillon Gabriel.
One of the all-time leaders in college football in both career starts and total touchdowns, Gabriel was a Heisman finalist in Oregon's offense this season. He's a smaller prospect at 6-foot-0 and 200 pounds, but he has the mobility and arm talent to be a fun playmaker.
That college experience, along with Gabriel's style of play, could be a fitting backup to Tua. Plus, he's another left-handed quarterback, making it that much easier to stick with the playbook if Tagovailoa ever went down again.
Dillon Gabriel's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
Round 7, 224th overall
Pick: Chandler Rivers, CB, Duke
The Dolphins might ultimately take a cornerback earlier in the 2025 draft, but with the way the board fell in this mock draft, Miami would have to wait until the seventh round to take a cornerback.
Chandler Rivers was an impressive corner for the Blue Devils this season, allowing a completion on just 52.5 percent of passes when targeted, with three interceptions and eight pass breakups. He was also a disruptive corner when attacking downhill,l with 10 pressures off blitzes and a pair of forced fumbles.
Rivers is a bit undersized at 5-foot-10 and 180 pounds, but his aggressive play style could suit him for a slot role in the NFL.
I love JJ Pegues, man. Most people know him for the fun stuff like this at Auburn and Ole Miss, but some team is gonna get a nice little twitched-up interior pass rush specialist on Day 3 pic.twitter.com/NFvlyFCmVX
— Cory (@fakecorykinnan) December 2, 2024
Round 7, 231st overall
Pick: J.J. Pegues, DT, Ole Miss
How many defensive linemen do you know that regularly play Wildcat quarterback?
J.J. Pegues is a fascinating Day 3 prospect. Along with 30 pressures on Ole Miss' defense, the 325-pound defensive tackle scored seven rushing touchdowns this season for the Rebels while generating a bunch of first downs.
That kind of athletic ability, pass-rushing prowess, and size could have Pegues going much higher with a strong pre-draft process.
Round 7, 251st overall
Pick: Damien Martinez, RB, Miami (FL)
The Dolphins wrap up this seven-round mock by taking a hometown running back in Damien Martinez as a potential replacement for Raheem Mostert, who could be a cap casualty this offseason.
While Martinez isn't a speedster like De'Von Achane or Jaylen Wright, Martinez brings plenty of contact balance and the ability to break tackles in bunches. That could help him find the field, even in a crowded running back room in Miami.
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