- The Miami Dolphins have 10 picks in the upcoming NFL Draft and need to fill key positions.
- The Dolphins should prioritize drafting a starting guard, cornerback, and defensive lineman with their first three picks.
- Miami may benefit from trading back in the draft if a team is interested in moving up for a quarterback.
The Miami Dolphins have a whopping 10 picks in the upcoming NFL draft.
Based on glaring needs at guard, cornerback, defensive tackle and defensive end, general manager Chris Grier may need to land three immediate starters.
The Dolphins have picks in Rounds 1, 2 and 3.
The Dolphins could go with a sequence of guard-cornerback or cornerback-guard. Perhaps those are the most likely scenarios.
Guard, cornerback and defensive lineman in some order with the first three picks would be a smart wager.
Miami Dolphins top NFL draft needs: G, CB, DL
Grier, like all general managers, would like to go with the "best available player" option.
But Miami has too many holes to not strongly consider the best available guard, cornerback and defensive linemen available in each of the first three rounds.
In the past two years, the Dolphins have lost: G Robert Hunt, DT Christian Wilkins, Edge Andrew Van Ginkel, S DeShon Elliott, DT Raekwon Davis, S Jevon Holland, OT Terron Armstead, DE Calais Campbell, RB Raheem Mostert and CB Kendall Fuller.
That's a lot of talent walking out the door in Miami Gardens.
Grier is going to have to hit, hit, hit and he could use some luck, too.
Well, here are three best-case scenarios.
(Miami might sign up for any of them.)
Best-Case Scenario 1 for Miami Dolphins: Will Campbell or Armand Membou is available
If LSU tackle/guard Will Campbell or Missouri tackle/guard Armand Membou is available at pick 13, Miami should spend fewer than five seconds sending the pick in.
The Dolphins could really, really use a player capable of starting at guard on Day 1 for Miami and potentially moving to tackle down the line. Or filling in at tackle in an emergency.
The Dolphins would have to consider tackle/guard Kelvin Banks and perhaps guard Tyler Booker (though scheme fit is an uncertainty) if the other two linemen are unavailable.
In terms of sliders, we could pray that somehow Michigan defensive lineman Mason Graham slides all the way to No. 13 because of short arms (Campbell can relate) but it just seems very unlikely.
Best-Case Scenario 2 for Miami Dolphins: A team wants to move up for Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart
It's not easy at all to trade back in the NFL draft. Everyone thinks it is. But the one thing teams will usually move up for is a quarterback.
Assuming the Dolphins can't justify selecting a quarterback in Round 1 due to their various needs, it would be great if Shedeur Sanders and/or Jaxson Dart is on the board at No. 13.
In that case, Miami could look to move back – Seahawks at No. 18? Steelers at No. 21? – and pick up an additional pick. It would have to be a tantalizing offer, of course.
If not, just take the best available guard, cornerback or defensive lineman.
Best-Case Scenario 3 for Miami Dolphins: Aggressive trade-ups within first three rounds
Because this is a balanced draft class, teams may actually be more willing to move down than up.
The Dolphins really, really must come away with potential starters at guard, cornerback and defensive line.
There is extraordinary pressure on Grier and coach Mike McDaniel to get this right – and now. And so we could certainly see Miami moving up, particularly in Round 2 or 3.
When I think about Miami moving up in recent years, I think about moving up in Round 2 for Liam Eichenberg, moving up in Round 3 for Leonte Carroo and moving up in Round 1 for Dion Jordan.
Ouch. If Miami does this they must have the right player targeted to start immediately at guard, cornerback or defensive line.
With 10 picks, Grier has some flexibility. Due to the pressure to win their first playoff game this decade, we would not even be shocked if Miami moved a 2026 pick.
Or... what about this... Miami trades a third-round pick and a two fourth-round picks for a second-round pick in this draft? If the right players are there, three picks in the first two rounds would be an excellent outcome, if played correctly.
What picks do Miami Dolphins have in 2025 NFL draft?
- Round 1 (13 overall)
- Round 2 (48)
- Round 3 (98, compensatory pick*)
- Round 4 (115)
- Round 4 (135, compensatory pick*)
- Round 5 (151)
- Round 5 (156, from Denver)
- Round 7 (226, from Chicago)
- Round 7 (233)
- Round 7 (252, compensatory pick*)
Joe Schad is a journalist covering theMiami Dolphinsand the NFL atThe Palm Beach Post. You can reach him atjschad@pbpost.comand follow him onInstagramand on X@schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weeklyDolphinsPulse Newsletter. Help support our workby subscribing today.
