Zeek Biggers was frustrated.
After he received a handful of defensive snaps in Week 2, the defensive tackle had been essentially banished to the inactive list for eight consecutive games. So he began to treat his scout-team reps like a game, according to defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver, who explained that Biggers’ success against the first-team offense directly correlated to his increased, in-game snaps.
Then came the matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Look at the statistics — two combined tackles — and you will be a bit disappointed. Dig deeper, however, and see that he also recorded a quarterback hit, two hurries as well as a run stop, according to Pro Football Focus.
“I started taking it like ‘these the starters, and they’re rushing for 100, 200 on people,’” Biggers said. “‘If I go kill them, I’ll be playing.’”
Biggers’ growth during the past two weeks puts the Dolphins in a unique position toward the end of the season. Miami decided to go younger in the offseason, specifically along the defensive line, where they drafted three defensive tackles in Biggers, first-round pick Kenneth Grant and fifth-rounder Jordan Phillips. The early returns were dismal — Miami ranked toward the bottom in run defense for most of the season. But as the trio improves, the Dolphins’ defense has an opportunity to really dominate the line of scrimmage.
“These guys are still rookies, still babies in the game,” linebacker Jordyn Brooks said. “I don’t even think they fully know what their potential is. And I think the better they get, the better we’re going to get.”
As coach Mike McDaniel said these guys can barely identify as rookies at this point of the season.
“The whole class has delivered on what the team needed from them and that’s to be passionate, football-first teammates that are willing to accept that they’re rookies and don’t know anything and will experience failure, compete and not bat an eye,” McDaniel said, later joking that “post-Thanksgiving, rookie year is pretty much over. We’re now in Year 2.”
For Grant, it was the Cleveland game where everything started to take a turn. Although that matchup ended with a loss, the rookie had arguably his best game of year, recording one tackle but also a quarterback hurry and four run stops. In the following four games, during which the Dolphins have gone 3-1, Grant has recorded seven pressures — two quarterback hits and five hurries — as well as four total tackles.
Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Kenneth Grant (90) walks off the field at halftime during their NFL football game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL, on Sunday, October 12, 2025. PHOTO BY AL DIAZ adiaz@miamiherald.com
Grant credited defensive line coach Austin Clark with his late-season development.
“He’s making things harder,” Grant said of Clark, a guy who was instrumental in Zach Sieler’s growth into one of the better defensive tackles in the NFL. “A lot of teams tend to cut less off toward the end of the year, save their bodies, but we’re doing more and I think it shows late in the game. We’re in better shape, and we have that grit of ‘the score may be what it is, but w’re still going to keep fighting and give it our all.’”
Phillips’ trajectory has somewhat mirrored that of Grant. The youngest of the three at just 21 years old, Phillips has played significant snaps since Week 1. His best game, however, came against the Bills as he recorded four total tackles, a quarterback hurry and three run stops.
Miami Dolphins defensive tackles Jordan Phillips (94) and Alex Huntley (96) runs drills during training camp at the Baptist Health Training Complex on Tuesday, July 29, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com
“As young guys, we just honestly be quiet and pay attention and learn and grow and trust the process,” Phillips said. “Over time, I think that increases development.”
The rookie trio’s growth has already begun to pay dividends for other players. Brooks, for example, doesn’t have a 20-tackle performance against the Washington Commanders, the most in NFL international history, without their increased ability.
“You have 20 tackles; that’s a result of a lot of things — him but also a lot of things from his teammates, particularly those rookie defensive linemen,” McDaniel said. “We’ve been counting on that growth, and we’re experiencing some of the fruits of that in these past two wins.”
As the Dolphins prepare to face the New Orleans Saints, the rookies should continue to be a significant part of their game plan going forward. Hopefully, their recent success will be just the beginning.