Well Buffalo Bills fans, we’ve arrived at peak hope season on the NFL calendar. The ebbs and flows of the offseason can be meaningful, especially during the main player acquisition phase that runs from March until the end of the April.
If a team hasn’t done anything in the first few hours of the free-agency negotiating window, the murmurs of disapproval begin in the dark corners of the internet. Conversely, if a team makes a widely approved big splash in the NFL Draft with a consensus player, the optimism for the coming year or years isn’t just restored, but amplified. And between these two polar opposite reactions, there are many other inflection points ranging from detached apathy to mild and optimistic curiosity.
Just a few weeks after the NFL Draft, we reach a point where fan bases (overall) have completely bought into their teams’ draft classes. They’ve watched all the hype videos and seen the behind-the-scenes moments of draft night — that clearly prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the players selected by their team were the ideal and most desired picks at every single spot.
People are ready to believe. But it’s not just Bills Mafia that’s ready. The remainder of the AFC East teams made moves to inspire hope in their respective fan bases as well. We’ve already discussed the 2025 NFL Draft acquisitions made by the New England Patriots, Over the next two weeks, we’ll touch on the New York Jersey Jets and Miami Dolphins as well.
Of those two, let’s prioritize the team that’s come the closest in recent years to knocking off the Bills from their current perch as AFC East divisional kings: the Dolphins.
Miami Dolphins (8-9 in 2024, 2nd in the AFC East)
Round 1, Pick 13 - Kenneth Grant, DT (Michigan)
Round 2, Pick 37 - Jonah Savaiinaea, OG (Arizona)
Round 5, Pick 143 - Jordan Phillips (not that one), DT (Maryland)
Round 5, Pick 155 - Dante Trader Jr., S (Maryland)
Round 6, Pick 179 - Ollie Gordon, RB (Oklahoma State)
Round 7, Pick 231 - Quinn Ewers, QB (Texas)
Round 7, Pick 253 - Zeek Biggers, DT (Georgia Tech)
The notion that the Dolphins were a “soft” team has permeated even their own fan base in recent years. Having speedsters like Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle catching passes from Tua Tagovailoa and the diminutive De’Von Achane destroying safety angles was always going to represent the fast identity of the team. However, not having enough high-level players on the offensive and defensive lines and the overall lack of willingness to run the ball and play power football have led cemented negative thoughts about those explosive elements.
The fact that they had a three-game lead on the Bills for the division with five games to play and ended up losing out on the division (being sent to frigid Kansas City to lose 26-7 to the Chiefs) didn’t help the reputation. That may have been front and center on the mind of general manager Chris Grier when he selected his 2025 draft class.
Four of the Dolphins’ seven draft picks were spent on the offensive or defensive lines, including their first three selections. Kenneth Grant was one of the freakiest athletes in the class and a player many Bills fans were hoping would fall to Buffalo at 30 overall. Savaiinaea (pronounced “Savuh-ee-NYE-uh”) is a large-framed interior lineman who should help reduce the quick interior pressures that quarterbacks like Tagovailoa despise. Jordan Phillips (not that one) is a player who can come in and provide fellow draftee Grant with versatility by occupying the nose. He’s a gap-responsible plugger who still has lower body explosion.
Finally moving away from the lines of scrimmage, the selection of Dante Trader Jr. shows that the Dolphins aren’t just trying to collect athletes across the board. Trader’s athleticism isn’t his calling card, but he has plus instincts and plus tackling. The Dolphins’ fan base seemingly soured on previous star safety Jevon Holland in recent years, and hope to add to that room with someone with the instincts for the position right next to free-agent signee Ifeatu Melifonwu.
Ollie Gordon is unlike anyone else Miami has in its running back room, and that makes his selection notable. The fact the Dolphins would select an offensive skill position player who didn’t run at least a 4.40 40-yard dash is shocking enough, but at 226 pounds and clocking in with a 4.61 time, Gordon represents size and power. Alongside free-agent addition Alexander Mattison, it may signal that Miami’s tired of trying to misdirect their way into a conversion on 3rd & Short.
Quinn Ewers was a polarizing prospect for many over the last two years. Texas wide receivers like Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell, and Matthew Golden came with the question of “why didn’t they produce more” and supporters of those receivers would inevitably look towards Ewers as a contributing factor.
Other people still saw him as an early round selection even as late as the middle of the 2024 college football season. The reason the pick makes sense for the Dolphins is due to current head coach Mike McDaniel’s offensive system prioritizing timing over everything, which fits well to minimize Ewers’ flaws as a passer.
Zeek Biggers was another commonly mocked player for the Bills in 2025. The late-round prospect doesn’t have the quick first step that teams desire, but his sheer height and length can create problems for quarterback passing lanes and running backs attempting to squeeze by.
The Dolphins certainly took steps towards breaking their label of a “soft” team. While cornerback remains a glaring need for Miami, their draft alongside the free-agent acquisitions of guard James Daniels and former Bills linebacker Tyrel Dodson certainly indicates they’re aware of their shortcomings.
Did the Dolphins do enough to make any noise in the AFC East in 2024?
...and that’s the way the cookie crumbles. I’m Bruce Nolan with Buffalo Rumblings. You can find me on Twitter and Instagram @BruceExclusive and look for new episodes of “The Bruce Exclusive” every Thursday on the Rumblings Cast Network — see more in my LinkTree!