The Dolphins shore up the DL with a dominant defensive tackle.
With the 13th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Dolphins shore up the defensive line with Kenneth Grant, an absolute monster of a defensive tackle out of Michigan. Here’s everything you need to know about the newest Dolphin.
Stats & Accolades
- 2022: Played in all 14 games (eight tackles).
- 2023: Played in 15 games with five starts (29 tackles, five tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, six pass breakups, interception). Second-Team All-Big Ten. Won CFB National Championship.
- 2024: Started 12 games (32 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, three sacks, five pass breakups). Third-Team Associated Press All-American. Second-Team All-Big Ten.
What the Dolphins are getting:
A behemoth in the middle. The 6’4, 331-pound Grant is a broad, barrel-chested nose tackle with dominant strength at the point of attack. His long 33 ½” arms paired with a thick lower body gives him the best of both worlds as an interior defender who’s both hard to move and hard to reach. That length also lends itself to success on passing downs where he recorded 12 deflections at the line of scrimmage the past two seasons. Grant pursues well for his size and will only take more of a physical toll on offensive lineman as the longer a game goes on. His punches show a heaviness behind them and he likes to win as a pass rusher with a violent club to knock blockers off their base. Grant’s best football may very well be ahead of him after only becoming a full-time starter in 2024.
Strengths
- Can anchor down against and split double-teams
- Favorite pass rush tool is a violent club move
- Two-gaps well thanks to superb arm length
- Keeps hands ready to shoot for pass deflections at the line of scrimmage
- Versatile skillset will allow him to line up in various spots in any defensive front
Weaknesses
- Sack production did not match up with physical traits
- Lacks an explosive first step
- Not a twitchy reactor which limits tackling ability against shiftier players
- Inconsistent play/tape in 2024
- Does not hold ground well when ear-holed on down blocks
- Needs to be mindful of pad level
Athletic Testing
- Height: 6’4
- Weight: 330 pounds
- 40-yard dash: N/A
- 10-yard split: N/A
- Vertical jump: N/A
- Broad jump: N/A
- 3-cone drill: N/A
- Short shuttle: N/A
- Bench Press: 22 reps