The Dolphins are about to find out what Kenneth Grant can really give them.
With Zach Sieler sidelined by an undisclosed injury, Miami’s defensive tackle group suddenly has a hole in the middle. Sieler will miss Friday night’s preseason opener against the Washington Commanders, and while the hope is he’ll be back for the season opener against the Las Vegas Raiders, Jeff Hafley made it clear his status is "week to week."
That puts the spotlight squarely on Grant, the 2025 first-round pick who was brought in to help anchor the defensive line. Miami took him 13th overall after his run at Michigan, where he lined up next to Mason Graham and helped power a defense that carried the Wolverines to a national championship. The Dolphins passed on names like Emeka Egbuka, Tyler Warren, and Jaxson Dart to make that pick, so the expectations were baked in from day one.
Grant’s first season was solid, if not yet the kind of production that changes games. He posted two sacks, 29 pressures, 23 hurries and 20 run stops, with that 29-pressure total ranking 40th among 134 defensive linemen, according to PFF.
That’s a respectable rookie line for a defensive tackle, especially when that position often needs time to settle in. But for a top-15 pick, Miami needs more.
That need only gets louder with Sieler unavailable. The veteran has been one of the team’s most productive defenders, piling up 25.5 sacks over his last three seasons in Miami. His absence creates a clear opening, and the Dolphins need someone to fill it.
Grant has already signaled he’s working toward that next step. In July, he told Miami reporters he wants to play at 325 pounds, down from 337 last season, with the idea that trimming down will help him become more explosive and make more plays in the passing game. That’s the kind of leap Miami is banking on now.
General manager Jon-Eric Sullivan has already started shaping the roster with extensions for core players like Aaron Brewer, De’Von Achane and Jordyn Brooks, but this is also about developing the players already in house. Grant is one of those players, and the opportunity in front of him just got bigger.
Zeek Biggers and Jordan Phillips are also in line for expanded roles while Sieler is out, but neither came into the league with Grant’s draft status. That’s why all eyes turn to the former first-rounder now. The responsibility is part of the job description.
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Bakers situation has grown even murkier because he has not been able to practice while working back from injury, and Johnson is no longer sitting comfortably in place as the safeties sort themselves out. Zayne Anderson has emerged as a real push for that spot, which is exactly the kind of competition Miami appears willing to embrace as camp moves forward and the final roster picture comes into focus. [Read more 🡒]
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On defense, the mix of veterans and rookies makes the competition even more interesting. Max Llewellyn is listed ahead of Cameron Goode at edge rusher, while Jacob Rodriguez shares a linebacker spot with Tyrel Dodson, both of which point to real battles that should carry into the rest of preseason. For Miami, the early chart does not just map out where things stand now, it also shows where jobs are still very much up for grabs. [Read more 🡒]