The early returns on Kenneth Grant have given the Miami Dolphins plenty to think about.
After missing the first four games of the season with a toe injury, the 2025 first-round pick came back in Week 5, but he has barely made a dent since rejoining the lineup. Through his limited work, Pro Football Focus has credited Grant with just one quarterback pressure in 29 pass-rush snaps. His pass-rush win rate sits at 3.8%, the same mark as veteran nose tackle Grover Stewart of the Indianapolis Colts.
For a defender taken 13th overall, that kind of production is tough to ignore.
The issues haven’t stopped there. Grant’s run defense has also been uneven, with his film showing too many snaps where he is getting moved around more than a player listed at close to 340 pounds should be. It’s still early, but the start has been rough enough to raise the question of whether former general manager Chris Grier may have left the Dolphins with one last first-round miss before being sent packing.
Grant’s college reputation suggested something very different. Coming out of Michigan, he was viewed as a potential freak of nature in the middle of a defense, with rare athletic traits to match his size. That promise hasn’t translated cleanly yet at the NFL level.
His rookie season last year got off to a shaky start as well, but he did flash more as a pass rusher late in the year. Over the final five games, he posted 14 pressures on 99 pass-rush snaps, which gave the Dolphins at least some reason to believe the arrow was pointing up.
There is also the toe injury to consider. Even if he has been cleared to play, it could still be affecting him. That said, the film and the numbers both point to a player who has been a liability for much of his time on the field so far this season.
Miami has steadily increased his snaps each week, which suggests the staff wants to see whether he can work through the slow start. He should also have a fairly long leash because of where he was drafted and because this season is supposed to be about development.
If the Dolphins were trying to win right now, though, the conversation might be different. In that scenario, head coach Jeff Hafley might already be thinking about cutting back Grant’s workload.
That’s not the kind of start Dolphins fans were hoping for from a player with this much investment behind him.
In Other News...
Dolphins Face A Brutal Lions Test With One Real Opening
The Dolphins head into Week 9 with a matchup that looks about as unforgiving as it gets, traveling to face a Lions team coached by former Miami interim head coach Dan Campbell. Detroit brings the leagues top overall offense into the game, while Miami is trying to steady a pass defense that has struggled all season, making this one of those tests where the margin for error feels razor thin.
There is at least one opening for Miami to watch, and it starts with the condition of Detroits defense. The Lions have been dealing with key injury questions in the secondary and at linebacker, which could shape how aggressive they can be against Miamis passing game. If the Dolphins are going to make this interesting, they will need to take advantage of those matchup concerns and avoid letting Detroit turn the game into a track meet. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Face Late Roster Decisions Before Lions Game
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Jaylen Wright, Kaytron Allen and Malik Herring are among the names creating uncertainty, which could force Miami to look at its practice squad for temporary help. The Lions, meanwhile, cleared safety Brian Branch from concussion protocol but still have their own injury concerns, with backup running back Sione Vaki questionable and five players already ruled out. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Suddenly Face A Trade Deadline Decision On A Defensive Leader
With the Dolphins sitting at 1-6 and reportedly willing to listen on players if it helps the long-term picture, the trade deadline has started to loom over a roster that still has to answer plenty of questions on the field. One of the more surprising names to surface is linebacker Jordyn Brooks, a player Miami has leaned on as a defensive leader since bringing him in.
Brooks was supposed to be part of the solution, not part of a midseason sell-off, which is why the idea of moving him would carry real weight inside the building. The Dolphins have a clear future-minded incentive to consider offers, but dealing away a central voice on defense would also deepen the uncertainty around a team already staring at a difficult season. [Read more 🡒]