The NFL Draft is coming up and the Miami Dolphins are in a tough spot. They weren’t bad enough in 2024 to get a top 5 pick, but they didn’t make the playoffs, so they are stuck in football limbo. Head coach Mike McDaniel has to elevate the roster this offseason so the team doesn’t plateau. With the 13th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft the Dolphins can address needs on both sides of the ball. Here are 3 players who make sense for Miami.
Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas
The biggest hole on the Dolphins’ roster became painfully clear when Terron Armstead announced his retirement this offseason. Enter Kelvin Banks Jr., a guy who’s been linked to Miami in mock drafts—and for good reason.
Banks played 934 snaps at left tackle for Texas in 2024 and had an elite 86.2 PFF grade. 6’4” 320 lbs, he’s got NFL tackle size, long arms to play the position and can thrive. But it’s his versatility that makes him so appealing. If needed he could play guard due to his footwork and strength.
For a team that needs help at both guard and tackle, Banks is the plug and play solution. He’d bring stability to an OL that needs it.
Tyler Booker, Offensive Line, Alabama
Another guy for the Dolphins is Tyler Booker, an Alabama offensive lineman who played guard most of his college career. Booker’s PFF grade (66.5 overall) wasn’t as high as Banks, but he’s got potential.
Right now, the Dolphins have Liam Eichenberg and James Daniels listed as their starting guards. Eichenberg hasn’t shown much upside, and Daniels is coming off an injury, so the position is open for an upgrade. Booker has more upside than either of those guys and could be insurance if injuries strike again. In the best case scenario, he develops into a dominant force and becomes an All-Pro in Miami.
Booker’s power and technique make him a good fit to plug into the Dolphins’ interior OL and add balance and depth.
Derrick Harmon, Defensive Tackle, Oregon
While the offensive line gets all the attention, the defensive line shouldn’t be ignored as an area of need. Right now, Matt Dickerson and Benito Jones are the projected starters on the defensive interior—a not-so-impressive duo. Derrick Harmon from Oregon could change that.
In 2024, Harmon was a wrecking ball for the Ducks, 45 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, 5 sacks. He’s a run stuffer but added pass rush last year so he’s a 2 way defensive tackle.
In Miami, Harmon could slide into the nose tackle role alongside Zach Sieler and be a big addition to the defensive line. He’d give the Dolphins a much needed boost against the run and pressure up the middle to collapse the offense.