2025 Is About The Development of The Young Players

2025 Is About The Development of The Young Players

The other day, I was watching the DolphinsTalk.com podcast with Mike, Marisa, and The Big O. Something was said that resonated with me about what this season is about.

Mike brought up that this year is about this being a year of the development of our young players and not wins and losses. Big O and Marisa both agreed.

This is due to the youth movement this offseason, which involves the Dolphins bringing in a new core of young players to be foundational pieces moving forward, and you know what Mike is correct. 

I’m not going into the season with a wins/losses expectation and judging the season by that. The season will be judged by our younger players, and if they give us hope moving forward. 

The player I am looking forward to watching this year is second-year left tackle Patrick Paul. He has all the physical tools, being 6’7″ and 330lbs, but needs time to develop.

With Terron Armstead retiring, it’s up to Paul to see how he develops from year one to year two. I have read about the training camp every day since it opened, and I keep reading about how Paul is doing and proving himself. I want to see it in the preseason and regular season. If he steps up, the Dolphins have a bright cornerstone potentially on this offensive line to come.  

The Dolphins drafted Jonah Savaiinaea in the second round at guard to improve the interior of the offensive line. He will be lined up at left guard next to Paul. Maybe they could become the tandem on the left side of the line, the way Richmond Webb and Keith Sims were in the ’90s.

Savaiinaea will go through the growing pains like a rookie, but the hope is that he will get better with every snap to prove he can be part of the future on the offensive line as the Dolphins try to establish a big, physical line that has been missing for years.  

The most significant development to watch out for is also the young players on the defensive line. After the Dolphins lost Christian Wilkins and Raekwon Davis in free agency a year ago, the team did little or nothing to replenish the talent to complement Zach Sieler. Sieler is playing at a very high level with back-to-back seasons of 10 sacks apiece, but he is entering his 30s and eventually will begin to wear down physically. He still has good football left in him, but the team needed some young talent to complement him. 

The Dolphins in the first round took defensive tackle Kenneth Grant. I was very excited that the Dolphins took him because Grant has tons of potential at 6’3″, 330lbs with his power. Between him and Sieler, they could be a nice 1-2 on the defensive line if he plays to his potential.

The Dolphins are starting a rebuild on the defense, and Grant could be the force of the future. 

The Dolphins then continue adding big bodies on the defensive line with Jordan Phillips and Zeek Biggers. Both players are physical with their size and will get plenty of looks in the preseason to see what they can do.

When the regular season starts, I don’t know where they will fit, but the team will need to see what they have as the season goes on. They could help on a special team, as Biggers blocked a few kicks last year at Georgia Tech. 

The Dolphins also drafted a potential backup quarterback in Quinn Ewers.

Now, Ewers won’t play unless God forbid, we have what happened last year, but Ewers has been one of the big stories in training camp as he has picked up the offense well and is playing very well. I want to see what he has in the preseason to see if this is somebody that can be developed for the next few years.

Ewers seems to fit Mike McDaniel’s offense as he is very accurate and quick to get rid of the football. August will tell us a little bit more about him.  

If these players and others show progress as rookies or 1st year players, it will give the fans hope for the future, regardless of what the team’s record is.

I want to see this team do well this year and in the years to come. However, this year will be about a new young core and their development as the season goes on, and if they are ready to take on the role of leading this team into the future as it restocks this year.