The Dolphins Score a Touchdown With First-Round Pick Kenneth Grant

The Miami Dolphins selected University of Michigan defensive lineman Kenneth Grant with the 13th overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft. And whether they snagged themselves a new franchise cornerstone or another name in a long chapter of draft-day doom and déjà vu gloom depends on whom you ask.

Heading into Thursday night's selection, the Dolphins had dial-911 needs on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. Throw a dart at the Dolphins roster and you'd land on a place they're in desperate need of a difference maker.

In Grant, the Dolphins plugged what might be their most enormous roster hole: a big, strong, defensive fat guy. The good kind of fat, of course. The type running backs don't want to come across.

Simply put, Grant is the sort of 6-foot-4, 340-pound human wrecking ball who made every average teenager realize their NFL dreams were just that: dreams. Because signing up for the occupation of running from this sort of human is an actual nightmare.

With the No. 13 overall pick in the 2025 @NFLDraft, the @miamidolphins select Kenneth Grant. @NewEraCap

📺: #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/JJT2Dz349u

— NFL (@NFL) April 25, 2025

What makes Grant even more terrifying for men of lesser size is the fact that just because you run past him doesn't mean you may not come across him later down the field. Like the monster in a horror movie, he will find you. Running from Grant only makes the hunt more entertaining for him. Offensive playmakers are merely his chew toy.

I respectfully submit Exhibit A as evidence that Grant is the living embodiment of what car manufacturers warn about on those little side-mirror stickers — you know, the ones that say "Objects in mirror may be closer than they appear."

All you need to know about Kenneth Grant is him chasing down Kaytron Allen on this play that's singed into my memory foreverpic.twitter.com/Zhfhiz9OPv

— Joey Gulino (@JGulinoYahoo) April 25, 2025

Even future NFL Hall of Fame coach and current Barstool Sports yakker Jon Gruden couldn’t look away from Kenneth Grant’s most jaw-dropping highlight. Breaking down film the only way he knows how, Gruden set the stage by saying that the more tape you watch, the more a guy like Kenneth Grant jumps off the screen.

Then came the above clip: Grant chasing down a Penn State running back like a heat-seeking missile.

Gruden, visibly fired up, possibly even a bit aroused, stared straight into the camera and delivered his verdict to his mock draft room: “Give me two Kenneth Grants!”

Doing some Draft prep here at the FFCA and my goodness does Michigan’s Kenneth Grant jump off the screen.

Look at this effort! If I was still coaching… I’d have to have this guy! pic.twitter.com/4G2nAQ6ElL

— Jon Gruden (@BarstoolGruden) April 17, 2025

Following the Dolphins' selection of Grant, Gruden was once again bullish on his play, even as analysts such as Mel Kiper, who had Grant 30th on his draft board, deemed the pick a reach. Of the addition of Grant, Gruden proclaimed on Barstool Sports that Grant might have been his favorite player in the draft, adding, "This guy plays his ass off. I love Kenneth Grant."

Put a pin in this if Mike McDaniel is out as head coach next offseason and Gruden has his eyes on another stint in the NFL. We're just saying. Stephen Ross has a knack for future Hall of Fame coaches, and for once, he wouldn't have to get caught tampering to snare this one.

🎥 Jon Gruden on the Miami Dolphins selecting DT Kenneth Grant: "This might have been my favorite player in the whole draft... he can move, he's a great football player." (@barstoolsports) #PhinsUp pic.twitter.com/iIQ72Ls97a

— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) April 25, 2025

The Dolphins were only able to secure a single Kenneth Grant on Thursday, but they did add him to one Zach Seiler, which is even better. It can be argued that the Dolphins have finally found a long-term replacement for another former 13th-overall selection, Christian Wilkins, who left in free agency last offseason. If Grant is half the player Wilkins was in Miami, he won't be considered a bust, but the expectation here is that history repeats itself.

The Dolphins will continue to plug holes on Friday and Saturday, where they are slated to make nine more selections. Below is a list of the Dolphins' remaining selections, pending any trades or changes in the market.

And speaking of trades: On Friday, the Dolphins traded their 48th-overall pick, their, 98th-overall pick, and their 135th-overall pick to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for the Raiders' 37th-overall and 143rd-overall picks.

So the new draft order as of Friday evening:

Round 2: 37th overall (from Raiders)
Round 2: 48th overall (traded to Raiders)
Round 3: 98th overall (traded to Raiders)
Round 4: 116th overall
Round 4: 135th overall (traded to Raiders)
Round 5: 143rd overall (from Raiders)
Round 5: 150th overall
Round 5: 155th overall
Round 7: 224th overall
Round 7: 231st overall
Round 7: 253rd overall

Click to read more about the Miami Dolphins' 2025 NFL Draft needs and about the Miami Hurricanes projected to be picked in the 2025 NFL Draft.