Would a stud linebacker next to Jordyn Brooks unlock the Miami Dolphins defense?
With a laundry list of holes on the roster, the Miami Dolphins don’t have to be picky with their first-round selection. While the 2025 NFL Draft is months away, we’re all wondering how general manager Chris Grier can make the most of the No. 13 pick ahead of a must-win season.
My Mock 1.0 is officially live. What do you love? What do you hate? What pick made me lose my credibility? What pick was problematic?https://t.co/XdNQX3pdjn
— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) February 3, 2025
The Dolphins need to rebuild the offensive line and start over at safety, but NFL Draft Analyst Lance Zierlein believes that Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker can be a disruptive force for a defense in desperate need of playmakers.
“Walker can play off-ball linebacker on run downs and then blitz or come off the edge as a rusher in passing situations,” Zierlein wrote. “His toughness and versatility would fill big needs in Miami.”
With Texas tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. going to the Chicago Bears three picks earlier, Miami could use a difference-maker next to Jordyn Brooks after David Long Jr.’s sharp decline last season. The Dolphins made things work with former Seattle Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson, and re-signing him makes plenty of sense, but drafting Walker adds another layer of physicality to a defense that must try and contain the gauntlet of top-tier quarterbacks in the AFC.
Walker’s final season at Georgia included 61 tackles, 6.5 sacks, and two pass breakups. He earned the Butkus Award, which is given annually to the nation’s top linebacker after a handful of standout performances for the Bulldogs. He logged eight tackles against Tennessee, three sacks versus the Longhorns, and 10 quarterback hurries in a 13-12 win over Kentucky.
The Dolphins don’t have many avenues to improve the roster and a linebacker might not be one of the top three. That said, developing the NFL’s best front seven could go a long way toward stopping Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and the league’s other premier quarterbacks.
