ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper, Jr., released his first mock draft for 2025.
The NFL playoffs are heading toward the AFC and NFC Championship games, leaving four teams standing in the battle for a spot in the 2025 Super Bowl LIX and the Lombardi Trophy. While that is the primary focus on the field, off the field, there are 28 teams already into their preparations for the offseason.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr., has released his first 2025 NFL mock draft as offseason planning commences. Swinging us into mock draft season, despite the actual draft not kicking off until April 24, it is time to take a look at who Kiper thinks the Miami Dolphins may be targeting in the college selection process.
Miami, finishing the year 8-9, holds the 13th overall selection for the 2025 draft. With it, the team could look to fill one of several holes on the roster, including one that could prove to open when free agency begins. Dolphins 2021 second-round pick, safety Jevon Holland, is slated to be a free agent when the new league year starts in March, unless Miami and Holland reach a deal on a new contract. Kiper thinks the Dolphins may use the draft to replace Holland instead of inking him to a new deal.
With the 13th pick, Kiper has the Dolphins selecting Georgia safety Malaki Starks. Starks has been a popular pick for Miami across the early mock drafts around the web, and that now includes Kiper’s projection. Earlier in the mock, Kiper projected the New York Jets to select Georgia outside linebacker Mykel Williams with the seventh pick, then followed that with the Carolina Panthers using the eighth pick on Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker, something he references as he discussed the Dolphins pick.
He explains Miami’s selection, writing:
No college defense has ever had three players go this early in the same year, per ESPN Research, but Starks could join the early run on Bulldogs. He closes well and makes plays on the ball. With 67 tackles this season, he works well in space. And he’s versatile, lining up as a traditional safety and over the slot. Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer — the Dolphins’ starting safeties — are both free agents this offseason, so Miami could certainly address the back end here. An offensive or defensive line upgrade could also be the move, though.
What do you think of the Dolphins’ using their first-round pick on Starks? Does the team need to address a different position with their first selection, then come back to address safety later? Will they re-sign Holland to keep the secondary from being a critical need this offseason?
