Chris Perkins: Dolphins’ future looks bright(er) because of rookies and youngsters

MIAMI GARDENS — The Miami Dolphins saw good things from their young players in Sunday’s 20-17 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and it should give them reason to feel reasonably good about their future. Among Sunday’s 22 starters for the Dolphins, nine, almost half, were rookies, second- and third-year players. 

Rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers, a seventh-round pick, threw two touchdown passes and no interceptions in his second start. Rookie defensive tackle Zeek Biggers, another seventh-round pick, blocked a field goal attempt. Rookie cornerback Jason Marshall Jr., a fifth-round pick, had an interception. Rookie wide receiver Theo Wease Jr., who was undrafted, had a 63-yard touchdown reception.

In fact, you could say the young players, including Pro Bowl third-year running back De’Von Achane (112 yards from scrimmage), second-year left tackle Patrick Paul and second-year running back Jaylen Wright (56 yards rushing on five carries), were a big reason why the Dolphins (7-9) came away with the victory in the home finale.

And you could further say that the Dolphins’ future looks a bit brighter with the youngsters, starting with the 2025 draft class, being the foundation.

“I think we’ve been heavily reliant upon the rookie class,” coach Mike McDaniel said. “It was very calculated, the types of people that we brought in for the reasons of needing to be able to be professional football players at the NFL level.”

The rookies and young players have been getting better as the season progresses.

On one side of the ball rookie defensive tackle Jordan Phillips shows leadership and awareness beyond his years when he sprints onto the field before the first possession of every game. He does so to honor and respect those who have come before him.

“It’s all about taking the field the right way,” said Phillips, the fifth-round pick from Maryland who might be the team’s Rookie of the Year with his 15 starts, 401 snaps (42 percent) and 29 tackles.

“It’s been many legends that came before me to take this field. Every time I take the field, I do it for the organization, do it for my teammates, for my coaches. You’ve got to have the right mentality. No walking onto the field.”

On the other side of the field you have a rookie quarterback who dares to challenge veterans before the game by telling them to remember their “why,” meaning why they play the game.

“I told these guys today, we’ve got to play for something bigger than ourselves because you end up playing better,” Ewers said. “I told them to think back on their why, even including myself, just to get fired up and ready to go because like you said, we’re not playing for the playoffs.”

Six of the Dolphins’ eight 2025 draftees have made a start this season. Four or five of the rookie draftees project to be starters next season — defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, the first-round pick, left guard Jonah Savaiinaea, the second-round pick, Phillips, safety Dante Trader Jr., another fifth-round pick, and perhaps Ewers.

Running back Ollie Gordon II, a sixth-round pick, could find a role as a short-yardage back.

This is the part where I must mention that perhaps former general manager Chris Grier, who deserved to lose his job in October, kinda, sorta knew what he was doing in putting together this year’s draft. And maybe he knew what he was doing in assembling this year’s offensive line, the group that has led to the resurgent running game and Achane’s Pro Bowl berth. 

But let’s not digress. Let’s move forward.

Dolphins Deep Dive: Rookies have good day vs. Bucs; will it carry over to next season? | VIDEO

The Dolphins hadn’t previously had a good draft class in the McDaniel era. The 2022-24 classes were marked by disappointment, a low number of picks, and a lack of success as rookies.

The Dolphins’ 2025 draft class has a chance to be different. This class, despite having six of its eight members selected in the fifth, sixth and seventh rounds, has quality and depth. It doesn’t display much star power right now, but it has playmaking ability, and that’s an irreplaceable quality in the NFL.

“It’s a game-changing play,” Biggers said. “We won by three points, so that could have been very different if I didn’t block that. I’m just grateful that I blocked that play and I’m living life. I’m happy.”

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Miami Dolphins quarterback Quinn Ewers (14) takes the field before the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. (Joe Cavaretta/South Florida Sun Sentinel)

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