Last year, the Miami Dolphins decided to use their first-round pick, which came at No. 13 overall, on Michigan defensive lineman Kenneth Grant to pair him with the veteran Zach Sieler in the middle.
However, less than a year later, NFL analysts are already re-drafting the 2025 class, and The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner believes that the Dolphins should’ve used their first-round pick on Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough.
“The Tua Tagovailoa train has departed for backup land in Atlanta, so (as some of us noted at the time) quarterback should have been a bigger priority for the Dolphins last season,” Baumgardner wrote. “Like Dart and Ward, Shough has plenty to prove, but he showed some very strong stuff as a rookie in New Orleans.”
Shough was taken in the second round (No. 40 overall) by the New Orleans Saints following a collegiate career split between Oregon, Texas Tech and Louisville. While he started his rookie season as Spencer Rattler’s backup, Shough went on to start nine games and led the Saints to a 5-4 record while completing 67.6% of his passes for 2,384 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions.
In Miami, Shough could’ve started the year backing up Tagovailoa, and when Tagovailoa struggled, the Dolphins may have been quicker to pull the cord and bench the Alabama product.
Instead, they waited until late in the season to turn the offense over to Quinn Ewers. Meanwhile, Grant had an underwhelming first year, recording 33 tackles, five quarterback hits, two sacks and a pass defensed while playing 52% of the team’s defensive snaps in 17 games.
More Dolphins: Who has final say when the Dolphins are selecting in the 2026 NFL draft?
This article originally appeared on Dolphins Wire: Dolphins change directions and select a QB in 2025 NFL re-draft
Reporting by Mike Masala, Dolphins Wire / Dolphins Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
