MIAMI GARDENS ― What does Miami Dolphins offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik think of rookie offensive lineman Kadyn Proctor?
“Absolutely massive,” Slowik told a small group of local reporters. “I mean, might be one of the biggest individuals I’ve ever seen in my life. His legs are bigger than me, but he moves like he’s 290 or 300.”
Proctor is likely to end up at tackle eventually. But right now, the Dolphins need him at left guard.
“How big he is, just his athletic skill set is,” Dolphins offensive line coach Zach Yenser told a small group of local reporters. “I mean, when you see how he can move and how he bends, that’s really what you look at. Through the whole draft process, I think he can play tackle in this league. I think he fits us better and we need him at guard and I think he’s gonna be a really good guard for us.”
Proctor, 6-foot-7, 352 pounds, is now officially listed by Miami as a guard/tackle.
Miami believes having Proctor on the left side and moving Jonah Savaiinaea back to right guard will be a double net-plus.
“He’s a really big human with great feet and good movement skills,” Slowik said of Proctor. “And quite honestly, when you do that, you could play anywhere up front. Now he played mainly left side in college, so we’re gonna keep him on the left side, whether it’s guard or tackle.”
Miami Dolphins impressed by rookie Kadyn Proctor
Patrick Paul is the projected starter at left tackle, of course, but it now seems possible Proctor’s cross-training reps at tackle may come on the left side as an emergency backup for Paul.
What is a challenge of moving from tackle to guard?
“I think if you move from outside inside, I mean, I think everything just happens probably a little quicker for him inside,” Yenser said. “You’re not playing with as much space. So I do think like, the area that you’re playing in is definitely smaller. So you got to just understand those set points are a little bit different.”
The Dolphins view Proctor as a unique athlete capable of handling a lot.
“The way he sees it, the way he communicates, he’s very smart,” said Yenser, the new offensive line coach. “That’s why I loved about him on my 30 visit when I was down, sitting down with him and watching film with him and going through everything. He sees it like a center. Now, he’s not gonna play center for us, but I mean, but just that’s how he sees the game big picture and it’s gonna help him at whatever position he plays.”
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe’s free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins coach on OL Kadyn Proctor: ‘Absolutely massive.’
Reporting by Joe Schad, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
