With the NFL draft starting Thursday night, it’s almost a year to the day the Miami Dolphins made defensive tackle Kenneth Grant their first-round pick in the 2025 draft.
It was somewhat of a surprising move, as Grant was selected earlier than many projected, at No. 13 overall, by previous general manager Chris Grier.
At times, Grant didn’t appear to be living up to the first-round billing in his rookie season. He showed flashes as the year progressed and finished with 33 tackles, a pair of sacks and a pass bat-down at the line of scrimmage.
With a season under his belt and taking part in his first full offseason with his NFL team, Grant is looking to prove himself worthy a year later.
“I know what to expect now,” Grant said on a web conference with reporters Tuesday afternoon. “I’m not a rookie anymore, so I kind of know what the deal is and how things are going to be operated.”
As the Dolphins are now two weeks into their offseason workout program under new coach Jeff Hafley, Grant finds himself in a new situation with a change in leadership. That begins with new GM Jon-Eric Sullivan calling the shots for the roster instead of the GM who drafted him.
“We’re kind of, right now, on ground zero,” Grant said. “Everybody’s on a clean-slate playing field right now. So, he treats me just like everybody else in the building. So, just being accountable and being a guy that wants to show that I can do good.”
Grant, who played at 6 feet 3, 335 pounds as a rookie, was part of a rookie class that had three defensive tackles selected. Fifth-round pick Jordan Phillips impressed and started all but one game. Zeek Biggers, a seventh-round choice, is also in that mix on a defensive line led by veteran Zach Sieler.
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Under Hafley, the Dolphins will transition to a base of four down linemen but still incorporate looks with three.
“We’re going to grind blocks, we’re going to provide that violent mentality, and we’re going to make plays,” Grant said of what he’s noticed for defensive linemen in Hafley’s scheme.
Grant said he has focused this offseason on having quicker hands and getting off blocks. Those are things that can help him pivot back to being a true football player, as opposed to training for the scouting combine last year when prospects are measured in drills instead of on-field combat against an opponent.
“This offseason, I just really focused on being more of a football player,” Grant said. “Training for the combine last year is different when you’re in football shape rather than combine shape. So, I just tried to be in football shape this year, focusing on my techniques and getting stronger in the weight room.”
With new looks on the defensive front, the Dolphins are expected to bring in edge rushers in the draft and possibly another defensive lineman at some point.
“It’s going to be really tremendous for the incoming rookies, whoever we get or whoever we pick,” said Grant, who can now be one to guide rookies along the journey of their first year instead of experiencing it all first-hand. “There’s going to be a lot of things they’re not going to be expecting, but it’s my job and everybody else’s jobs in the building to make them feel comfortable and know that we’re here for them and it’s time to play football.
“It’s just all about sharing that wisdom, sharing different experiences that I went through, just letting guys know that I’m there for them and anything is possible and they can do whatever they put their mind to.”