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If you thought that the Miami Dolphins’ rookie class of 2021 was going to take a collective breath and soak in the fact that they’re now professional football players, think again. The Dolphins welcomed their rookies to the team facility this past weekend for their first minicamp experiences — with several players signing on the dotted line and finalizing their contracts.
But just about every rookie who met with the South Florida media over the weekend made it abundantly clear that this wasn’t a time for nostalgia or sentiment. There’s business to take care of.
“I think it’s important to be as well-rounded as possible and absorb as much knowledge as possible,” said 2nd-round safety Jevon Holland.
“I’m just trying to get as wide a perspective as possible as a player. I’m new to the team. I’m trying to find my role, so really trying to absorb everything, like I’ve said previously, and really just help the team in any way.”
Holland is a rookie who received notable praise from Brian Flores on draft weekend, as the Dolphins’ head coach alluded to Holland’s potential as a ‘quarterback of the defense’. And while Holland is very quick to point out his need to soak in as much as he can, he’s not the only one.
“Right now, I’m just trying to learn the playbook and fit in where I can get in,” said Jaelan Phillips, the team’s No. 18 overall pick.
Miami’s top pick, Jaylen Waddle, said on Friday that learning was the group’s primary objective this weekend, too.
“We’re all just learning. It’s our first couple of days and we’re honestly just learning and trying to learn and really be in the right place and be in the right spots.”
Whether this is simply the football character that Chris Grier and Brian Flores have gravitated towards or if the team’s onboarding process handled interview etiquette, it seems a thought the common theme is well ingrained in the group — and that should further reinforce the locker room “culture” that Miami has been missing for quite some time before Flores and company came to town.