Tag: Dolphins rookies

NFL.com gives the Dolphins 2021 rookie class a grade to be proud of

Three reliable starters is a pretty solid draft class.

The Miami Dolphins failed to make the playoffs in 2021, but they got some great performances from some of their younger players.

Miami’s got at least 16 games from four of their rookies, and three of them performed at or above the expectations set for them in their first season.

First-rounders Jaylen Waddle and Jaelan Phillips both set team records for rookies, and the former set a league record for rookies. Safety Jevon Holland looked like a seasoned veteran in the secondary, doing everything he could to make an impact on just about every play. And left tackle Liam Eichenberg started 16 games spread between three positions, but he wasn’t the player the Dolphins hoped they were getting.

NFL.com’s Gennaro Filice took some time this week to grade the rookie classes in the AFC East, and Miami received an ‘A-‘ which tied them with New England for the best group in 2021.

Here’s what Filice wrote about the Dolphins rookies:

“The NFL is typically the great equalizer for college football gamebreakers. In the pro game, everyone’s freakishly athletic. And yet, watching Waddle on Sundays felt just like watching Waddle on Saturdays, with the same thought invariably springing to mind: That guy just looks different. In a sea of physical marvels, Waddle’s explosiveness still stands out. Every touch puts you on the edge of your seat. And while the Alabama product set a rookie record with 104 catches, somehow he seemed underutilized. Peppered with quick throws throughout his rookie campaign, Waddle rarely had the opportunity to showcase his downfield dynamism. (Don’t let the 5-foot-10, 182-pound frame fool you — Waddle has no problem making contested catches.) Here’s hoping the new coaching staff unlocks MAXIMUM WADDLE in 2022. Mike McDaniel’s recent words on the receiver inspire confidence: “I would start him in fantasy.”

Waddle wasn’t the only Year 1 stud from this Dolphins draft class, either. Displaying the kind of versatility today’s NFL teams covet in the safety position, Holland stuffed the stat sheet with 68 tackles, 10 passes defensed, seven QB hits, two fumble recoveries, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions. The second-rounder posted the fourth-highest Pro Football Focus grade in the entire rookie class, only trailing Offensive Rookie of the Year Ja’Marr Chase, Defensive Rookie of the Year Micah Parsons and egregious Pro Bowl snub Creed Humphrey. Meanwhile, Phillips really came on in the back half of the season, finishing with 8.5 sacks and earning a spot alongside Waddle and Holland on the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team.

On the down side, Eichenberg continued a recent Dolphins tradition of throwing a rookie O-lineman into the fire and watching him suffer fourth-degree burns. A 16-game starter, Eichenberg committed 10 penalties and gave up nine sacks as one of the leakiest bookends in the NFL.”

If Miami can build on this with another solid draft in 2022, they should be primed to fight for a wild card spot.

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PFF ranked the Dolphins’ 2021 rookie class lower than expected

The three All-Rookie Team members weren’t enough to get them into the top five.

The Miami Dolphins got some great performances from some of their rookies this past year, and that landed three of them on Pro Football Focus’ All-Rookie Team.

That’s why it’s a little surprising to see PFF rank Miami’s rookie class as the seventh-best among all rookie classes in 2021.

Wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, linebacker Jaelan Phillips, and safety Jevon Holland were all solid contributors throughout the season, two of which broke franchise records for rookies. Left tackle Liam Eichenberg also started 16 games despite being graded as the second-worst tackle in football.

Above the Dolphins were the New England Patriots, Houston Texans, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Cleveland Browns, and Detroit Lions.

The Patriots had quarterback Mac Jones and defensive lineman Christian Barmore who were both really solid players, and running back Rhamondre Stevenson was a good supplement for Damien Harris.

Kansas City selected a starting linebacker and two starting linemen. That’s a successful draft in the eyes of most.

Houston got some first-year contributors, including Davis Mills who could be their starting quarterback going into next year. However, it’s not clear that their group of rookies was better than Miami’s.

The same could be said about the Raiders who used their top pick on offensive lineman Alex Leatherwood. That pick hasn’t turned out to be the best decision to this point. However, they did get two All-Rookie team defenders in safety Trevon Moehrig and cornerback Nate Hobbs.

Cleveland’s first-round pick, cornerback Greg Newsome, was the top-rated rookie at his position and got All-Rookie contributions from Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah as well, but the rest of their class was average at best.

The Lions’ pick of Penei Sewell ended up being a great one after some early struggles, and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown had a great rookie season as well.

It’s fair to say that some of these teams could be ahead of Miami, but there’s no way they should be seventh.

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What number will former UGA OG Solomon Kindley wear on the Dolphins?

Here is what number former Georgia football OG Solomon Kindley will wear on the Miami Dolphins.

Solomon Kindley will keep his #66 that he wore at UGA, the Miami Dolphins announced on Tuesday.

Kindley, a three-year starter at offensive guard for Georgia, was selected No. 111 overall in April’s NFL Draft by the Dolphins.

On Wednesday, the Dolphins announced the signing of Kindley as well.

Kindley was part of one of the best Georgia offensive lines in recent memory and helped lead the Bulldogs to three straight seasons of 11 wins or more.

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His fellow teammates Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson were also drafted this year. Thomas went No. 4 to the Giants and Wilson No. 29 to the Titans.

Kindley brings toughness and power at the guard position. At 6-foot-4, 340 pounds, the Jacksonville, Florida native is a force inside and is a linebacker’s nightmare when he moves to the second level.

Miami Dolphins sign former Georgia OG Solomon Kindley

The Miami Dolphins have signed former Georgia football OG Solomon Kindley, the 111th pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Miami Dolphins have signed their fourth round draft selection, offensive guard Solomon Kindley.

Taken at No. 111 overall in April’s NFL Draft, Kindley signed a four-year deal that will pay him $4,079,572 in base salary and signing bonus, per the Orlando Sentinel. 

From the Orlando Sentinel:

Kindley, a three-year starter for the Bulldogs, will likely compete with Ereck Flowers, Michael Deiter, Danny Isidora, Shaq Calhoun, Adam Pankey, Keaton Sutherland and fellow rookie Robert Hunt for one of the two starting guard spots on Miami’s rebuilt offensive line.

As a freshman at Georgia, Kindley was named to the Coaches’ Freshman All-SEC Team and played in over 43 games during his collegiate career.

Kindley was part of one of the best Georgia offensive lines in recent memory and helped lead the Bulldogs to three straight seasons of 11 wins or more.

His fellow teammates Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson were also drafted this year and along with Kindley.

Kindley brings toughness and power at the guard position. At 6-foot-4, 340 pounds, the Jacksonville, Florida native is a force inside and is a linebacker’s nightmare when he moves to the second level.

His signing bonus is projected to be roughly $785,000.