Dolphins add another productive Power 4 defensive lineman. And draft pick update, Ramsey
Miami Dolphins Dolphins add another productive Power 4 defensive lineman. And draft pick update, Ramsey
In their continued search for bulky run-stuffers on their defensive front, the Dolphins have added a fourth 300-plus pound rookie defensive lineman.
Tre'vonn Rybka, a productive defensive lineman at Kentucky, agreed to a deal as an undrafted rookie that included $10,000 guaranteed, according to a source. He becomes the 16th undrafted rookie to sign with the Dolphins; none had been announced as of midday Wednesday.
Rybka, who is listed at 6-4 and 310 pounds, played in 48 games and started 25 times in four seasons with the Wildcats. He had 95 tackles (including 11.5 for loss), five sacks and a forced fumble.
He started all 12 games last season and finished with 34 tackles (including five for loss), three sacks and a forced fumble.
The Dolphins have added four defensive linemen through the draft process — first-round pick Kenneth Grant (the 6-4, 331-pound Michigan product is a likely rookie starter), fifth-round pick Jordan Phillips (the former Maryland player is 6-2, 312 pounds), Rybka and undrafted South Carolina rookie Alex Huntley.
Huntley — 6-4, 305 pounds — had 82 tackles, including eight for loss, and four sacks in five seasons and 50 games for the Gamecocks.
Rybka was a three-star recruit and 247 Sports' No. 53 defensive tackle in the 2020 class coming out of Dickson County High School in Tennessee.
Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Bluegrass named him 'Big Ambassador of the Year' in 2024 for his commitment to mentoring young people.
Sieler, Brewer weigh in
The Dolphins will be holding weekly Zoom sessions with players this month, and Zach Sieler was asked to address the team's tardiness issue and what the Dolphins say is a mutual decision to try to trade cornerback Jalen Ramsey.
Asked if he agrees with the Dolphins saying that trading Ramsey is in the best interests of both parties, he said: 'Ramsey is a great player. Everyone knows that. What he's done is nothing but amazing. That's not my decision, not my realm. I don't know what happened there. I look forward to the best for both parties.'
Referring to Ramsey and Arizona-bound Calais Campbell, Sieler said: 'It's tough losing guys of that caliber. Two great players.'
Regarding the tardiness problem last season and the team's culture and whether it has improved, Sieler said: 'If we're going to be here, we're going to be here. We're going to be on time and ready to work, not just halfway going through things.'
Center Aaron Brewer, the other player who spoke to reporters Wednesday, said more players have been staying later to work during the first three weeks of the offseason program.
▪ Brewer said of new guard James Daniels, the standout veteran lineman added in free agency: 'I love James. He's a football junkie. I like his mentality toward football. Film wise, he's on it. You can talk football with the dude all day. He wants everything to be right. I watched his film when he was in Pittsburgh, and he can move. He's got that motor in him, that finish.'
Draft pick update
Nick Korte, overthecap.com's compensatory pick expert, said the Dolphins could get a compensatory fourth-round pick in next April's draft, as a result of free agent losses and additions. Any free agents signed for the remainder of the year do not count toward the compensatory pick formula.
Next year, the Dolphins have all their picks, plus a third-rounder from Houston (from the trade made on April 26), plus that potential compensatory pick, and a possible pick that could be involved in a potential Jalen Ramsey trade. The Dolphins continue efforts to trade Ramsey, who wants out of Miami.
▪ The Dolphins haven't announced who will be at their rookie camp this weekend, but Miami Hurricanes players Sam Brown (a receiver) and Zach Carpenter (a center) accepted invitations to try out.
So did former UM offensive lineman John Campbell, who played 32 games at UM and then 22, over two seasons, at Tennessee.
Among others invited for tryouts: Rhode Island defensive back Branden Price, Kentucky tight end Jared Casey, Brown tight end Mark Mahoney, West Virginia interior lineman Nick Malone, Jackson State defensive end Phillip Webb and Oregon linebacker Jestin Jacobs.
Unlike the draft picks and the 16 players who have or will sign contracts with the Dolphins, the tryout players do not have contracts.
Last year, the Dolphins offered contracts to two of the 27 players who tried out at rookie minicamp: Wisconsin cornerback Jason Maitre and Rutgers offensive lineman Ireland Brown. Maitre spent time on the Dolphins' practice squad last season and is now on the roster.
▪ The Dolphins wanted BYU cornerback Jakob Robinson in the undrafted rookie market, but he signed with the 49ers. He had 11 interceptions in five college seasons.
But Miami is very happy with the two undrafted rookie cornerbacks it added: UCF's BJ Adams and Minnesota's Ethan Robinson. Fifth-round pick Jason Marshall, the former Florida Gator, is the other new rookie cornerback.
▪ The Dolphins have deals with 94 players, including retiring Terron Armstead and guard Bayron Matos, who has a roster exemption. They will need to make multiple roster moves by the start of minicamp on Friday. The NFL offseason roster limit is 90.
This story was originally published May 7, 2025 at 1:15 PM.
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