Miami Dolphins for better, for worse? How Zach Sieler and 2025 DL compares to 2024

Yahoo

25-07-2025

(Editor's note: This is part of a summer series on the Miami Dolphins. Each entry will break down a specific position group, examining how the 2024 unit performed. what's expected in 2025 and, finally, concluding which group is better, the 2024 version or 2025.)
Last year's defensive line
Zach Sieler
Calais Campbell
Benito Jones
Da'Shawn Hand
Matt Dickerson
How they performed
Quite well.
Sieler was named team MVP, completing a long journey from his days on the waiver wire.
Campbell was 38 years old but playing like he was 28, proving he too was a fine pick-up by Miami.
They combined for 15 sacks, 25 tackles for loss and 31 quarterback hits.
This year's defensive line
Sieler
Matthew Butler
Kenneth Grant (first-round pick)
Jordan Phillips (fifth-round pick)
Zeek Biggers (seventh-round pick)
Jones
Alex Huntley
Dickerson
Ben Stille
Outlook
Sieler is just hitting his prime and will give the Dolphins all he has both on the field and in the locker room. His leadership will be especially important with Campbell off to Arizona and three rookie draft picks to mentor.
Coordinator Anthony Weaver assured that Grant will fulfill his potential based on the work ethic he already has witnessed. Obviously there is no way to judge yet how selecting how Grant and Phillips will or won't pay off for the 2025 Dolphins and whether they can come anywhere close to the high standards set by Sieler/Campbell.
If Phillips and Biggers can contribute, a position of serious concern back when it was Sieler and not much else might hold its own after all.
Bottom line: Last year's model or this year's?
The Dolphins sound like they're going to ride Grant as far as he can take them when it comes to snap count. That's hard on anybody but especially true for defensive linemen playing in our early season heat.
As Weaver said, the rookies are bound to have growing pains, but it will be interesting to see their impact in 2025.
Last year's model or this years? Last year's.
You don't lose a veteran such as Campbell, who played at a Pro Bowl level, and not feel it.
Coming Wednesday: Special teams
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins 2025: MVP Zach Sieler mentors inexperienced DL