Dolphins draft Maryland S Dante Trader Jr. in Round 5
Dolphins draft Maryland S Dante Trader Jr. in Round 5
The Miami Dolphins added another safety to their impending competition for starting spots. With the No. 155 selection in Round 5 of the 2025 NFL draft, the Dolphins picked Maryland safety Dante Trader Jr.
Trader is the second Terrapins defender to land in Miami, joining his teammate Jordan Phillips, who was taken a dozen selections before the safety.
The 5'11, 196-pound defensive back doesn't have size or athleticism that jumps off the page, but he was a productive and reliable player in the collegiate ranks. Trader had five interceptions as a three-year starter at Maryland, and earned an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in 2024.
After allowing starting safeties Jevón Holland and Jordan Poyer to both reach free agency, the Dolphins signed a pair of relatively low-cost free agents, Ifeatu Melifonwu and Ashtyn Davis. That duo will compete with Trader, 2024 sixth-round pick Patrick McMorris, and special teams ace Elijah Campbell for the starting jobs in Miami.
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