Dolphins NFL draft options: Defensive tackle

The departure of ex-Dolphins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins (left) means Miami needs immediate help beside defensive tackle Zach Sieler, possibly coming from the first or second round of the draft. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

By Chris Perkins | South Florida Sun Sentinel

PUBLISHED: April 18, 2024 at 6:30 a.m. | UPDATED: April 18, 2024 at 6:31 a.m.

The South Florida Sun Sentinel concludes its nine-part series previewing top players in the 2024 NFL draft (April 25-27) with the defensive tackles.

The best part of this defensive tackle class is at the very top among the top three prospects — Texas Byron Murphy II, Illinois’ Jer’Zhan Newton and Florida State’s Braden Fiske. After that there’s probably no one that would seem to offer starting-caliber help as a rookie although a few others could be solid rotational players as rookies.

As for the Miami Dolphins, defensive tackle is a definite need, and some might say it’s a necessity in the first two rounds.

The Dolphins lost defensive tackle Christian Wilkins in free agency. That leaves Zach Sieler, a returning starter, along with young returnees Da’Shawn Hand and Brandon Pili and newly-acquired Benito Jones, Teair Tart and Neville Gallimore.

The Dolphins won’t get anyone of Wilkins’ caliber in the draft, but they could get a starter who excels at either stopping the run or rushing the passer.

Miami has six picks in the draft — one in the first round (No. 21), one in the second (No. 55), one in the fifth (No. 158), two in the sixth (Nos. 184 and 198) and one in the seventh (No. 241).

Here’s a breakdown of the top defensive tackles in the draft:

Byron Murphy II, Texas

Murphy (6-1, 297) is short and powerful, and when those are combined with his superb speed the result is a hard-to-stop, three-down player. He plays with lots of energy against both the pass and the run. Although just a one-year starter he was Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year and an All-America selection.

Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois

Newton (6-2, 304) won’t overwhelm you with size or speed. Rather he’s a thinking man with lots of athletic ability (four blocked kicks). He lives in the backfield (7.5 sacks) because he knows how to use his hands and lower body to set up would-be blockers and beat them.

Braden Fiske, Florida State

Fiske (6-4, 292), a transfer after five seasons at Western Michigan, is a high-motor guy who has success (6.0 sacks) due to his football smarts and quickness. Oh, and at the combine he had the fastest 40-yard dash time (4.78 seconds) and best vertical jump (33.5) of all defensive tackles.

Ruke Orhorhoro, Clemson

Orhorhoro (6-4, 294), a native of Nigeria, is a strong, athletic player who excels as a run stopper but needs better technique on his pass rush. That’s understandable considering he didn’t start playing football until his junior year of high school.

Kris Jenkins, Michigan

Jenkins (6-3, 299) is an athletic run stopper who figures to be a mid-Day 2 pick. He’s tough and competitive, probably partly because his father, Kris, was a two-time All Pro and four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle for Carolina and the New York Jets.

Best of the rest

Oregon’s Brandon Dorlus, who attended Deerfield Beach High School, is a versatile defender who uses his hands well; Texas’ T’Vondre Sweat is a load at 366 pounds and was the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year; Ohio State’s Michael Hall Jr. (6-3, 290) combines good hands and feet to make up for his lack of weight; Duke’s DeWayne Carter is tough to move and has good lateral quickness; University of Miami’s Leonard Taylor III has outstanding athletic ability but needs consistency; LSU’s Maason Smith (6-foot-5) is tall for an interior defensive lineman and needs to work on gaining leverage.

Class grade: C

This group is impressive at the very top with the first-round prospects but it gets very average very quickly. There’s good talent to be found on Day 2, but the later it gets, the bigger the drop-off.

Teams in need

Miami, Tennessee, Minnesota, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Jacksonville, Kansas City.

Dolphins’ focus

The Dolphins have a major hole to fill at defensive tackle with Wilkins’ departure. The draft offers some definite possibilities in the first two rounds. Depending on your point of view, the Dolphins have four major needs in the draft — defensive tackle, offensive tackle, guard and edge rusher. Any two could be considered wise choices in the first two rounds.

Selecting a defensive tackle might also be viewed as getting help for Sieler, who, as opposed to last year’s opener, won’t have Wilkins by his side in this year’s opener and might not have edge rushers Jaelan Phillips (Achilles) and Bradley Chubb (knee) on the outside.