3 Sleeper Guards the Miami Dolphins Should Target
Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
After a disappointing 2024 season that saw the Miami Dolphins miss the playoffs, many holes need to be filled. However, few are pressing as their needs at guard. The Dolphins have made it clear they want to upgrade from last year’s duo of Liam Eichenberg and Robert Jones, and for good reason. Eichenberg allowed 29 total pressures last year, while Jones added 28 to the total. With the injury concerns already surrounding Tua Tagovailoa, goal number one has to be to try and keep him upright.
The good news for the Dolphins is they are projected to have 10 draft picks in April for the 2025 Draft, with five of those coming in Rounds 5-7. There have been rumors that the Dolphins might use their first-round pick on a guard, but 13 overall is an awfully high price to pay for the position. Besides, there are two holes to be filled, and it wouldn’t hurt to take a few guards late in the draft to bolster their depth. Let’s take a look at three guards that will make the Dolphins better for 2025 and beyond.
Marcus Tate, Clemson
Marcus Tate would probably be a much higher draft pick if it wasn’t for injuries, but those are a real concern for him and NFL teams. In 2023, he played in just eight games because of a knee injury that knocked him out. However, he came back this season and was an anchor of an excellent Clemson line. Tate’s biggest strength is his power run-blocking game.
Clemson’s Marcus Tate (LG #74) is a load. Clears the way on the backside pull to spring this massive run.
Tate’s also a steady pass protector who didn’t allow a sack last season. pic.twitter.com/8LbsosKiXq
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) August 1, 2024
He does a great job of getting to the second level to drive defenders down the field. He might not be as fast as some of the other guards in the draft, which is a bit of a knock, considering the Dolphins value speed. But if he stays healthy, Tate has the ceiling of an NFL starter, not bad for someone Miami can probably get in one of the last couple of rounds.
Tyler Cooper, Minnesota
We might look back in a couple of years and view Tyler Cooper as the best guard in the 2025 Draft. He might be a bit raw now, but if the Dolphins are looking for a project who could blossom into a high-end starter, look no further than this guy.
Minnesota OG Tyler Cooper and Florida OT Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson are a few likely Day 3 guys that I hope land with the right OL coach. They have the potential to be really good NFL players with a few adjustments.
— Josh Edwards (@EdwardsCBS) January 25, 2025
Coming out of high school, Cooper was basically unknown, ranked as a two-star recruit. It took him a while to get his footing with the Golden Gophers, but once he won the starting guard job in 2023, he never gave it back. He excels in the run game, but he also is a good pass-blocker who could become above-average with some more refinement in his technique. He has the length and lateral movement to allow him to succeed, even when he’s beaten off the line of scrimmage. Cooper also excels as a pulling guard.
The jumps he made in just a few years with P.J. Fleck should make the Dolphins excited about how good he can be in 2027 or 2028, after some more development. Miami will need to exercise patience with him, but if they are willing to do that, it could pay off big time.
Logan Brown, Kansas
Some players take longer than others to adjust, and for Logan Brown, it took until his sixth year in college football to become a full-time starter. Brown was a five-star recruit coming out of high school, and the talent was there, but getting hurt early in his career with the Wisconsin Badgers set him back.
Kansas RT Logan Brown is my favorite developmental tackle in this class. Excited to watch him at the Senior Bowl because there aren’t a lot of true pass sets in Kansas’ offense, but checks every box in terms of size/movement skills.
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) January 13, 2025
In terms of skill set, he’s one of the most gifted offensive linemen in this class, and his excellent mobility and speed fits perfectly in the Dolphins’ scheme. Brown’s pass protection is solid, but his run blocking is elite — arguably the best in the 2025 Draft. If it hadn’t been for injuries and one particularly bad season at Wisconsin, there may have been talk about Brown going in the first or second round.
Good news for the Dolphins, though: Brown didn’t become a full-time starter until his sixth season, meaning they can get him much later in the draft. That would allow them to get high upside later on after addressing other needs like cornerback, edge rusher, and wide receiver. Still, it’s important to not sleep on the guard position. Whether, it’s one of those three guys, or someone else, the Dolphins need to take a flyer on at least one late-round guard.
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