Miami Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan spoke to the media regarding the team's picks thus far, and his promise that the roster would get bigger and stronger.
Regardless of how anyone views what the Miami Dolphins have been doing thus far in the draft, there is one thing that rings true. New general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan promised that the roster would get bigger and stronger, which has been a theme through the team's picks thus far.
After taking the 6-foot-6 lineman out of Alabama in Kadyn Proctor, Sullivan and the front office continued that trend by bringing in big body receivers in Caleb Douglas and Chris Bell. When speaking to the media regarding the picks thus far, the Dolphins' general manager let it be known he is aiming for a "size advantage."
"Yeah, I mean, you know, I think we've done well and and we've been intentional uh in making sure that uh who we've added, regardless of the position, have met the measurable requirements, but you know, we've also we want to make sure we're adding good football players that have the measurables. You know, that's first and foremost. They got to be able to play," Sullivan said regarding the bigger bodies taken thus far.
Proctor may not have been at the top of the wishlist for Dolphins fans, but his massive 350 pound frame sent a clear message: Miami wants players that can play bully ball.
In terms of the wide receivers taken as well, Douglas is 6-foot-3, and over 200 pounds. The same goes for Bell, who comes in at nearly 6-foot-2, and is over 220 ponds.
Those two receivers alone go completely against the grain of what the Dolphins have had offensive wise over the past three to five seasons. Both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle were smaller, but speedy receivers.
Now, it appears the Dolphins want players that can make a play on the ball. With the deep ball potential of Malik Willis, getting bigger in the pass catching department makes a ton of sense.
As much as Sullivan's picks might be criticized there is a growing theme in that the Dolphins are taking players they like, not players they "should" be drafting. Douglas was a prospect viewed way below the likes of Zachariah Branch, Chris Brazzell II, and Ja'Kobi Lane, all of whom were taken after.
Even the pick of Jacob Rodriguez was a bit out there for most analysts, simply because the Dolphins did not have a deep need for inside linebacker with Tyrel Dodson and Jordyn Brooks in the building.
Regardless, Sullivan and company took a player who won nearly every postseason college award in Rodriguez. The Texas Tech Red Raider received a personal message from Brooks, who was more than excited to see a fellow alum joining the team.
Sullivan also had a simple message for the addition of Rodriguez.
"Iron sharpens iron. You know what I mean? And and uh anybody in this building that is afraid of competition or doesn't welcome it or embrace it shouldn't be here," Sullivan said.
Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley have been adamant about finding players who fit the new bill of being bigger, stronger, passionate, and more violent in the ways of football. That includes those who are of a bigger stature.
"Yeah, I've told you from the jump, it's important to me that this team looks a certain way and moves a certain way. And I believe it's a big man's game. That's not to say that there's not really good players in the league that are on the smaller side...we know that there's a lot of them, but uh yeah, we want to build this team big, physical at all positions and have a size advantage," Sullivan said.