Nick Saban Sings Praises as Dolphins Land Dominating DT
The Miami Dolphins didn’t just plug a hole in the middle of their defensive line on draft night — they plugged it with a 331-pound wrecking ball out of Michigan. With the 13th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Dolphins selected defensive tackle Kenneth Grant, a physically imposing force from the national champion Wolverines. Standing at six-foot-four and tipping the scales at 331 lbs, Grant has been widely viewed as one of the most dominant interior defenders in college football — and former Dolphins head coach Nick Saban wholeheartedly agrees. “I don’t ever remember, in all the time that I coached, playing against two more dominating guys inside than when we played Michigan with Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant,” Saban said. “You’re talking about power. You’re talking about athleticism. You’re talking about guys who play hard and compete well.”
That's high praise coming from the most decorated coach in college football history — a man who’s seen and coached it all. Saban isn't alone in this either. According to Dolphins general manager Chris Grier, as soon as Miami submitted the pick, his phone lit up. Three separate teams texted him immediately after the selection, each saying the same thing: “He was our guy.” Grant’s selection wasn’t just about adding talent — it was about fixing a glaring weakness. With only Zach Sieler and Benito Jones as reliable interior linemen under contract heading into the season, Miami’s defensive front lacked both depth and physicality. The trenches have been a soft spot — literally and figuratively — and that’s not a label a team with playoff aspirations can afford to carry.
Grant changes that dynamic immediately. He’s more than just size and strength. His burst off the snap, ability to eat double-teams, and relentless motor give the Dolphins a true difference-maker in the heart of their defense. “If you're Charmin soft up the middle in the NFL, you're not going to do anything,” one analyst quipped after the pick. “Grant gives them the grit and toughness they’ve been missing.” The Dolphins have been labeled “soft” by former players and insiders more than once in the past two seasons. It’s a narrative the organization is actively trying to rewrite, and bringing in a player like Kenneth Grant is a loud, physical statement.
He doesn’t just fill the stat sheet — he sets the tone. Some will question the value. Could the Dolphins have traded back and still landed Grant while adding picks? Possibly. There’s also something to be said for getting your guy when he’s there. In the war room, Miami clearly saw a player they weren’t willing to risk losing. The moment was about securing the future of their defense, and they weren’t going to let it slip away for the sake of draft capital.
The Dolphins are sending a message: no more softness in the trenches. With Kenneth Grant anchoring the middle, Miami’s defensive front just got a whole lot meaner — and a lot more respected. Between Nick Saban’s endorsement, league-wide interest, and an immediate need being filled, the Grant pick is hard to argue against. If his college dominance translates to the pros, the Dolphins might have just landed the future anchor of their defense — and a foundational piece for years to come.
