With the whirlwind of the National Football League’s free agency settling down, fans are turning their attention back to the 2025 NFL Draft and the myriad of mock drafts being constructed across the internet — including some from yours truly.
Today’s spotlighted mock draft comes from seasoned NFL Draft expert, ESPN’s Mel Kiper. Kiper, who has been analyzing the draft since 1984, is often hailed as the pioneer of mock drafting, making his insights highly valued. So, which player did Kiper choose for the Miami Dolphins in his Tuesday morning mock? He selected LSU’s offensive lineman, Will Campbell, but his reasoning might catch you off guard.
“Left tackle Terron Armstead will be 34 if he returns for the 2025 season, which is a significant if. He is contemplating retirement, and the Dolphins are planning as though he won’t return. Given the concussion and injury history of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, Miami should prioritize finding a successor for Armstead. Additionally, this team was ranked 28th in pass block win rate last season (55.7%), indicating a need for improvement.
Yes, Campbell’s arm length raises concerns. He measured 32⅝ inches at the combine, which isn’t perfect for an NFL offensive tackle. However, many tackles begin their careers at guard, and Campbell’s excellent footwork suggests a promising future despite his length limitations.” Selecting an offensive lineman with the 13th pick isn’t shocking, but Kiper projecting Campbell as Armstead’s successor at left tackle might be surprising, considering the Dolphins seemed to have already chosen that player in 2024’s second-round pick Patrick Paul.
Kiper does note that Campbell could start his career at guard, which would likely be the case if Miami were to draft him in the first round of the impending NFL Draft. We’ll discover in just over a month if ESPN’s chief draft analyst is correct in thinking Chris Grier will aim to further strengthen Miami’s offensive line after adding James Daniels and re-signing Liam Eichenberg this offseason.