Miami plans to bounce back in 2025 by anchoring a tougher, more disruptive defense behind Kenneth Grant, the Michigan interior defender drafted at No. 13 in 2025. Grant is projected to be the linchpin for a unit aiming to wreak more havoc up front, pairing with Zach Sieler to improve the run game and create space for a reeling secondary to breathe.

With Christian Wilkins gone, the interior gains a new centerpiece as the front shifts toward quick disruption and run-stuffing from the middle. Injuries and departure in the secondary — notably Jalen Ramsey — heighten the need for front-end pressure to keep passers honest and help the vulnerable corners. The rookie’s development could determine whether the defense lands among the league’s frisky, competitive units in 2025.