After what can only be described as a monster off-season, the Miami Dolphins find themselves with a ton of buzz surrounding the organization. Between the signing of Terron Armstead, who entered this year's free agency as the no.1 tackle on the board, and the unforgettable moment when Tyreek Hill was traded from Kansas City to Miami, it's almost hard not to talk to talk about the AFC East team in Florida. Add in the intriguing 5th overall draft pick at quarterback who's entering his third year, and people want to see what this roster can really do.
With all eyes on the offense, it's easy to overlook other areas; Specifically, the defense.
While the offense certainly houses players who deserve to be praised, so does the opposite side of the ball. That said, it's time to give those overlooked defensive pieces their flowers as well.
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Dolphins' Hidden Gems On 2022 Roster
2. S, Jevon Holland
When it comes to the Dolphins' secondary, there are two names that get the attention: Byron Jones, and Xavien Howard. Jevon Holland, entering his second-year this upcoming season, must be on your '22 watchlist.
When it comes to Holland, he has all the tools to become an elite player. In fact, per one NFL executive, the '21 rookie is already in that category.
“Given what he has to do, he's already there.”
Pro Football Focus gave the rookie a lot of love last season, ranking Holland 7th league on their list of best coverage free safeties. This makes sense, as coverage was a big reason Holland received a PFF grade of 84.7 – The fourth-highest safety grade leaguewide.
There's a reason NFL affiliates think so highly of the former Oregon safety. During his rookie year, he was able to break up 10 passes, and take an additional 2 the other way. The ball skills are just one piece of the puzzle; Holland showcased excellent pass rushing skills from his safety position, recording 2.5 sacks with 7 quarterback hits.
Even still, there's more to like with Holland. With 2 forced fumbles and 3 fumbles recovered, the NFL has a potential turnover machine on its hands. If you haven't taken note the Dolphins' safety yet, now is the time to do so. The cornerback duo of Jones and Howard deserves the love they get, but so does Holland.
1. LB, Andrew Van Ginkel
Entering his fourth-season in the NFL, Van Ginkel is one of the lesser appreciated linebackers leaguewide. The versatile linebacker got his first chance as a starting player in 2021, where he started 11 contests. Through the season, Van Ginkel recorded 3 forced fumbles, 4 pass breakups, and a defensive touchdown on a fumble recovery. Proving his versatility, the former 5th-round draft pick posted 5.5 sacks.
The effort was there on special teams as well, blocking a punt against the Chargers in a week-10 faceoff. For his efforts through the '20 season, Van Ginkel earned a PFF grade of 79.3.
This past year, the 27-year-old in Miami did well to follow up on his impressive '20 performance. Van Ginkel logged 7 pass defenses, in addition to a fumble he had forced. The sack total was there as well, taking down opposing quarterbacks on 4 occasions.
While Van Ginkel totaled a lower sack total from the year prior, the Wisconsin alumni actually doubled his quarterback hits, going from 10 to 20. The total tackles was another unmistakable difference, recording 48 in 2020, and jumping to 71 during his '21 campaign.
The pair will get a chance to continue building on their young careers, and if they continue in the right direction, we could be looking at two household names.
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