The Best Front Seven in Football? Miami Dolphins Poised to Dominate in 2025

The Miami Dolphins’ front seven is shaping up to be a powerhouse in the 2025 NFL season, with a blend of proven veterans, emerging stars, and high-upside rookies under the guidance of defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver. With a mix of talent, depth, and favorable contracts, this unit has the potential to be the best in football. Featuring players like Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, Chop Robinson, Zach Sieler, Kenneth Grant, Jordyn Brooks, Tyrel Dodson, Willie Gay Jr., and rotational contributors like K.J. Britt, Grayson Murphy, Quinton Bell, Benito Jones, and Jordan Phillips, the Dolphins’ front seven combines athleticism, versatility, and relentless energy. Local media and players alike are buzzing about their potential, and for good reason. Let’s dive into why this group could redefine Miami’s defense and lead the team to its first playoff victory in over twenty years.

The Core of the Front Seven: Talent and Stats

Edge Rushers: Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, and Chop Robinson

The Dolphins’ edge rushers form a trio that could strike fear into opposing quarterbacks. Jaelan Phillips, a 2021 first-round pick, has shown flashes of brilliance despite injury setbacks. In his rookie season, he recorded 8.5 sacks, 42 combined tackles, and 16 quarterback hits in 17 games. Year 2? Even better, posting 7 sacks, 61 tackles (8 tackles for loss), and 25 quarterback hits. Injuries limited him to just 12 games over the past two seasons, but his return in 2025 is highly anticipated. Phillips’ explosive first step and ability to disrupt both the pass and run games make him a cornerstone of the defense. His 2025 cap hit is $13.2 million, a bargain for his potential, though the Dolphins are considering an extension that could help clear up some space.

Bradley Chubb, acquired in a 2022 trade, brings veteran savvy and proven production. In 2023, before a torn ACL sidelined him, Chubb notched 11 sacks, 73 tackles, and 22 quarterback hits in 16 games. His leadership and mentorship of younger players like Chop Robinson add intangible value. Chubb’s 2025 cap hit is $12.3 million, but his impact justifies the cost, especially if he returns to pre-injury form.

Chop Robinson, a 2024 first-round pick, emerged as a breakout star in his rookie season, posting 6 sacks and a 21% pass-rush win rate, the highest by a rookie since Micah Parsons in 2021. His speed and relentless motor make him a perfect complement to Phillips and Chubb. Robinson’s cap hit is $3.4 million in 2025, a steal for a player with All pro potential. Local media, including Cameron Wolfe, have dubbed him a “future DPOY candidate,” highlighting his ability to disrupt offenses.

Defensive Tackles: Zach Sieler and Kenneth Grant

Zach Sieler has quietly become one of the NFL’s most consistent interior defenders. In 2023 and 2024, he recorded back-to-back 10-sack seasons, a rare feat for a defensive tackle, along with 55 combined tackles and 13 tackles for loss in 2024. His first career interception and touchdown in 2023 further showcased his playmaking ability. Sieler’s $12.4 million cap hit in 2025 is 31st among interior defensive linemen, and hos production far outweighs that, an extension for Sieler is looming.

Kenneth Grant, a 2025 first-round rookie, brings size (6’3”, 339 lbs) and raw potential to the interior. Starting 17 games and totaling 69 tackles, 11.5 tackles for a loss, 6.5 sacks, three fumble recoveries and an interception. Grant showed his ability to clog running lanes and collapse pockets which will perfectly complement Sieler. Grant’s cap hit is $3.9 million, making him a cost-effective addition with immediate impact potential. General manager Chris Grier sees him as a plug-and-play starter.

Inside Linebackers: Jordyn Brooks, Tyrel Dodson, and Willie Gay Jr.

Jordyn Brooks, acquired in 2024, had a career year with 143 tackles (numbers Dolphins fans haven’t seen since Zach Thomas), along with 3 sacks and 11 tackles for loss. His ability to direct the defense and stop the run makes him so essential to the defense’s success. Brooks’ $11.1 million cap hit in 2025 will be well worth it, and I expect a C to be place on his chest.

Tyrel Dodson, a mid-2024 acquisition, quickly established himself as a playmaker with 26 tackles and 3 interceptions in 8 games (3 starts) with Miami. His speed and instincts bolster the linebacker corps. Dodson’s $2.5 million cap hit is a bargain for a starter.

Willie Gay Jr., signed to a minimum-salary deal in 2025, brings versatility and experience with 55 starts in 72 games over five seasons. In 2024 with the Saints, he recorded 28 tackles and 2 sacks. His ability to cover and blitz adds flexibility, and his low $1.2 million cap hit is a steal. All local reporters have noted Gay’s playmaking in OTAs and minicamp, signaling his potential impact.

Rotational Depth: K.J. Britt, Grayson Murphy, Quinton Bell, Benito Jones, and Jordan Phillips

The Dolphins’ depth is equally impressive. K.J. Britt, a backup linebacker, offers durability and athleticism, with 72 tackles in 2024. His $1.1 million cap hit makes him a cost-effective reserve. Grayson Murphy, an undrafted rookie, showed promise in 2024 OTAs and ultimately missed 2024 due to injury, he looks to regain a spot on this roster. Quinton Bell, a special teams standout, contributed 27 tackles and 1 sack in 2024, with a $1 million cap hit. Benito Jones, with 24 tackles last season, ate up a lot of snaps and provides interior depth at $1.5 million. Then rookie Jordan Phillips shows untapped potential and gets to learn behind some great pass rushers (Zeek Biggers aswell).

Why This Front Seven Could Be the NFL’s Best

Elite Pass Rush

The trio of Phillips, Chubb, and Robinson could combine for 30+ sacks if healthy, as each has shown double-digit sack potential. Sieler’s interior pressure and Grant’s emerging presence create constant pressure for quarterbacks and offensive lines around the league. This pass rush will be a nightmare for any offensive gameplan. Weaver’s scheme, which emphasizes aggressive pass rushing, versatility, and creativity will maximize their impact.

*Don’t forget Weaver’s crafty ability to send defensive backs off the edge, expect a few interceptions from this group as well.

Run Defense Dominance

Sieler and Grant anchor the interior, clearing lanes for Brooks and Dodson to stop elite running backs, and ultimately limit those big gains. If Chop continues to show growth setting the edge and Phillips and Chubb return to form, it will be hard to get by this front. Brooks’ 143 tackles and Dodson’s quick adaptation highlight their run-stopping prowess, while Britt and Gay show great tackling instincts and fly all over the field.

Depth and Versatility

With players like Gay, Britt, Bell, and Murphy, the Dolphins can rotate without losing effectiveness. I have yet to mention the potential development of Mo Kamara, who has shown flashes of being a threat off the edge.

Favorable Contracts

The front seven’s combined cap hit is approximately $60 million. Cost-effective deals for almost the entire front seven as they all play above their contracts. Many have an extension looming and it will be interesting to see how contract talks playout.

Local Hype and Player Confidence

The local media has taken notice off some of the new guys at camp like Willie Gay Jr. who has been flying around the field, he will get his own article in the coming days.

Here are some quotes from the team regarding the excitement with this group.

“I don’t even know the staters at edge are but Chop (Robinson)?… S***… He’s a dawg, man.” – Dolphins LB Willie Gay

Jaelan Phillips talking about Chop Robinson: “I truly feel like Chop is going to be one of the best players in the league soon. … He’s a future Defensive Player of the Year candidate.”

“He’s a natural leader as a person and a player. There is nothing Jordyn Brooks can’t do,” Willie Gay Jr.

Final Word

Simply put this is the Miami Dolphins best front seven in quite some time and as long as they stay healthy, they will be a nightmare for the entire NFL. From Jordyn Brooks all the way down to Quinton Bell there are playmakers flooding this room, they play fast, instinctually, and their versatile, perfect for Anthony Weaver’s defense. This group is deep, and they’re good, they know it, we know it, now its just time for the league to find out.