"Among the 47 players who participated in Sunday's victory, 15 (32 percent) were third-year or younger. Rookie safety Dante Trader Jr., a 2025 fifth-round pick, is among those leading the way for the Dolphins' young players. Trader, who has made three starts, has been ready to go. He's becoming a core player in the secondary. His 35 tackles rank sixth on the team and his aggression is a welcome trait."
"And there's more good news about the Dolphins' youth movement, which has been emphasized and embraced this season. The Dolphins, who prioritized veterans in the previous three seasons, have had 19 draft picks in the past three years - four in 2023, seven in 2024, and eight in 2025. Among those, 12 were eligible to play Sunday, and all 12 played, and most fared well, perhaps offering a promising glimpse into the future."
"Coach Mike McDaniel hasn't been caught off guard by the success of the Dolphins' younger players. "To quote Denny Green," McDaniel said, referencing the former Arizona Cardinals coach whose postgame rant in 2006 remains a viral hit, "they are who we thought they were." Seven members of the Dolphins' eight-member 2025 draft class made contributions Sunday, all except quarterback Quinn Ewers, the seventh-round pick who was the emergency third quarterback and ineligible to play unless there was an injury at the position."
The Miami Dolphins featured substantial contributions from young players in the 30-13 win over the Buffalo Bills, with 15 of 47 participants being third-year or younger. Rookie safety Dante Trader Jr., a 2025 fifth-round pick, made three starts, recorded 35 tackles (sixth on the team), and is emerging as a core secondary player. The team has had 19 draft picks over the past three years, with 12 eligible to play Sunday and all 12 participating. Seven of eight 2025 draftees contributed, while several specific rookies logged significant snaps and tackles in the victory.
Read at Sun Sentinel
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