The number of Miami Dolphins on PFF's Top 25 under 25 will likely surprise you
MIAMI GARDENS - Only one Miami Dolphins player made the Top 25 Players Under 25 list in the NFL as chosen by Pro Football Focus.
Who is that player?
Jevon Holland was the only Miami Dolphin to make PFF's Top 25 Players Under 25.
Holland, a safety, was ranked 17th.
"Even though he missed time due to injury, Holland bounced back well in 2023 following a somewhat disappointing sophomore season," explained PFF. "After 12 weeks, Holland was the NFL’s highest-graded safety overall (91.2) and the top coverage player at the position (90.7). He has the potential to be one of the best safeties in the league over the next couple of seasons if he can avoid injuries."
Holland has only one season left on his contract.
Tua Tagovailoa is under contract for 2025 because as a first-round pick, Miami holds his fifth-year option.
The same is true for edge rusher Jaelan Phillips and Jaylen Wadddle.
But Holland was a high second-round pick. So Miami controls his rights for only four seasons.
That's why many NFL teams try to trade back into the bottom of the first round for a specific player.
Will the Dolphins pay big bucks to keep a safety, which is generally not a position priority?
Jevon Holland contract seems on pause at moment
Even Holland said this week he understands Miami has to take care of Tua first.
The only other defensive backs in the Top 25 of players under 25 are: #2 Sauce Gardner, Jets, #5 Kyle Hamilton, Ravens, #10 Trent McDuffie, Chiefs, #13 Patrick Surtain, Broncos and #23 Derek Stingley, Texans.
Holland has one interception last season and has five in three career seasons.
According to Pro Football Reference, Holland has seen a decrease in touchdowns allowed each season: 4 to 3 to 2.
Holland also had his best passer rating allowed in 2023: 99.3.
What about Jaelan Phillips and De'Von Achane?
Dolphins edge rusher Jaelan Phillips is 24 and if he wasn't coming off an Achilles injury, he'd probably be on this list.
Dolphins running back De'Von Achane is 22 and if he had enough carries to quality in rushing leader statistics as a rookie, he may have made this list.
Jaylen Waddle, 25, is no longer eligible.
Tua Tagovailoa, 26, is no longer eligible.
Miami's best players may be Tyreek Hill and Jalen Ramsey.
But they're 30 and 29, and thus, also ineligible.
The Detroit Lions' future looks bright.
They have an improbable five players on the list: #1 Penei Sewell, #6 Aidan Hutchinson, #11 Amon Ra-St. Brown, #19 Sam LaPorta and #21 Jahmy Gibbs.
Joe Schad is a journalist covering the Miami Dolphins and the NFL at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com and follow him on Instagram and on X @schadjoe. Sign up for Joe's free weekly Dolphins Pulse Newsletter. Help support our work by subscribing today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Jevon Holland is only Miami Dolphins player on PFFs Top 25 under 25
