The trenches might not be the most glorious position on the field, but it’s the foundation that teams like the Miami Dolphins use to build on their game plans. A solid O-line or an elite team of pass rushers can spell the difference between winning the Super Bowl and bagging the top pick of the NFL Draft.
For the Miami Dolphins, they have already found their QB and built an offense that could keep up with the best the AFC has to offer. However, they need their defense to also be on par if they want to make the Super Bowl.
This is probably what the Dolphins are looking for when they are linked with Texas Longhorns DT T’Vondre Sweat. The giant defensive tackle is one of the most exciting defensive rookies in the 2024 NFL Draft, and he could become the long-term solution to their lacking defensive line.
T’Vondre Sweat could be the defensive lineman the Miami Dolphins need
Sweat has steadily boosted his reputation as a talented defensive lineman ever since his sophomore year with the Longhorns. He’s steadily gained playing time, eventually winning the right to play in almost every game during his final season with the team.
Sweat became an indispensable defensive asset for Texas in 2023. In the 14 games he’s played, he completed 18 solo tackles, made eight tackles for loss, sacked the opposing QB twice, and completed four pass deflections.
He even showcased a bit of offensive versatility: he was the target recipient for a trick play, netting two yards and a touchdown.
The Palm Beach Post’s Joe Schad gave an encouraging scouting report on T’Vondre Sweat that would make any Miami Dolphins fan want him on their team:
According to various scouting reports, Sweat is “massive,” “powerful,” “dominant,” “violent” and “suffocating.”
Those are all things Miami’s defense could really use in 2024.
Some have compared Sweat to Eagles defensive tackle Jordan Davis, a first-rounder from Georgia who checked in at 6-foot-6, 336 pounds.
Some have also questioned if Sweat, because of his gargantuan size, can play snap after snap at a consistently high level in the NFL.
“As you saw this past year, I did what I had to do,” Sweat said. “Y’all will see what I do at the next level.”
If the Miami Dolphins do select him with their first-round pick, they will have a powerful tackle that could plug holes in their run defense as well as add pressure to opposing QBs.
