Dolphins meet with several top defensive tackles, edge rushers at NFL scouting combine

INDIANAPOLIS Whether veteran defensive tackle Calais Campbell returns to the Miami Dolphins or not, they could use an infusion of talented youth on the defensive line.With 10 picks in the coming NFL draft, the Dolphins are sure to address that need in late April, and there are plenty of quality defensive line prospects to snag in this class.Versatile Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Stewart is a South Florida native and Miami Monsignor Pace High alum.

Speaking at the NFL scouting combine at Indiana Convention Center on Wednesday morning, he revealed he was a Dolphins fan growing up.Of course, he said.

Jarvis Landry all the way.In a deep defensive line class, Stewart could be a mid-to-late first-round pick.

He can line up in different spots on the line at 285 pounds, able to play the edge with his hand in the ground and come inside to play the 3-technique, lining up between the offenses guard and tackle.Stewart met with the Dolphins at the combine, and the idea of returning to South Florida to help his hometown team appeals to him, if Miami, holding on to the No.

13 pick in the first round, were to take him.It would mean a lot, said Stewart, who has felt the pain of Dolphins fans over the years.

My No.

1 goal, for whatever team I go to, is to have more wins than the year before.

Miami, I feel like we havent been winning in a very long time, so to go back to the city and turn it around, I feel like thats a very big honor.Some believe the Dolphins could take the first offensive guard off the board, likely Alabamas Tyler Booker, but if they went defensive tackle in the draft, Michigans Kenneth Grant and Ole Miss Walter Nolen are other possibilities Miami is surely surveying at the combine this week.Related ArticlesMiami Dolphins | Chris Perkins: Armsteads pay cut offer, McDaniels candor sets tone for Dolphins at combineMiami Dolphins | Dave Hyde: Why the Dolphins should trade Tyreek HillMiami Dolphins | Dolphins McDaniel says Tyreek Hill didnt get Wes Welker fired; star WR had wrist surgeryMiami Dolphins | Dolphins operating as if Armstead wont return; McDaniel dishes on O-line, Hollands free agencyMiami Dolphins | Chris Perkins: Youth movement in 2025 is Dolphins best hope for final Super Bowl run with this core groupGrant is a beefy nose tackle, weighing upward of 340 pounds, but he noted Wednesday how athletic he is for his size.

Nolen could present more of a three-technique, do-it-all type of defensive line prospect.The Dolphins went edge rusher at the top of last years draft in selecting Chop Robinson.

It wouldnt be out of the realm of possibility to choose another one early this year, with uncertainty surrounding Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips as they return from major knee injuries.Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams, who figures to go in the first round, is another prospect to meet with the Dolphins.After meeting with coach Mike McDaniel, Williams called him a good coach and said of his personality, I loved it.Miami Hurricanes defensive end Tyler Baron, who could be a Day 2 selection in the second or third round, also talked about time spent with Miami at the combine.Transferring to UM from Tennessee, he found value in playing for the Hurricanes, with his home games at Hard Rock Stadium.My time in Miami probably was one of the most pivotal times for me, was a time where I really grew up in a lot of ways and got more consistent, Baron said.

But I also feel like I kind of tightened my habits up, and coach (Mario) Cristobal did a great job of kind of leading me in that direction.Baron had Dolphins Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor as his position coach last season at Miami.JTs a really knowledgeable person, so I think the game I got from him really was invaluable, and Im really appreciative of it, he said.Top player experienceThe Dolphins again ranked No.

1 on the NFL Players Associations report card for player experience in the league.Miami received an A or A-plus in all 11 categories from the NFLPA survey.

The team ranked first in seven of those: Food/dining area, training room, training staff, weight room, strength coaches, team travel and ownership.The also were second in nutritionist/dietician, third in treatment of families, fourth in locker room and sixth in head coach rankings.This story will be updated..

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