The fifth-round of the NFL draft has historically proven to be a good spot for the Miami Dolphins to find linebackers.
There was Bryan Cox, a three-time Pro Bowler who was selected No. 113 overall in 1991. Five years later, the Dolphins one-upped themselves by finding Hall of Famer Zach Thomas at No. 154 overall. More recently, Miami found Andrew Van Ginkel at No. 151 overall in 2019.
The Dolphins will hope Mohamed Kamara can follow in those footsteps.
Miami used the No. 21 overall pick in the first-round to take Penn State’s Chop Robinson, but double-downed at the position by adding the Colorado State alum in Day 3.
Kamara, who enters the NFL following a 13-sack season for Colorado State, has the chance to learn from free agent addition Shaq Barrett, another CSU alum with a lot of pass rushing experience.
Kamara totaled 30.5 sacks in his five collegiate seasons and 21.5 over the last two, as well as 45.5 career tackles for loss. All those plays in the backfield earned him Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year honors in his last season.
While a tad undersized by NFL standards at 6’1, 248 pounds, he makes up for it with strength, speed, and ferocity. All those elements make for fan-favorite potential. He’s a project to refine, but Kamara has a solid foundation for new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver to build on.
Kamara’s 4.57 40-yard dash time was third among edge rushers at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, behind only Robinson (4.48) and another first-rounder, Dallas Turner (4.46).
All that’s left for Kamara is the production to justify his selection and solidify his spot on the next rung of fifth-round linebackers to succeed for the Dolphins. That’s easier said than done.
Miami already has a terrific duo of edge rushers in Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb. However, both are rehabbing injuries and will be returning for the Dolphins in 2024, but are beginning training camp on the PUP list. The newly added rookie duo of Robinson and Kamara adds to the depth.
When Phillips and Chubb both fully return, the Dolphins stand to have Robinson, Barrett, and Kamara in rotational roles. That means the rookies have a chance to make an early impact.
