Ollie Gordon II went into 2024 with high expectations after what he did in 2023. But it turned into a disappointing season for the running back and Oklahoma State.
He rushed for 852 fewer yards and scored eight fewer rushing touchdowns in 2024 than in 2023, and his draft stock slipped. The Cowboys went 3-9.
On Saturday, the Dolphins drafted Gordon in the sixth round, using the 179th overall pick on him.
He joins a running backs room that includes De’Von Achane, Alexander Mattison and Jaylen Wright.
Gordon won the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s best running back after his sophomore season when he rushed for 1,732 yards and scored 21 touchdowns on 285 carries in 14 games. In 2024, he had 190 carries for 880 yards and 13 touchdowns.
As a receiver, Gordon made 80 receptions for 585 yards and four touchdowns in three seasons.
The Texans have used a third-round pick in 2026 to help acquire a running back this year.
Houston sent No. 179 and a 2026 third rounder to Miami in exchange for No. 116 and No. 224 in 2025.
With the 116th pick, Houston selected Woody Marks out of USC.
Marks, 24, spent his first four seasons at Mississippi State before transferring to USC for his final collegiate year. Back in 2021, he caught 83 passes for 502 yards while playing for Mike Leach.
In 2024, Marks rushed for 1,133 yards with nine touchdowns and caught 47 passes for 321 yards for the Trojans.
He now joins a running backs room currently led by veteran Joe Mixon.
The Dolphins saw a player they wanted at No. 37 and jumped up the board to get him.
Miami moved up from No. 48 in order to select offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea. The Dolphins drafted defensive lineman Kenneth Grant in the first round.
The Dolphins sent the 98th and 135th picks to the Raiders, who also sent the 143th pick to Miami in the deal.
Savaiinaea started at guard and tackle during his time at Arizona, but he was announced as a guard on the stage in Green Bay on Friday night. Miami signed former Steelers guard James Daniels as a free agent and they have Liam Eichenberg back from last year’s squad.
The Dolphins beefed up their defensive line in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Miami selected Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant with the 13th overall pick.
The 6-foot-4, 331-pound Grant has a big presence in the interior of the defensive line and should make a difference to the Dolphins’ run defense right away.
Grant looks like something of a reach for the Dolphins, as few people expected him to go in the first half of the first round. But Miami likes what it sees in a player who adds some toughness and physicality to their defense.
The Dolphins have a new No. 2 quarterback. And he’ll be wearing a new number in Miami.
Zach Wilson’s number will be 0.
He’s the second quarterback to wear the number. Marcus Mariota picked it last year in Washington, the second season in which 0 became a jersey option. Mariota picked it as a “reminder” that "[p]eople don’t think I can do it anymore.”
Wilson inevitably will be asked about his decision to don the only non-positive number on the menu of options. Until, that is, the NFL comes to its senses and embraces a return of 00, worn in the past by players like center Jim Otto and receiver Ken Burrough and halfback/defensive back Steve Bagarus.
Whatever the number, the real question is whether Wilson become the third quarterback since 2013 who busted with the Jets before thriving elsewhere, whether in Miami or his next destination.
