The Dolphins, looking to bolster their trenches, arranged pre-draft visits with one of the Southeastern Conference’s best guards and an under-the-radar defensive tackle.
Texas A&M guard Chase Bisontis met with Dolphins coaches and executives on Tuesday and Wednesday this past week, according to a league source. He’s an option for Miami’s pick at 43.
And Louisville defensive lineman Rene Konga is scheduled to visit the Dolphins in the days ahead. He’s a potential third-day pick.
Both count toward the Dolphins’ limit of 30 pre-draft visits. That limit only applies to players who did not grow up in South Florida or attend school here.
Bisontis, who is 6-5 and 313 pounds, played right tackle in 2023 and left guard the past two seasons. Keep in mind that this Dolphins regime values offensive linemen with position versatility.
ESPN’s Field Yates mocks Bisontis 37th in his mock draft, six spots before Miami’s second-round pick. Yates said Bisontis “has excellent hands, is an athletic redirector in pass protection and brings position versatility.”
NFL Network’s Charles Davis said he’s an immediate starter because of his “movement skills” in the run game and pass game.
NFL. com’s Lance Zierlein calls him “a tough, well-schooled guard. He lacks ideal length, but he brings heavy hands, good footwork and plus core strength to the table. He plays with ideal strain and stickiness to sustain blocks. He has plenty of nasty when he needs it, too. He’s consistent as a move/zone blocker and when working downhill.
“He can be outreached, stacked and shed when his hands aren’t first, though. While he provides poise and good technique as a run blocker, there are slight levels of anxiety/hurry in his pass protection, with his lack of length a contributing factor. In general, his protection meets the mark and pairs nicely with his run blocking. Bisontis projects as a future starter with plenty of upside.”
Konga is a more under-the-radar prospect. He played limited snaps in three years at Rutgers, collecting two sacks in 21 appearances.
He then played two years at Louisville, producing five tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks last season, giving him 11 TFLs and six sacks in five college seasons. The 6-4, 300 pounder, who grew up in Canada, was named second-team All ACC last season.
He’s the third known defensive tackle with a Dolphins 30 visit, joining Ohio State’s Kayden McDonald and Georgia’s Christen Miller.
Miami Herald
Barry Jackson has written for the Miami Herald since 1986 and has written the Florida Sports Buzz column since 2002.