The Miami Dolphins waited until the fifth round of the 2025 NFL draft to address one of their biggest needs by selecting Florida Gators cornerback Jason Marshall Jr. with the No. 150 overall selection.
Miami currently finds itself in a tricky situation at the cornerback position. After releasing 2024 starter Kendall Fuller earlier this offseason, the team announced earlier in April that it’s trying to find a trade partner to move three-time All-Pro Jalen Ramsey.
For now, the likely starters on the outside at cornerback if Ramsey is traded will be some combination of Storm Duck, Cam Smith, Artie Burns, or Ethan Bonner. Marshall should ever chance to earn regular season reps, even as a fifth-round pick.
Before he begins his journey as an NFL player, here are five things to know about Marshall:
Marshall’s a Miami native
Marshall was born and raised in Miami, and attended Miami Palmetto High School. He played both offense and defense in high school but made his mark on the defensive side. Marshall also played basketball at Palmetto.
“It’s a surreal moment to be able to play back at home,” Marshall told reporters Saturday.
Marshall was a five-star recruit and chose to join the Florida Gators over a long list of offers, including the hometown Miami Hurricanes.
An impressive combine showed Marshall’s high ceiling
Marshall’s draft status was boosted by his impressive numbers at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine earlier this year. He recorded a 4.49 second 40-yard dash, 37.5-inch vertical, and 125-inch broad jump.
“Marshall has the size and athletic ability to tighten throwing windows in man coverage,” wrote The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. “But inconsistent reads and reactions are too common on tape. If NFL teams are convinced he is coachable, he is a worthy draft-and-develop candidate.”
Marshall’s athletic tools are clearly there; it’s just a matter of making the necessary improvements to compete at the NFL level.
Marshall attended Dolphins games as a kid
While Marshall says he never really had a favorite NFL team growing up, he won’t be setting foot in Hard Rock Stadium for the first time this fall.
“I went to a lot of Dolphins games,” Marshall said. “Being a little kid and just going to the stadium, sitting in the stadium seats and like, ‘Man, I’m dreaming to be here.’ And today that opportunity came up and now I’m going to be on the field.”
Marshall modeled his game after Jalen Ramsey
When asked about NFL corners he enjoys watching and studying, Marshall immediately pointed to a Dolphins star.
“In my books, No. 1 is Jalen Ramsey,” Marshall said. “Especially with his size, his strength and basically how he plays the game, I would say Jalen Ramsey. So I try to model my game somewhat after him.”
Ironically, the Dolphins are currently in a situation where trading Ramsey seems inevitable, which may have contributed to the selection of Marshall. While it would be a great feel-good story if Marshall were to learn from one of the league’s top corners, that scenario seems highly unlikely.
Marshall’s last season at Florida ended with an injury
Marshall was the Gators’ top rated recruit in 2021 and became a starter as a freshman. Through his first three years of college, he never missed a game due to injury. That good fortune ended last year when he suffered a season-ending labrum tear in his shoulder in October.
His year ended with a 71.2 grade from PFF, the highest of his collegiate career.
Marshall, who faced players like LSU duo Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr. in the SEC, finished his four years with the Gators with 98 tackles, two interceptions, and 25 passes defended.
