The Miami Dolphins roster a devastating pass-rush duo in Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips, but late-season leg injuries present rookie Mohamed Kamara with an opportunity to steal the spotlight in training camp.
Kamara, 24, was selected in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft after 13 sacks as a graduate student at Colorado State. He finished the 2023 season with 17 tackles for a loss and became the first Ram to win Mount West Defensive Player of the Year since fellow Dolphins’ pass rusher Shaq Barrett earned the award in 2013.
At 6’1, 250 pounds, Kamara earned 29 sacks over the last 36 games and was projected as a “designated pass rusher” before the draft. The Dolphins added Barrett in free agency and selected Chop Robinson in the first round of April’s draft. Still, reinforcements are needed when six different defenders had at least five sacks last season — and Zach Sieler is the only one currently projected to be available in Week 1 against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“I’m low to the ground, so I’m going to always use that,” Kamara said of his style back in May. “I’m quicker, too. Some guys have a longer length and longer strides and stuff like that. I’m quick and will put my hands on you fast.”
Christian Wilkins, Andrew Van Ginkel. and Emmanuel Ogbah will play on different teams in 2024 — that’s 20 sacks out the door. Kamara may not have the desired flexibility off the edge but walks into training camp with a clear mission — prove he can get to the quarterback.
“Make practice super, super hard so the games are easy,” Kamara said of his mentality. “Be relentless in practice so when you get to the game, you’re just letting yourself free. Fail, succeed, mess up in practice so when you get to the game, it’s easy and you’re just doing what you have to do.
“That’s just how I look at it, so I’m always going to be relentless in practice. That’s just how I am.”
The Dolphins selected Kamara No. 158 overall but people both inside and outside Miami didn’t expect to see the Colorado State standout drop so far.
“I’m a Mohamed Kamara fan, and there are teams around the league who feel exactly the same way. I don’t believe he’s getting out of day two, let’s put it that way,” NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said before the draft.
“We were kind of surprised he was there,” Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said in April. “It’s just how physical and how fast. The guy has a tremendous motor.
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Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images
“When you watch him play, he just plays hard. He’s relentless, his motor, and just loves football.”
Players like Robinson, Barrett, and recently-signed Calais Campbell are expected to help fill the void left by Phillips and Chubb, but Kamara has the traits to hit the ground running and make an impact as a third-down specialist early in his career.
“I’m never satisfied,” Kamara said. “I will never be satisfied. So if you want to call me short, watch out. If you didn’t believe in me, watch out. That’s just the type of person I am, that’s what keeps me going every day. I’m never going to be satisfied.”