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Dolphins first-round pick Kadyn Proctor starting NFL career at guard
MIAMI GARDENS — It was a tough lesson to learn. But one rookies all over NFL training camps are experiencing right now.
And better it happens the first week of practice than the first week of the regular season.
On the final play of the Miami Dolphins' third practice, veteran defensive lineman Zach Sieler beat first-round pick Kadyn Proctor and had a clear shot at quarterback Malik Willis .
"Sieler's been doing this for a long time," the 12th-overall pick said about the nine-year veteran and longest tenured member of the Dolphins . "It's good for me to go against him because I'm learning a lot. How to keep my head out in pass pro, not give him my arm because he's really good at grabbing the arm and pulling himself through.
"I lost. I know that. I can accept that I'm going to lose some reps. But it's about how you learn from it."
At 21, Proctor is learning a lot, including what has been a position change during his initiation into the NFL. After three years as a pillar at left tackle on the Alabama offensive line, the 6-foot-7, 352-pounder is moving to left guard to start his professional career, despite all signs pointing to an eventual career at tackle.
And the Dolphins are not budging on their stance that this is where he will work exclusively during this camp and beyond, barring injuries or other circumstances that could force a move outside.
"He's going to start off with left guard and try to get good at one position," coach Jeff Hafley said. "I think that's fair to him and it's the best thing."
But then this from Hafley: "Ultimately, we need to do what's best for our team."
What is best for this team is a man the size of small tank with unique athletic ability start learning on the job. Proctor can play guard early on to help with the transition, but he should be getting reps at both spots.
After all, the Dolphins are starting this rebuild from the trenches on out, emphasizing physical play and toughness. And Proctor is one of those building blocks as much as anyone. Reps at tackle, even if only in practice, cannot hurt.
"You got to be able to play all five positions," Proctor says. "That's what I'm trying to do right now, just focusing on where I'm at right now so if I move out to tackle I'll be ready for it.
"But now, it's guard, that's what I'm focused on."
That's all he can say. And by all indications Proctor is taking advantage of the decision, learning how to play on the offensive line when "everything's a little closer."
"I wasn't too scared to let somebody get their hands on me because if I had my power hand, my right hand …," Proctor said about his time in college. "Now it's like, hey, I got to get a strike off because everything's happening way quicker in there."
Will Kadyn Proctor replace Austin Jackson at tackle next season?
The Dolphins will start the 2026 season with Patrick Paul (left) and Austin Jackson (right) at the tackles. The 6-7, 326-pound Paul is here to say. Jackson, though, took a pay cut to remain in Miami, agreeing to a one-year $7 million deal.
That likely means Jackson is in his final year with the Dolphins, and Proctor and Paul will be the foundational tackles while competing to see who protects the quarterback's blind side.
Paul is as much a mentor to Proctor as anyone.
"Encouraging him every day," Paul said. "He's definitely confident. He's big as ever. He's fast and he's a great football player. He's full speed. He's got it in him."
Proctor may have gotten schooled by the vet on the final play of Friday's practice, but he's not backing down. He sees it as a challenge, not only to get better, no matter what position he is playing, but also help the Dolphins defense improve.
"If I'm not doing my (job) then nobody's going to get better," he said. "I've got to push Sieler, too. Even though I'm 21 years old, I still have to push him, he has to get better, too. So I got to raise my level of play.
"These guys, they don't play around. They're fast, they're physical."
With training camp in its infant stages, and with Proctor three days into his first training camp, this is not the last lesson he will learn. And no matter how many times it happens, the big man will keep his head up, never doubting his ability to play in this league.
"I've experienced this since I was 17 years old," he said. "You let a bad play linger, it's going to keep going, keep going, and you're not going to have the success that you want. So it's kind of putting it behind you."
Tom D'Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Dolphins first-round pick Kadyn Proctor starting NFL career at guard
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