The Dolphins continued building the offensive line with the acquisition of former Bears big man, Larry Borom. A fifth-round pick in 2021, Borom has appeared in 47 games with 27 starts, including reps at every position on the line except for center.
Big body, sweet feet
Typically, teams must choose one or the other (size or speed) when it comes to the offensive line. In Miami, with the team's penchant for outside zone, athleticism and the ability to get into space are paramount. The Dolphins have quietly collected a handful of players that can do that, but come equipped with imposing size – the latest of which is Borom.
After adding the 327-pound James Daniels, Miami inked the 335-pound Borom. His ability to down block in short spaces and move the pile should benefit Miami's short-yardage game. Poring through his tape, however, that feature is almost a secondary attraction to his game. His highlight reel is packed full of clips where he squares up defensive backs at the second level or on blocks near the sidelines.
These traits were on display at his 2021 Scouting Combine workout where he measured in the 85th percentile or better in his vertical jump (31 inches) and 40-yard dash (5.15). He accomplished those feats at a height and weight in the 80th percentile of offensive linemen.
Positional versatility
While 25 of his 27 starts came at tackle with the Bears, arguably his best tape was the 2022 start at left guard against the Buffalo Bills. Either way, he presents the Dolphins with options, and whether it's Head Coach Mike McDaniel, Offensive Coordinator Frank Smith or anybody on the offensive staff, cross-training at multiple spots is a necessity when it comes to game day. Teams can only dress 46 players, which usually means seven or eight active offensive linemen, so the ability to play multiple spots is critical.
The Dolphins roster, since the arrival of McDaniel, has had plenty of success utilizing players at multiple positions. Aaron Brewer and Connor Williams were both guards in previous spots before kicking inside to the pivot. Rob Hunt, Liam Eichenberg and Rob Jones were all college tackles who found their way inside.
Borom gives Miami options via his versatility. He played guard and tackle at Missouri as well.
Underdog mentality
Regular attendees to a Mike McDaniel press conference have heard the phrase, "if you're not getting better, you're getting worse." That phrase might as well be Borom's mantra; a never-satisfied approach that he learned from an early age.
"I had to watch my mom work seven days a week," he said. "So I knew I had to go out there and do something. That's kind of where it stemmed from, watching her be a waitress and just really put herself in a position to try and bring our household up. I had to do everything I could to try and make something.
"I'm never really satisfied with anything. Since I was little, I've always been an underdog kind of person; always have had a battle uphill. I always have to have a chip on my shoulder."
Pre-Engineering Major at Missouri
One of the most underrated aspects of playing offensive line is the intelligence and processing power; it's a non-negotiable to contend with all the athletic rushers the NFL has to offer. Zone schemes call for pristine communication and the ability to think on the fly. Borom has been praised by coaches and teammates for his ability to pick up football concepts quickly – perhaps that's a relatively routine task for someone who majored in pre-engineering at Missouri.
High school hoops star
The size-athleticism combination origins trace back to Borom's skill set on the hardwood. At Brother Rice High School in Metro Detroit, he averaged 9.3 points per game and 7.2 rebounds per game.
He also has his own Twitch channel (RealLarryB) where he challenges fans to take him on in NBA2K.
For more information on Larry Borom and the entire Dolphins 2025 free agency class, download the Drive Time Podcast with Travis Wingfield, available wherever you get your podcasts.
