Top 25 Miami Dolphins players countdown: No. 6 is Jevon Holland

This is The Palm Beach Post's Top 25 countdown of Dolphins players entering the 2022 season. We'll reveal multiple players each week throughout the summer, as ranked by our reporters using the simple criteria of — who's the better player right now?

Dolphins free safety Jevon Holland was the only AFC player with multiple sacks, interceptions and fumble recoveries in 2021.

And Holland did it as a rookie.

A second-round pick from Oregon, Holland flashed outstanding ball skills, tracking ability and a willingness to make physical plays in both the passing and rushing games.

Holland possesses Pro Bowl talent.

"He really gets better every day," linebacker Jerome Baker said last year. "If he just keeps doing what he’s doing, he’s going to be one of the best safeties in this league."

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Holland played in 16 games as a rookie, with 13 starts.

He tied for third on the team with 47 tackles and added 2.5 sacks, 7 quarterback hits, 2 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries and 10 passes defensed.

Holland even returned 12 punts.

"I think he’s mature beyond his years," former Dolphins coach Brian Flores, who did not often shower compliments, said of Holland last season.

Why we ranked Jevon Holland 6th

Holland has exceptional range, as demonstrated by an end zone interception of Tyrod Taylor in Week 9 last season.

And Holland has exceptional speed and instincts, showing up with a sack of Lamer Jackson in Week 10.

Memorably, Holland blitzed Lamar Jackson 21 times in a nationally-televised victory.

"He’s doing a phenomenal job for us blitzing," Emmanuel Ogbah said.

And Holland is a ball hawk. He is close with star cornerback Xavien Howard, even shadowing him at the Pro Bowl last season.

"He can do everything back there," Howard said. "When the ball in the air, it’s either his ball or my ball. That’s how we play on the back end, me and him."

Where we see Jevon Holland headed

Holland should be a Pro Bowl candidate as early as 2022.

He is incredibly athletic, instinctive and cerebral.

Coaches say Holland is diligent, asks the right questions, puts in extra work, holds himself accountable and retains information.

Teammates cite Holland's natural leadership skills.

How many NFL players can cover like a corner and hit like a linebacker?

Holland is the type of player who fires up teammates, and fans, and can make game-changing plays whether blanketing center field or blitzing the opponent.

Holland is Miami's best safety since Reshad Jones. And he has the potential to blossom into a great all-time Dolphin.

Joe Schad is a journalist at the Palm Beach Post part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at jschad@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Dolphins Top 25 players summer countdown includes Tua Tagovailoa