DAVIE, Fla. – The Miami Dolphins are not making the journey for first-round pick Laremy Tunsil easy.

Laremy Tunsil is learning fast that things are different in the NFL. Steve Mitchell/USA TODAY Sports

The team was ecstatic to land Tunsil, once considered perhaps the best player in this year's draft, at No. 13 overall after his stock fell due to off-field concerns. But despite Tunsil’s credentials, he has been up and down so far in spring practices and during the first week of training camp. Tunsil is learning a new position at left guard, where he is expected to be the Week 1 starter. But he’s made several mental and physical errors that have kept him mostly on the second team behind incumbents Dallas Thomas and Billy Turner.

There also is no letup from the Dolphins' defense. This week, for example, when Tunsil lined up at guard he faced four-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh for several reps. When Tunsil moved to left tackle, his natural position, he had to block Cameron Wake, who beat him fairly easily on Monday for a sack coming off the edge.

“When you’re getting to go against our defensive line, whether it be the first team or their second team ... you’re getting a quick lesson on what the NFL’s really about,” Dolphins coach Adam Gase said.

Tunsil, who went to Ole Miss, knows he never faced a player like Suh in the SEC.

“Suh’s a man now,” Tunsil said, laughing. “He’s a man. That’s a good person to go against. He’s one of the best in the game, so if you continue to go against him, you’re going to be one of the best in the game also.”

Tunsil feels he is improving but says he’s not going to rush anything. Yes, he is Miami’s first-round pick and the Dolphins need him as soon as possible after they allowed 45 sacks last season. But Tunsil also is in Miami for the long term. He could eventually go back to his natural position of left tackle, perhaps as soon as next year, and it’s important that he gain confidence and be successful with his rookie assignment, no matter the position.

“Right now, for him, it’s mental,” Gase said. “We just got to keep bringing him along. Obviously when you go against veteran players – the defensive line – those guys do a great job of setting things up. So when you haven’t seen certain things, they start picking on you when you’re a guy with little experience.”