Miami Dolphins continue to build the trenches on both sides of the ball

The Miami Dolphins continue to build the trenches on both sides of the ball through the drafts early rounds

The 2020 NFL Draft rounds two and three continued last night and the Miami Dolphins GM Chris Grier stood strong on his plan to remain diligent and non-flashy. Apparently the football team has just too many holes to trade some of the wealth to move around in any round thus far.

As the second round starts, there are a lot of talented names still available and I’m thinking GM Chris Grier is about to get creative and absolutely destroy these rounds with a spectacular splash. Again, I’m left appreciating the selections but very disappointed.

The second round starts and pick 39 slowly approaches and after watching D’Andre Swift and Xavier McKinney fall back to back two picks in front of the Dolphins, I start to wonder what the plan is here. There still is plenty of running backs and safeties to choose from so I start looking at what options are ready for the taking since both of these positions are a huge need for the Dolphins.

The Miami Dolphins select Robert Hunt Tackle/Guard from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. This is a 6’5″ 323-pound offensive tackle, who is a multi-positional offensive lineman and a starter for all four years on the right side for the Ragin’ Cajuns. Robert Hunt had been battling a severe Groin injury that left him unable to finish his senior season and participate at the combine this year.

Hunt is what I would consider a mauler and a grinder, He was used in a very heavy running attack and does have some issues with his pass protection, which should be a fixable limitation the coaching staff can address. Hunt is a beast at run blocking and should excel at a right guard/tackle for the Dolphins offense.

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This was a great pick up as the Miami Dolphins continue to add beef to this once considered weakness of the team. It appears GM Chris Grier is looking to build a stellar line (finally) with youth and size to protect his new shiny QB of the future, and finally help one of the team’s biggest problems of the last few seasons.

I was actually wishing for the Dolphins to grab one of the running backs that were sitting there, good backs like Jonathan Taylor and J.K.Dobbins were there for the taking. But, a running back can’t run with no lanes in front of him.

Still early in the draft, the 56th pick slowly approaches and my anxiety starts to build because J.K. Dobbins, who has been linked to the Dolphins, is still available. I’m thinking GM Chris Grier is finally going to trade up and grab the running back that he spent a lot of time scouting. Instead, Grier waits, probable thinking he is going to fall into his lap, and then lightning strikes again and the Baltimore Raven select J.K. Dobbins with the 55th pick.

This is the third time a player expected to be picked by the Dolphins drops from the board right in front of them. I’m really curious what the logic is with all that ammo to not get creative and go get these players. They are not just wanted guys, they’re all in positions of need and above-average talent.

GM Chris Grier decides to select Raekwon Davis with his 56th pick, a 6’6″ 311-pound defensive lineman from the Alabama Crimson Tide. Davis is a leaner framed DL that really created some issues for offenses early in his collegiate career, but his production did slip a bit since.

Davis looks to be another project of sorts for this coaching staff to coach up and mold. He will definitely need to add a little mass to his frame but can be a dominant force on this defensive line. Davis will need some time though and most likely will be a rotation depth for the near future, but should turn into a fantastic player for the Miami Dolphins.

This was another curious pick and another selection that was a team need, but GM Chris Grier could have moved up and addressed another position with, in my opinion, better talent.

With the 70th pick in the draft GM Chris Grier was in prime position to move up a few spots and select Ashtyn Davis a safety from Cal. Again, another talented pick that had been on the list of players the team coveted, but another player to be selected right in front of GM Chris Grier.

Instead the team selected Brandon Jones a 5’11” 198-pound safety from Texas. Jones falls into the multi-positional mold that this regime continues to covet. He is yet another player in this year’s draft that brings injury concerns but should be able to be completely healthy whenever teams decide to practice.

There is some concern with over aggressiveness and lack of anticipating receiver routes, but a little coaching and Jones could develop into a solid safety. I did see a great reaction from head coach Brian Flores when this selection was made. This is a player he really liked and now gets to teach.

So overall the team still got better, but it could have been so much better with a little wheeling an dealing. I guess the body count seems to be more important than the flashy moves, which isn’t a bad thing, just a bit confusing. I know that you cannot address all these team needs in one draft, as they are looking pretty good for next years draft as well, but its hard to be patient.

There is still a lot of talent left on the board as this is a very deep draft and hopefully GM Chris Grier will continue on adding talent. The Dolphins are definitely not done yet and I would expect the scouting experience to pay off in these last round, as these are the rounds if your good, you find the hidden gems of the draft.

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