The Miami Dolphins may be a year ahead in their rebuild, but they will need to fill some big holes on this team in the upcoming draft
The Miami Dolphins are in an unfamiliar position with the playoffs on the horizon. Regardless of how this season ends up, Miami is still a draft or two from competing yearly with the likes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills for AFC supremacy.
For the second year in a row, Miami holds some considerable draft capital going into the 2021 draft which can help this team continue to bring in outstanding pieces on both offense and defense. Miami still needs some help, specifically on the offensive side of the ball, and should use a lot of that capital to help Tua Tagovailoa grow into his role as a franchise quarterback.
For this mock draft, I will be using the most up to date draft order and using Pro Football Networks mock draft simulator to get a better idea of where certain players will be going based on their algorithms. From there, I’ll make my decision based on what I believe is best for the team at their pick.
Let’s get started!
Round 1, number 6 overall: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU.
Over the first two years of the Brian Flores era, he has successfully rebuilt a poor defense into one of the NFL’s more dominant units. Now, he needs to spend some time building an offense that can keep up with this elite defense.
There is no debating that this offense has poor skill positions that need a serious upgrade. DeVante Parker has proven that he is a good receiver, but hasn’t been consistently great. Preston Williams has shown some upside but hasn’t seen the kind of jump that you want in a second-year guy. Lynn Bowden Jr. has shown flashes and Jakeem Grant, while a fun returner, isn’t a reliable passing catching threat. To summarize, this unit needs a boost.
In comes Ja’Marr Chase. Chase is a big, physical receiver who put up gaudy numbers at LSU. He could instantly improve a lackluster receiving corp and could easily work himself into the number one role, pushing Parker to the number two guy. Chase is the perfect receiver to pair with Tagovailoa who needs a good, young receiver to grow within his second year.
Barring a drop from someone like Micah Parsons, who I would take if he were there at 7, I see no reason that the Dolphins would pass up on what could bet the best receiver in this draft class.
The Miami Dolphins could look at defense with their 2nd pick in round one.
Round 1, number 21 overall: Joseph Ossai, Edge, Texas.
Everyone in the world is aware of the Miami Dolphins’ struggles on offense. Even though they got the top receiver in the draft, they still need an upgrade at running back, a more reliable interior offensive lineman, and, potentially, a second rookie receiver.
Travis Etienne is a great running back, who could instantly fill in as the starter on this team, but I’m not a fan of taking a running back at this point, despite Etienne’s potential. There are a couple of decent tackles on the board, but that isn’t a need this year since it was addressed last year.
The only real struggle on the defensive side of the ball this past season was the pass rush, which hasn’t been great outside of some decent sack numbers from Emmanuel Ogbah and Shaq Lawson. Miami needs another linebacker who can rush the passer at a quality rate, and Joseph Ossai could be the guy.
He is an athletic linebacker who is, according to many pundits, still raw. He seems like the perfect guy for Brian Flores, who can easily take Ossai and transform him to be a quality outside linebacker. The only lacking area in Miami’s defense has been its pass-rushing, and Ossai could fix that quickly.
Round two could provide the Miami Dolphins with their best RB in years.
Round 2, number 37 overall, RB, Alabama, Najee Harris
“Reunited, and it feels so good.”
Tua Tagovailoa is reunited with his running back from a year ago in Najee Harris, a quality running back who is big, physical, and exactly the opposite of what they already have in Myles Gaskin and Salvon Ahmed.
Miami’s running game has been weak all year, the most recent showing against the New England Patriots notwithstanding. They have ranked near the bottom of the league statistically and this has really hamstrung the offense’s ability to build consistent momentum in games. Myles Gaskin has played much better than anyone thought he would come into the season as he was generally regarded as the third running back on the depth chart. Salvon Ahmed has been good when not injured as well, but Najee Harris brings a physicality and strength that neither has.
I gambled earlier on not taking Etienne in the first round and I do believe that he is the better prospect. But getting Harris is not in any way “settling.” He could be an incredible compliment to Gaskin and Ahmed and help build a more consistent rushing attack that Tagovailoa can rely on to help him develop a bit as a quarterback.
The Miami Dolphins must upgrade the center position for the future.
Round 2, number 54 overall, C, Ohio State, Josh Myers
These first two rounds have been all about filling needs on this team with this flurry of early draft picks. In this mock, Miami has already found a premier receiver, a young, exciting pass rusher, and a great stud in a running back. Now, we’re going back to the part of the team that wins championships: the trenches.
Miami spent a lot of draft capital on offensive lineman last year. All of those picks (Austin Jackson, Solomon Kindley, and Robert Hunt) have played well, making the future bright for this offensive line. Adding one more piece to that young corp could only help, especially if it’s someone as solid as Josh Meyers.
Miami’s offensive line has been good and their center, Ted Karras, has been ok this season. Signed to a two-year deal last year, Karras is not the long term answer at center for this team that is exploding with young talent. Meyers could easily step in on day one and take the starting job from him and sure up one of the weaker positions on the offensive line this last year. If the Dolphins take him, and he’s a stud, then their offensive line could be set for years to come.
Tagovailoa should love that.
The Miami Dolphins could go safety again in 2021.
Round: 3, number 84 overall: Andre Cisco, S, Syracuse
This may not be the pick that makes the most sense for the Dolphins at this spot, but they already shored up a lot of the holes on this team with their first four picks. They don’t need a safety, but the fact that somebody with ball skills like Andre Cisco dropped is hard to pass up.
Miami’s safety tandem has been solid this season, with Eric Rowe continuing his success at shutting down tight ends and Bobby McCain and rookie Brandon Jones providing serviceable snaps on defense. But, it wouldn’t hurt to get an upgrade for McCain and Cisco could be that guy.
Cisco has versatility, lining up as a nickel cornerback at times, which could be enticing to Brian Flores. He is also a bit of a ball hawk, notching 12 interceptions in his freshman and sophomore seasons. He didn’t play much in his senior season due to injury, but if you pair him with the other ballhawk on this unit in Xavien Howard, opposing offenses won’t be able to pass on this team at all. For me, Cisco is a steal in the third round and could help this secondary duplicate it’s impressive 2020 form.