The Miami Dolphins will be one of the most interesting teams to follow this NFL Draft season, as they have two first-round picks and two second-round picks. Armed with those four premium picks, the Dolphins coaching staff, minus their vacant offensive coordinator position, will have a hands-on experience with a lot of prospective players while they coach the Senior Bowl. This will give their coaches a hands-on perspective of the players they get to work with, some of which have become popular among Dolphins’ fans wish lists.
Along with the draft picks, the Dolphins have been rumored to be in on the Houston Texans’ quarterback, Deshaun Watson, rumors. Trading for Watson will certainly change the entire dynamic of the draft for the Dolphins, but in my opinion, they should pass on trading for the disgruntled QB. Starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa may have not been great in his first NFL season, but he has the potential to be great. Potential can be a scary word when talking about the NFL, but Tagovailoa was dealt an unfair hand with a COVID-19 offseason and limited weapons. A full offseason as the Dolphins starter should do wonders for him, along with the Dolphins getting him some real weapons via the NFL Draft or free agency.
Free agency will give us a better understanding of where this team is going to go in the 2021 NFL Draft. However, it is never too early for a full 7-round mock draft for the Dolphins. This mock draft was completed using The Draft Network Mock Draft Machine, which I highly recommend for any NFL Draft junkies.
The Miami Dolphins trade Pick 3 to the Detroit Lions for Pick 7, Pick 39, Pick 71, Pick 111, and a 2022 2nd round pick.
This may be an unpopular opinion, but I feel the Dolphins would be smart to trade back from the 3rd pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
The Detroit Lions have not made it a secret that they are trading quarterback Matthew Stafford and looking for their new future early in the draft. With that thought, the Dolphins should use their No. 3 pick as bait to try and get a great deal from the Lions. The Dolphins would only have to move back 4 spots to Pick 7, but also pick up another 2nd, 3rd, and 4th round pick in the process, as well as a 2022 2nd-round pick too.
After making this deal, the Dolphins should sprint to the podium, as in this mock draft, Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver DeVonta Smith is on the board at No. 7. Imagine the Dolphins moving back, getting all those picks, and then still getting the best wide receiver in the draft. It would be insane, but it is entirely possible.
Smith has been under the microscope the last few days at the Senior Bowl due to his size concerns. Luckily for the Dolphins and their fans, Flores said this (via Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald):
Flores on DeVonta Smith: "This guy is a very, very good player." Asked if size is a hinderance, Flores said: "You can nitpick all you want about a guy's size. Good players are good players. This guy is a very good player. Made a lot of plays in college.. [in] biggest games."
— Barry Jackson (@flasportsbuzz) January 26, 2021
And guess what? Smith isn’t a good player, he is a GREAT player! Giving Tagovailoa his old college teammate back would be awesome, but giving Tagovailoa an elite wide receiver would be even better. It just so happens that both of those things can happen when you draft Smith.
The former Alabama Crimson Tide star would plug in Day 1 as the Dolphins No. 1 receiver and he is going to be a star in the NFL!
The Miami Dolphins trade Pick 18 to the Pittsburgh Steelers for Picks 24 and 56.
I know, another trade back, what am I thinking? I am thinking that the Dolphins have a unique opportunity to change the entire landscape of their franchise and by trading back, not once, but twice in the first round; they will be able to transform their entire roster for the present and the future.
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After they trade back again here, they take another weapon for Tagovailoa. Some Dolphins fans may be against taking two receivers in the 1st round, but the fact of the matter is the Dolphins would be foolish not to; especially if former Florida Gators star wide receiver Kadarius Toney is there. I was lucky enough to cover Toney for Sports Illustrated and got to witness him do some special things on a football field.
He will never be a No. 1 receiver in the NFL, but he brings flashes of greatness to the football field in several ways. Whoever is the next Dolphins OC, this person would be able to get creative and keep defenses on their toes with Toney. He can move all over the field and almost replicate what Tyreek Hill does for the Kansas City Chiefs. Also, by adding Smith, a legitimate No. 1 receiver, and Toney, a Swiss army knife weapon with their first two picks; the Dolphins will have one of the hardest offenses to defend in the NFL.
This time the Miami Dolphins trade Pick 35, Pick 122 and Pick 198 to the Kansas City Chiefs for Pick 32 (assuming the Chiefs win the Super Bowl)
See, this mock draft is more than trading back! Now the Dolphins get aggressive and get themselves a starting tackle. I explained that moving back would allow the Dolphins to transform their entire roster and it really would give them options to be aggressive in this draft, which they get aggressive here.
Trading back into the 1st round to get a starting tackle would be huge. Tagovailoa needs weapons, but he also needs an offensive line that he can trust. As you can see, this mock draft is all about building around Tagovailoa. Two receivers and now a starting lineman, all in the first round. Former Notre Dame Left Tackle Liam Eichenberg can arrive in Miami on Day 1 and be your starting left or right tackle.
He would instantly boost the Dolphins’ offensive line and give them yet another building block around Tagovailoa. This would allow the versatile Robert Hunt to move inside to guard, which would strengthen two positions with one move. The Dolphins would have a young core of offensive lineman to protect Tagovailoa with this move.
As part of the first trade on day one, the Miami Dolphins add edge help.
The Dolphins would already be winners of the 2021 NFL Draft if the first round played out like that for them, but wildly enough, there are still six more rounds left. After three straight offensive starters, the Dolphins finally dip into defense. Former Miami Hurricanes edge defender Jaelan Phillips gets to continue his career playing in Miami, as the Dolphins get a great player early in the 2nd round. I would not be surprised Phillips to make his way into the 1st round, mainly because pass rushers are so important in the NFL.
The UCLA transfer had 15.5 tackles for a loss this season and added eight sacks to go with it. That type of dominance would be an awesome addition to the Dolphins’ defense. Philips will fit perfectly into the unique Dolphins defense, as he has the versatility to play with his hand in the dirt or standing up. They could line him all over the field and put him in the best possible situations to get after the passer. He also fits exactly what Flores looks for in a defender, a high motor guy always looking to make plays. Dolphins fans should be pumped if they can keep Phillips in Miami
The Miami Dolphins need a top running back and the 2nd round provides that opportunity.
Along with Smith, former Alabama stud Najee Harris has been dominating the news for the Dolphins. Harris is an elite talent at running back, but in this mock, the Dolphins get an elite consultation prize with the former University of North Carolina running back Javonte Williams.
Yes, it may not be the exact running back Dolphins fans want, but I just do not like the idea of taking a running back at Pick 18, let alone the 1st round. Running back is a position that you are better off finding great value in rounds 2 or 3.
I get a lot of Miles Sanders vibes from Williams, who was also a Day 2 pick in the NFL Draft, but I think he has a shot to be even better because of the value he adds catching the ball.
The Dolphins also shouldn’t press for a running back in the draft because Myles Gaskin has shown he is a more than viable option. However, getting Williams at Pick 50 would be an absolute steal and I could not miss out on that opportunity. Adding 3 elite weapons to the offense around Tagovailoa within the first 50 picks of the draft should be a priority.
Back-to-back UNC players get drafted, and both would be great fits for the Miami Dolphins.
The former UNC linebacker Chazz Surratt has become a popular name in draft circles because of the way he flies around the field and makes plays. He has the same kind of juice as Phillips and would be a great fit in this Dolphins defense. Surratt is well-rounded, showing the ability to blitz, drop in coverage, and stop the run. Oddly enough, Surratt started his collegiate career as a quarterback for UNC before making the switch to linebacker two seasons ago. This switch was a great one, as Surratt went from being an average quarterback, at best, to a stud linebacker that should be taken before the 2nd round is over.
The talented linebacker ended his collegiate career with an impressive 207 total tackles, 22.5 tackles for a loss, and 12.5 sacks; while only playing linebacker for those two seasons for the Tar Heels. Surratt has not even hit his full potential as a linebacker, so coming to Miami would be the best thing for him. The Dolphins would be able to develop him into a potential star on defense and someone they can trust on every single down.
The Miami Dolphins address their center need with one of the Lions picks they received.
It will be interesting to see what the Dolphins do at center this offseason. They can try and bring back Ted Karras, but it looks like he could be in for a big payday and that’s something the Dolphins should avoid. Instead, they get former Division III offensive lineman, Quinn Meinerz out of the University of Wisconsin Whitewater in the third round. Meinerz would be a great addition to the Dolphins offensive line and would give Tagovailoa a center to be with for a very long time. I know what you are thinking, “how can a Division III center be a building block for the Dolphins?”
Well, Meinerz has been turning heads and has arguably been the biggest riser at the Senior Bowl. His tenacity on every rep and mean finish has him skying up boards, which is why I think the Dolphins should snatch him up if he even makes it this far! He has shown he belongs with the “big dogs” and looks like a Division I All-American out there. My best comparison for him is an odd one, but he reminds me of the San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle. Obviously not the receiving aspect of Kittle, but Kittle’s elite ability in the run game and how he finishes blocks. Meinerz could be a star in Miami.
The Miami Dolphins keep the theme of versatile players going here, taking versatile safety, Richie Grant. The former UCF safety can do it all on the backend.
Grant would have a shot to play significant snaps for the Dolphins right away, but that wouldn’t be an issue for the 6′ 190-pound safety. I would be surprised if he slides this far in the draft because he fits today’s NFL so well. Grant flies around the field and would become a fan favorite in Miami with the range and playmaking ability he brings to the field.
Grant can do it all.
He is able to play deep as the free safety and he can also come up and cover tight ends. Along with his awesome coverage skills, Grant likes to tackle and will be able to help in the run game as well. The former UCF star would best be suited to playing centerfield for the Dolphins, using his elite instincts to make plays. He must be a film junkie as well because he always seems to know where the ball is going. Grant ended his UCF career with 10 interceptions, so the Dolphins could be getting a game-changer on the backend with this 3rd round pick.
The Miami Dolphins address the need for depth at defensive tackle as they wrap their final day picks.
In my opinion, after Round 3, you are just drafting players to give you productive snaps and you shouldn’t ever count on them to be starters. Yes, you can sometimes find the diamond in the rough, but it’s more than likely you won’t be drafting a star. Former USC defensive lineman could be a diamond in the rough, but I’m not so sure he falls to Pick 111. However, in this mock draft here was there and I quickly drafted him. Tuipulota has been impressive at the Senior Bowl. He has 3-down ability in today’s NFL and would be a great addition to the Dolphins’ defensive line.
This former Duke Blue Devil was surprisingly still here, but you never know because of the questions about his size. He reportedly weighs around 230 pounds, which could mean he is even less, but I think getting in a great spot like Miami would do wonders for him. He could easily put on 15-20 pounds with the Dolphins and it should not hurt his ability. And that ability is awesome.
Rumph II ended his Duke Blue Devils career with 33 tackles for a loss and 17.5 sacks. He once again fits the versatility aspect that the Dolphins defense covets and can rush the passer from anywhere on the field.
Just like Toney, who I have the Dolphins taking at Pick 24, I was able to cover former Florida Gators safety Shawn Davis. Taking a flier on a player like Davis in the 7th round would make a ton of sense. He needs to be coached up and he has his flaws, but Davis can fly around the field. He plays every snap 100% and when he hits you, he hits you! Flores should fall in love with his aggressiveness and hard-hitting ability. He may never be s starting safety in the NFL, but he could have a very nice career rotating in and dominating on special teams.