“He is playing chess, not checkers” is a well-known expression in the NFL that highlights someone who has been doing their job at an exceptional level. For the Miami Dolphins, General Manager Chris Grier has been doing his job better than anyone in the entire league, especially after the sorcery he pulled off on Friday.
Grier had to have kicked back last night and enjoyed some smiles and evil laughter after what he accomplished for the Dolphins. First, Miami traded their No. 3 overall pick to the San Francisco 49ers for their No. 12 overall pick, their 2022 1st round pick, their 2023 1st round pick, and their 2022 3rd round pick. That is an incredible haul for the No. 3 overall pick, but Miami did have to drop out of the top 10.
However, before Dolphins Twitter could try to be mad about Grier’s elite trade back, Grier then traded the No. 12 pick he acquired from San Francisco, Miami’s 1st round pick in 2022, and Pick 123 to the Philadelphia Eagles for the No. 6 overall pick and pick 156.
Madness.
I would expect that Grier has that creepy, evil laugh when a master plan comes together perfectly, though. This was just that, perfection. Some people will get caught up on Miami trading their 2022 1st round pick, but what Miami did was sneaky, and it was terrific.
By giving the 49ers the No. 3 overall pick, Miami almost guaranteed that the top three picks will be quarterbacks, which Miami doesn’t need. So, they essentially picked up a 2023 1st round pick, a better 2022 1st round pick (from the 49ers), and a 2022 3rd round pick to still be picking third in the draft.
Some fans have trouble comprehending the greatness and even missing out on the idea that Miami traded their 2022 1st, not San Francisco’s. The 49ers play in the toughest division in football and will do so with a rookie quarterback. Good luck.
Regardless, the deals are done, and Miami is picking at No. 6. Here are six options at pick six for the Dolphins in the 2021 NFL Draft. These six selections are in the order that Miami should take these players, starting with No. 6 and ending with Miami’s top choice with the sixth overall pick.
No. 6: Micah Parsons, Linebacker, Penn State University
A majority of the offseason has been about the offense for the Miami Dolphins. However, let’s not forget that head coach Brian Flores is defensive-minded, so we should never rule out the idea of Miami taking an elite defender at the No. 6 overall pick.
I believe Miami should wait on defenders, as their offense needs the elite player more, but if they go with a defender, they should go with the best defensive player in the 2021 NFL Draft, former Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons.
Parsons did not play in the 2020 season, opting out because of COVD-19. However, in the 2019 season, Parsons was a star. He is an incredible player, and he has the traits to be in the NFL for a very long time.
When you turn on his film, he looks like a heat-seeking missile how he tracks down ball carriers. His athleticism pops off the screen, and he solidified that when he ran a 4.39 at his pro day. The 6-3, 246-pound freak linebacker had 109 tackles, five sacks, 14 tackles for loss, four forced fumbles, and one fumble recovery in 2019. As a freshman in 2018, Parsons secured 82 tackles, one and a half sacks, four tackles for a loss, and two forced fumbles.
So not only is he athletic, he is productive. Miami will have to work through some off-field red flags, but the Dolphins have shown that they are not afraid of that this offseason. If Miami does go with a defensive player, you should want it to be Parsons.
No. 5: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
A popular name around Dolphins’ Twitter is former Alabama wide receiver and offensive weapon, Jaylen Waddle. I added offensive weapon because Waddle can give you more than just snaps at wide receiver. He can line up in the backfield, and you can motion him all around the offense to create mismatches. Miami’s co-offensive coordinators would love to have a player like Waddle to dictate how the defense will respond or put extra stress on the defense by using him as a chess piece.
I do think Waddle will have a better NFL career than his college career, which saw a lack of production. The lack of production is concerning, but if you can trust potential and have some hope, Waddle should be just fine. However, Waddle has the biggest “boom or bust” potential out of any top wide receivers.
A lot of people love his speed and big-play ability, but the NFL is a lot more than that. Far too many times, fast receivers are over-drafted, and then they fizzle out quickly in the NFL. I think Waddle can run great routes and make plays as a receiver, but again, it is more of a projection than anything.
However, I do trust my evaluation on Waddle and the film tells me that if Waddle can find some consistency outside of just the big splash plays, he will be a solid NFL wide receiver. If the other receivers go before Pick 6, Miami should take Waddle to pair with Will Fuller. That would give quarterback Tua Tagovailoa a track team at receiver.
No. 4: Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
This may surprise some people, but I think former LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase is a better option at pick No. 6 over Jaylen Waddle. This may surprise some people because I have been a lot lower on Chase than others have been. It is not really a knock on Chase, as much as it is how I evaluate the receiver position and the qualities I feel make a great NFL receiver, not a great college receiver.
Chase was a great college receiver. He won the Biletnikoff award in 2019, on his way to being a key piece on a team that won a National Championship. It is worth noting because it isn’t talked about much: His quarterback, Joe Burrow, won the Heisman Trophy that season and was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. So, Chase had one of the best quarterbacks in the world throwing him the ball.
The reason I have Chase over Waddle is more about the 2021 NFL Draft than the actual players if that makes sense. I believe Waddle is going to be a stud in the NFL, but I also think players like Elijah Moore, Kadarius Toney, and even Rondale Moore could give you similar production to Waddle. All three of those guys may be on the board at pick 36, but there will not be an alpha, No. 1 receiver like Chase.
Chase may not be a great route-runner, but he uses his strength to win his reps. He will always have to be a guy who works harder than the defender to make plays, but I think Chase will do it. He is the definition of a “DOG” on the field, and his scrappy, physical play wouldn’t go unnoticed by Dolphins fans.
No. 3 Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
All of the pass-catchers deserve the love they are getting, and it makes sense everyone wants the Dolphins to draft them. However, let’s not forget that it all starts in the trenches, and Miami still has a shot at my No. 2 player in the 2021 NFL Draft and the best offensive lineman, Penei Sewell.
The former Oregon Ducks offensive lineman won the Outland Trophy in 2019, so he is legit. He did not play in 2020, opting out because of COVID-19, but trust me, this kid is elite. He has a 10-15 year Pro Bowl, All-Pro-type career written all over him. He has a future Hall of Fame tackle written all over him. He is truly a beast, so Dolphins fans should not forget about him.
It may not be the sexy pick, the big splash many Dolphins fans are looking for, but it would be the right move. Sewell could plug in on Day 1 and be Tua Tagovailoa’s blindside protector. Having Sewell play right tackle may sound crazy, but it is clear Miami believes in Tagovailoa, so he needs an elite right tackle.
Current Miami right tackle Robert Hunt played solid, but this move would allow him to play his more natural right guard position. Bumping Hunt into guard would give Miami some competition at the left guard spot, which I think Solomon Kindley will walk away with. Then you pair that with Austin Jackson at left tackle and likely a 2021 draft pick at center, and Miami is set at their offensive line for many, many years.
Some fans may not be happy if Sewell is the pick. Just know this, you likely won’t hear his name much after he is drafted, but that will be a good thing. He will do his job at an elite level and make sure Tagovailoa has the time he needs to make throws and stay off the ground.
No. 2: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
I have been sternly saying that at the No. 3 overall pick, I would take Penei Sewell over former Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith. I still stand by that comment, but now that Miami has moved down three spots and added extra draft capital in the process, I have officially decided that I would take Smith over Sewell at the sixth overall pick.
Sewell is incredible, and I would not be mad if they take him over Smith, but Smith is the best receiver I have ever scouted. People will get caught up in the fact that he is 170 pounds. Stop it. That is irrelevant, and why is that irrelevant? Smith showed you it doesn’t mean anything. He dominated college football, and yes, it is not the NFL, but let’s not act like since he is 10 pounds less than we all wished for, he is just going to magically not be great in the NFL.
This kid is going to be a superstar. He is going to make an impact in every single game he plays. You can line him up outside, in the slot, you can use him as a weapon like Waddle and motion him around the offense, and anything else you wanted. Alabama used him all over and got creative with him because he is such an elite player.
I just can’t get the idea of having Smith paired with Will Fuller and DeVante Parker out of my head. That would give Tua Tagovailoa elite weapons at the position and will help with his development so much.
Who knows what Miami will actually do, but it needs to be Smith if they go wide receiver. He is the best wide receiver in the 2021 NFL Draft, and I think he has Hall of Fame potential.
No. 1: Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
Come on now, you knew there was no way former Florida Gators tight end Kyle Pitts wasn’t No. 1 on this list. And he should be No. 1 on your list too. If you can’t understand the concept of adding Pitts to the offense and pairing him with current tight end Mike Gesicki, you need to learn the game of football.
Having two elite pass-catching tight ends would give Miami one of the most dangerous offenses in the NFL. And again, if you think Miami doesn’t need two tight ends, don’t take my word for it. Take the greatest coach of all time’s word for it.
Look what the New England Patriots did this offseason, signing both Jonnu Smith and Hunter Henry. New England ran the least amount of 12 personnel (1 running back, 2 tight ends) last season, and it was clear they felt that was a reason they did not play their best football.
Brian Flores is cut from the Bill Belichick cloth, so trust me, the idea of having a dominant 12 personnel is high in his mind, as it should be. Adding Pitts to the offense will help Tua Tagovailoa more than any other player in the draft.
It isn’t all just about scheme and formations though, it is also about the player. Pitts is my No. 1 player in the 2021 NFL Draft. According to Daniel Jeremiah, Pitts is considered the most likely prospect from the draft to become a Hall of Fame player, and I agree.
Pitts is a mismatch nightmare, and your No. 1 cornerback is going to have a long day trying to contain him. After his reported 4.46 40-yard dash, Pitts is a certified freak of nature. He is 6-6, 250 pounds, but runs routes like an elite receiver and never drops the ball. The big knock on him is that he can’t block, but this is a lazy take by people who do not watch the film. Pitts gets after it in the run game, and he is the complete package at tight end.
If there was one player you could have from the 2021 NFL Draft, it is Pitts, and it is not even close. There has never been, and will likely never be, another prospect like Pitts to ever enter the NFL Draft.