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Miami Dolphins draft: It all falls right in this 5 round mock

By Matthew Stevens

Sep 8, 2019; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins players wear the initials NAB on their helmets to honor late linebacker Nick Buoniconti this season during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at Hard Rock Stadium. Buoniconti passed away on July 30, 2019. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 8, 2019; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins players wear the initials NAB on their helmets to honor late linebacker Nick Buoniconti this season during the second half against the Baltimore Ravens at Hard Rock Stadium. Buoniconti passed away on July 30, 2019. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 20: A general view of the Miami Dolphins throwback logo on the field during the game between the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA – DECEMBER 20: A general view of the Miami Dolphins throwback logo on the field during the game between the Miami Dolphins and the New England Patriots at Hard Rock Stadium on December 20, 2020 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) /

Round 3, Pick 81:  Alim McNeil, DT, NC State

Most mock drafts have Alim McNeil coming off the board in round two but the Dolphins catch a break as teams continue to feast on deep positional groups like wide-receiver and edge defenders.

McNeil is a plug-and-play run stuffer at 6’2″ 320 pounds.  Rumors are swirling that head coach Brian Flores would like to move last year’s draftee Raekwon Davis to a

defensive end when lining up in their base 3-4 defense, the team could use a big body in the middle of the defense.  He won’t provide much push as a pass rusher but the Dolphins defense doesn’t ask the nose tackle to be Aaron Donald; just occupy bodies to allow the linebackers to make plays.

Round 4, Pick 114:  Walker Little, T, Stanford 

More from Dolphins Draft

Where Walker Little goes in this draft is a complete mystery.  Before he got injured, he was considered a 1st or 2nd round pick but he suffered a devastating knee injury in the first game of the season in 2019 and ‘opted out’ of the 2020 season so it’s basically been three years since he’s played.

Since the Dolphins acquired this pick in the trade down with Denver, they can afford to take a chance that Little can regain his old form as a starting tackle.  Having played his college games at left tackle, it’s unclear if he can make the transition to the right side but it’s a nice problem for coach Flores to have; deciding which side Little and last year’s first-round pick Austin Jackson start on.

**Trade Alert:  The Dolphins trade up with the Cleveland Browns.  The Dolphins receive pick 132 and in exchange give up picks 156 and 231.

With pick 132 in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select…

Dazz Newsome, WR, North Carolina

Second-round pick Javonte Williams is reunited with his Tar Heel teammate with this selection.  Newsome will fight it out in a crowded wide receiver room for playing time on offense but he can immediately unseat Jakeem Grant as the starting punt/kick returner on special teams.  With the selection of Newsome, it creates $4M in cap savings if Grant is released after June 1st.

There you have it!  The Dolphins get 4 ‘sure fire’ starters, a run-clogging NT, a potential steal at offensive tackle….and collected another first-round pick in 2022.  Things go the Dolphins way in 2021 and the team takes the next step and are still playing after week 18 of the 2021 NFL season.

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