How the Miami Dolphins first two rounds of the draft could have gone

The Miami Dolphins have wrapped up the majority of their 2021 draft and have three more picks to make on Saturday but how could this draft have gone better.

Honestly, I’m not really sure Miami could have done a better job than what they have done so far. They drafted their top guy in Jaylen Waddle, the best-rated edge rusher in Jaelan Phillips, took who many consider being the best safety, Javon Holland, a top-rated offensive tackle, Liam Eichenberg, and very good tight end in round three, Hunter Long.

So could it have been better? Miami could have tried to trade up to take Kyle Pitts but now we are shifting the entire draft around given the picks that would have been involved.

At pick six, Miami could have drafted DeVonta Smith or Penei Sewell and in both cases, they would still be given an “A” grade.

While the Dolphins are taking a slight risk with Phillips given his concussion history, Kwity Paye would have made sense but he isn’t as rounded off the edge as Phillips. Given what we believe to be the Dolphins trying to move back into one to get Najee Harris, Harris over Phillips can be debated and likely will as seasons tick away.

In round two, Miami could have traded up one spot with Atlanta and drafted Javonte Williams who is a fantastic running back. Instead, the Dolphins waited and Denver swooped in and took him. Miami then drafted Holland.

At this point, the Dolphins could have drafted Landon Dickerson who was taken a pick later but Dickerson has injury questions and some thought he would go a bit lower than that, possibly in the ’50s. Christian Barmore and tackle Teven Jenkins both went immediately after Dickerson and could have been drafted by Miami.

Holland was the first safety off the board and another safety wasn’t drafted until pick 11 when the other top guy, Trevon Moehrig was taken. One pick after Miami took Liam Eichenberg in a trade-up. For those fans wanting Creed Humphrey, he went with the 31st pick in round 2 or 63 overall.

With the 81st pick, the Dolphins drafted Hunter Long and while many fans wanted Quinn Meinerz, it’s hard not like this selection and frankly, given the talent drafted after him, Miami did well to get a top prospect at a position that could lose Mike Gesicki after the season.

Overall, the Dolphins draft has produced four projected day one starters and one player that will likely see a considerable amount of playing time as a tight end. With a couple of opinionated changes like Harris over Phillips or Dickerson over Holland, or maybe a trade-up one spot for Williams, the Dolphins stuck to their board, settled in, and drafted very well. Well enough that if we could, we likely wouldn’t change a thing.

Waddle, Harris, JOK, Meinerz Don’t be lazy, do the work