The dust has settled from the 2021 NFL Draft, and the Miami Dolphins had one of the best draft weekends in the NFL. There will always be naysayers or just pessimistic people, but what Miami did during the 2021 NFL Draft was impressive.
Matching their 2021 NFL Draft success with their aggressive free agency and offseason, you can see Miami is trending upwards. Miami has been the talk of the NFL this season, for better or worse, but after adding some great players to their roster, Miami is on the brink of becoming a perineal contender.
It is hard to craft the perfect roster, as there will always be weaker spots than others. For Miami, they do have a hole at center, and it was not filled just yet. Yes, they did sign Matt Skura this offseason, but Miami may be making a mistake counting on Skura to be the guy in 2021.
However, Miami may trust Skura more than fans do, and if that is the case, I think they will be okay. And like I said before, you can’t fill every position to the fullest, so Skura may be a weak link, but Miami has done so well at other positions I think they will make it work.
While it is fun to talk about the center position, the entire season and the franchise’s future depends on whether starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa will make a 2nd-year jump and help take the team to the next level.
Tagovailoa’s rookie season was a mixed bag, but if Tagovailoa progresses into the player Miami drafted with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Miami will be good for a very long time.
Their 2021 NFL Draft picks will also have a significant impact on the future of Miami. With that in mind, here are the expectations for those draft picks and one undrafted free agent for the 2021 season.
Round 1, pick 6: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Some fans believe I do not like new Miami Dolphins wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, which is just not true. I did not like the value of taking Waddle at No. 6 overall, mainly because Penei Sewell was still there, and I believe Sewell will be a potential All-Pro tackle.
Regardless, Miami took Waddle, and while I hate the value, I love the player. Waddle has game-breaking speed, but he is not your typical deep threat in the NFL. He can actually run great routes and make plays all over the field. Miami fans will love his big-play ability, and he should make an impact in Year 1.
Adding Waddle to the offense to pair with Will Fuller, DeVante Parker, and Mike Gesicki will be fun to watch. Fuller and Waddle will give defensive coordinators headaches, as their speed, paired with their route running, will be hard to defend.
Expectation: 50 receptions, 850 yards, and 8 total touchdowns
Round 1, pick 18: Jaelan Phillips, EDGE, Miami
If there was one pick that really excited me the most, it was Miami taking former Miami edge defender Jaelan Phillips with the 18th pick in the first round. Phillips has injury concerns, so it pushed him down to pick 18, but he would have likely been a top 10 pick if he did not have those concerns.
Phillips has a chance to be the best defender from the 2021 NFL Draft if he can stay healthy, so that excitement has me pumped up. I hope he can stay healthy, but I think he will. And if he does, Philips will be an impact player on Miami’s defense right away. I think he will be dominant as a pass rusher in year one, and his dominance will lead to him winning Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Expectation: DROY Award 50 tackles, 10 sacks, 13 tackles for a loss, 4 forced fumbles, 3 fumble recoveries, 1 touchdown
Round 2, pick 36: Jevon Holland, S, Oregon
Just like the Phillips pick, this pick pumped me up. When they first announced the pick was former Oregon Safety Jevon Holland, I was a little skeptical that they drafted a safety this high. However, after diving more into his film and hearing head coach Brian Flores rave about Holland in his press conference, I am sold.
Holland is the perfect fit in Flores’ defense, as his versatility to do it all will allow him to thrive in Year 1. He can line up all over the field and become Miami’s leader in the secondary. He is a great athlete too, so I am really excited to watch him play in Miami. He had nine interceptions in college, so I expect him to make a ton of plays for the Dolphins.
Expectation: 70 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for a loss, 3 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, and eight pass deflections.
Round 2, pick 42: Liam Eichenberg, RT, Notre Dame
Miami has tried to address their right tackle spot all offseason. It was clear that they felt kicking Robert Hunt into right guard would improve their offensive line. That is why they traded up in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft and selected former Notre Dame offensive tackle Liam Eichenberg.
Eichenberg will likely start at RT, Tagovailoa’s blind side, on Day 1. I do not think he is an elite tackle, but he is one of those “does his job” type players that Miami fans will appreciate. If he can protect Tagovailoa and Hunt can dominate at right guard, this will be a home run pick by Miami.
Expectation: 17 starts at right tackle, four sacks given up.
Round 3, pick 81: Hunter Long, TE, Boston College
This was the pick that made many Miami Dolphins fans angry, but I tried to explain to many fans that tight end is a priority for Miami. The Dolphins ran the 5th most 12 personnel in the NFL last season, according to Sharp Football Stats.
They may have not gotten the No. 1 player in the 2021 NFL Draft, tight end Kyle Pitts, but Long will have a solid career in Miami. He will be their tight end 2 in 2021, with the potential to be the guy in 2022.
Expectation: 30 receptions, 450 yards, 3 touchdowns
Round 7, pick 231: Larnel Coleman, OL, UMASS
After taking Long with the 81st overall pick, Miami fans had to wait all the way until pick 231, and it was dreadful. Miami took another offensive lineman, and this time it was former UMASS offensive lineman Larnel Coleman.
I will be completely honest, I was not grinding away watching any UMASS film, so I do not know much about him. However, after a little research, I think it is safe to say Miami is trying to see if they can develop him into a rotational offensive lineman they could trust.
Expectation: Does not play in 2021
Round 7, pick 244: Gerrid Doaks, RB, Cincinnati
Dolphins fans were begging for Miami to pick a running back, so naturally, general manager Chris Grier trolled the fan base by taking one with their last pick. Miami selected former Cincinnati running back Gerrid Doaks.
There are some Miami fans pumped up about Doaks, thinking he will be the RB1. I would pump the breaks a little on that and just hope he makes the team. I think he will, but this seems like Myles Gaskin and Malcolm Brown’s show in 2021.
Expectation: 65 carries, 275 yards, and 2 touchdowns
UDFA: Robert Jones, OL, Tennessee State
I am just touching on the addition of former Tenessee State offensive lineman Robert James. He was not drafted, but according to Barry Jackson, Miami gave him $130,000 as an undrafted free agent, which is wild. I think after coaching him in the Senior Bowl, Miami fell in love with the potential.
Expectation: DNP in 2021