For whatever reason, maybe it’s Miami Dolphins new coach Mike McDaniel, who knows, I’m just a tad more excited about the NFL combine. I’m doing slightly more digging than usual and I have found three players that I pretty sure are my favorite but also they’re realistic prospects I hope will be around when the Dolphins draft at 29.
I understand fully that the NFL Combine pales in comparison to a guy’s tape and all that. I’m aware of the lame jokes that it gets dubbed such as “underwear Olympics” and other flat landing attempts at comedy to describe the combine. But, it is football-related activities sort of, and with MLB once again letting everyone down due to being morons, I’m going to need to get a bit more into the combine. Yes, I’ll be watching my Suns quest for a title and conference tournaments are about to get underway. But the Miami Dolphin’s future starts to get molded here and I for one am very excited.
This article isn’t a mock draft or anything like that. I don’t really see the point in doing those, especially before free agency has even started(man alive that’s going to be fun). This is just listing a few players that I like who I think is possible to be there at 29 if, in fact, that’s where the Dolphins will be drafting. Anthony did a wonderful job laying out the possibilities for the Dolphins if they were to trade that pick something I wouldn’t be opposed to the Dolphins doing. I’d especially be alright with Miami trading down.
My reasoning for that is I think after around pick 16ish, the caliber of players between the mid-first round and let’s say the end of the 2nd round early 3rd round is around the same level. I know that plenty of Hall of Famers has been found within those picks. I just think it’s even more of a crapshoot in that range of picks. I guess that is where GMs make their money and stay with a franchise for 20 years in some cases.
Before I get to the list, let me make it crystal clear, I do not break down tape and I never will. By all means, get information from the guys who tell you they break down the all-22 film. I’m sure you’ll be floored by their expertise and their ability to throw out NFL jargon such as hand placement, three techniques, and kick steps. It’s all very fascinating and spot-on.
Instead, my information comes from games that I saw these guys play and pretty much the same clips and video anyone can find if you have two minutes to search any of these players. Here’s the list.
The answer is no, I didn’t watch any Northern Iowa games this past year. Believe it or not, my cable package didn’t include any subscriptions to the Panther’s network. I’ll have to get that fixed for 2022. Big year for the Panthers coming up.
Penning got on my radar when he got to the Senior Bowl. Firing up Twitter during that time, I saw a bunch of Trevor Penning aggressively destroying a few guys and I was like “dang, that guy would do well for the Dolphin.” That’s exactly what I said.
The Dolphin’s biggest hole on the team is the offensive line. I hope you were sitting down for that admission. This means that the Dolphins can use all the help they can get their hands on. I expect Miami to address that a little bit in free agency but make no mistake; the Dolphins will draft a lineman or two during the draft. Will they use their 1st round pick on one? I couldn’t tell you. If they do, I think Penning has a chance to be there at 29.
The rundown on Trevor Penning is that he is a big, mean, mauling type of offensive lineman. I mean at 6’7 330LBs he ought to be. Playing at an FCS school I’m sure will scare off a few people and I get it. He didn’t play against SEC competition or anything like that so the idea is that he’ll get blown away by NFL competition. What can I tell you other than many players who played in the FCS have done well in the NFL and that everyone who covers this stuff for a living has this guy in the 1st round?
His senior bowl work looks like a guy I want on my team.
As promised,
— Cory (@realcorykinnan) February 4, 2022
A Week at the Senior Bowl with Trevor Penning pic.twitter.com/rGsjEUskR3
He just looks nasty. I’m all for that with an offensive lineman. I think nasty is an element that is lacking with that unit. I’d like a Richie Incognito attitude minus the bizarreness. I hope that isn’t too much to ask.
Are there things he needs to improve on? Absolutely. It seems like he’s susceptible to getting bull-rushed and with the defensive ends in the AFC East, that’s something that can’t happen. Also from what I’ve seen, he gets his outside hand full of jerseys a bit too much which leads to penalties.
You put him at left tackle and move Eichenberg to right tackle meaning Hunt goes to right guard along with whoever they bring in free agency and now you should have a decent offensive line that can play out Mike McDaniel’s vision. I’m not afraid of moving some of these guys around. Nobody on the current line is so good in one spot that they’re untouchable.
This guy, out of the others on this list, has the worst chance of being there at 29. But, depending on what you find, hear, and read, Nakobe Dean is slightly falling. Now, that could be complete nonsense and Dean gets drafted around 15ish. But a man can dream and I would be all over Dean if he were still there at 29.
The reason for his alleged decension(I feel like this should be a word but not 100% on it) is for all the typical stuff to cut down a guy who had a lights-out season.
Asked one to follow-up with info on why:
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) January 18, 2022
"Really small and short-armed. I don't think he's 6-foot. Don't think his arms are long enough at all. And I don't think he's the 4.4 you need to be at that size"
Basically, he’s not the size that scouts and teams prefer for their middle line backer. I feel like that’s weird because all across the board on defense, guys aren’t as bulky than they used to be. I don’t know why the middle linebacker can’t be in a position where today’s player wouldn’t be smaller than yesteryear’s middle linebacker but perhaps here we are?
For his size, they’re saying that his 40 time won’t be where you’d, ideally, want it but I say put on the tape.
Put in any Georgia game and you will watch an amazing defense that, to me, was anchored by the play of Nakobe Dean. There were many great players on that defense but when I watched them it was Dean that made that engine go.
Yes, I realize that highlight tapes are only showing the best plays but these are some elite-level plays against the best competition he can play against.
The INT where he was lined up split out like a corner was magnificent. The anticipation was if he saw into the future and knew the ball was coming his way.
I think you also have to love how the guy fills a hole and lowers the boom. His stoutness really benefits him when he does that because it allows him to get under guys and drive them back. There used to be another guy who played for the Dolphins, years ago, who was a linebacker who was a bit undersized. Some guy named Thomas. He was pretty good.
The Dolphins are probably going to lose Elandon Roberts and I wouldn’t be surprised if another linebacker out of the group was released as well. Dean would be a day one starter and an impact player to go with the rest of the young studs the Dolphins have on that side of the ball.
As I said, I don’t think he’ll be there but if he is, there aren’t many more that I would want at 29.
There are many wide receivers to be had in this year’s draft. I feel like that’s going to be the case every year from now on due to the offenses that happen in college. These guys, many of them, are ready to play right away. It’s why you see as many rookie receivers putting up veteran numbers in year one. Expect this to keep happening.
I love Jahan Dotson’s game. I know that Klump has bought the most stock in Dotson but I still have a bit that I’ve been holding onto for a few years.
As a PSU alumni, I’ve watched tons of Nittany Lions games the last few years which is to say I’ve watched a supremely talented player in Jahan Dotson have to make do with Sean Clifford’s attempts at throwing him passes. Even with the dearth at the QB position at Penn State, Dotson has shined seemingly each and every week mainly because nobody else there could.
Dotson was one of the players where everybody in the stadium knew where the ball was going. One way or the other, the ball was going to go in Dotson’s direction and most of the time he came down with whether guys were all over him or not. This one-hander immediately after a helmet catch from two years ago nearly brought me to tears.
He’s not the biggest guy on the field. He’s only 5’11 183LBs but he plays huge and he wants the ball in his hands. I imagine he’ll run somewhere in the low 4.4 for the forty so the guy has wheels. My player comparison for him is Tyler Lockett. Real good hands, can get behind the defense but can also be a possession guy if that’s what you want him to be.
Pairing him up with Jaylen Waddle, on paper, would be unfair. I hate when we get into on paper teams but Waddle and Dotson would be a pairing that, to me, wouldn’t miss.