Miami Dolphins 2022 NFL Draft three day draft predictions
If the Niners ultimately balk at Deebo Samuel’s trade request…
There is another.
Prediction 2b: The Dolphins do whatever it takes to secure UGA RB James Cook
Remember, Miami is super-secretive, but even their fortress of secrets isn’t impenetrable. There are reports that Miami has had a private visit with the University of Georgia’s James Cook.
Fresh off a national championship, the Miami native, and younger brother to NFL star Dalvin, is a dynamic (there’s that word again) running back, which has very similar traits to Deebo Samuel.
Cook, has been heralded as the best pass-catching back in this year’s draft. In college, he oftentimes lined up out-wide, running a solid route tree, and beating cornerbacks on go-routes for touchdowns. He finished the 2021 season with 284 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
He did share the backfield with teammate Zamir White (also expected to be drafted), but was still a highly impactful running back, rushing for 728 yards (6.4 yards per carry) and 7 touchdowns last year.
James Cook isn’t the physically imposing player that Samuel is, weighing 15 pounds lighter, but his ability as a fast, shifty running back with above-average contact balance, along with his capabilities to line up on the outside as a receiving threat, has apparently caught the eye of the Dolphins staff.
Miami did sign Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert this off-season, but it would be wise to add one more back to that room, that also houses Myles Gaskin, Salvon Ahmed, and Gerrid Doaks.
It has become apparent, that there has been a change in philosophy, as Miami has chosen to stack similar players at the same position. That makes it much harder for defenses to read what the offense is going to do.
In recent years, the Dolphins opted for a mish-mash of players, that televised Miami’s plan based on the personnel on the field. Miami went with running back rotations featuring blends of power runners like Jordan Howard and Malcolm Brown, along with smaller players Gaskin, Ahmed, Patrick Laird, and Matt Breida.