Miami Dolphins 2023 NFL Mock Draft – they do have needs

The Miami Dolphins will have one more selection in the top of the draft and they need to make the most of it. Drafting here is about need but will they go in that direction?

With the offensive line and corner shored up, there are still needs, specifically at linebacker. Miami could go and double up at the corner position and along the line of scrimmage offensively. They could also look ahead to 2024 when they will be making decisions on the futures of Christian Wilkins, Raekwon Davis, and Zach Seiler.

Personally, I think they wait because two of those should be re-signed. Instead, I think Miami takes a different route entirely and I don’t think it will be popular.

With their 2nd pick in the third round of the 2023 draft, the Dolphins select…Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa.

Another tight end is not going to thrill Miami Dolphins fans but let’s face the reality here. Mike Gesicki coming back would be an expensive waste of funds and he will find better opportunities elsewhere. Gesicki is one of my favorite players on the team but I don’t see the future here.

Hunter Long has shown nothing more than a player who can do well inactive and injured. There is still far too many questions about him and it appears that he too is a wasted draft pick who was supposed to be the replacement for Gesicki.

Durham Smythe is decent enough but beyond him, there really isn’t anyone on the roster. Miami tried to trade Adam Shaheen in the off-season and Cethan Carter is not an answer or a solution.

In LaPorta, Miami will get a physically gifted tight end who can catch footballs but his primary ability is blocking and Mike McDaniel relies on the tight end to enhance his running game.

Iowa is a good school that has produced good TEs in the past. Kirk Ferentz uses his TEs like McDaniel and if we look back at who the schools has produced, T.J. Hockenson, Noah Fant, and the one name everyone knows, George Kittle, there is a theme between them all. They all block well and block first and they all can catch the football.

LaPorta could be the next in that line and if he is there in round three, don’t be surprised if McDaniel and Grier jump at the chance. 

Miami will walk away from this year’s draft looking like this if the above holds true…which we all know will not really be the case.

• Round 1 – Bradley Chubb
• Round 2 – O’Cyrus Torrence
• Round 3 – D.J. Turner
• Round 3 – Sam LaPorta
• Round 4 – Tyreek Hill
• Round 5 – Jeff Wilson, Jr.
• Round 6 – Tyreek Hill
• Round 6 – Not mocked here
• Round 7 – Not mocked here