These are seven players the Dolphins should heavily consider drafting with pick 55. Since they do not have a 3rd or 4th round pick barring a trade down, these first two picks are crucial for them. Pair any of these players with the seven players I thought they should be targeting in the first round, and we have a pretty successful draft on our hands. I have ranked these players by preference and sorted them by position group, so without further ado, let's get started.
Braden Fiske - IDL - Florida State
The more tapes I watch, the more impressed I am with Fiske. He is a freak athlete, which is all anyone talks about, but his explosiveness in his first step, his power in his hands, and his quickness set him apart from me. I have him in the 1st tier of DT prospects in the class. He will be able to offer pass-rush upside and should be able to hold his own against the run. He isn't huge, but he could make a great 3 tech all the way out to a big end. I am a big fan of the player, and if he is there at 55, it's an instant pick.
Kris Jenkins - IDL - Michigan
Kris Jenkins is 2022 Christian Wilkins to Quinnen WIlliams, compared to Fiske. Fiske would offer way more upside on the pass rush, but Jenkins offers more power and strength against the run. He is going to need to develop his pass rush repertoire, but he will be stout against the run. They are essentially opposites. I view Fiske as another, more athletic, Zach Sieler with less refinement against the run, and I view Jenkins similarly to Wilkins without 2023's pass rush upside.
Chris Braswell - Edge - Alabama
This is a guy who may not ever reach the lofty heights of 12+ sacks per year, but he does have good traits and play strength that make him a handful to block on the edge. Adding him into a pass rush rotation with Chubb and Phillips could help fill the role Andrew Van Ginkel played for a while in this defense. His strength and athleticism make him an option at this pick, but I'd prefer the interior guys over him.
Jordan Morgan - OT - Arizona
Let's get out of the way that I have Jordan Morgan as a late 1st round guy. However, I have seen mocks with him making it as late as 55. If Miami does not go OL with the first pick, and Morgan is somehow still on the board, it's the world's easiest pick. Morgan had an 87.3 PFF pass block grade to go with a 77.7 run block grade on zone runs. Morgan would be a great pickup for Miami in round 2 since I believe he could kick into guard for a season and back out to tackle when Armstead hangs it up. He is great in space and a really good pass-blocker. His footwork stood out to me as being some of the best in the class.
2a. Jackson Powers Johnson/Zach Frazier - IOL
Okay, so we're kind of cheating, but I have a good reason. As rumors have circulated, it has been floating around that JPJ may slide further into the 2nd round. If he does, it also theoretically pushes Zach Frazier down as well. I did a full write-up on JPJ, and my position hasn't changed. I still love him as a player, but now the value isn't there in round 1. Zach Frazier is another center prospect who seems pretty scheme-versatile and should be able to get the job done for Miami. People have questions about his ability to bump to guard, but either of these guys here in round 2 would be a solid pick-up for Miami.
Christian Haynes - IOL - UConn
Haynes is a player that I really had some concerns about with his pass blocking at times, he graded out fine, but some of his technique seemed a bit sporadic. Then I remembered we had Liam Eichenberg and Lester Cotton starting at guard last year, and I eased up a bit. Haynes will be a terrific addition to the run game with his prowess in zone blocking. He has great footwork and athleticism to get second level. I still have doubts about certain aspects of his game, but I believe he has all of the tools to be a plus starter in the league, so he is someone Miami should definitely target if they pass up on OL in round 1.
Ricky Pearsall - WR - Florida
I think Pearsall may be the best fit in Miami of the second-round receivers. He isn't a tall red zone threat like many fans may be clamoring for, but he has a great route tree and route running ability that would make him a great third option for Miami. He has great hands with only 2 drops on 85 targets last season. I know fans may be thinking we don't need a slot receiver, but McDaniel finds creative ways to line these guys up and help them find success. If offense is the pick here, I really like Pearsall.
Xavier Legette - WR - South Carolina
I haven't taken adequate time to watch Legette this offseason, as I thought there was no way Miami takes a pass catcher unless it's a TE, but now... I'm not so sure. Reports (and Legette himself) suggest he is going at the latest at 33 to the Panthers, but the draft process is a cruel mistress, and sometimes, teams lie. Legette gives Miami another YAC machine and one with the body type many fans want. He is tall and big with great speed and RAC ability. He has great hands and is a great jump-ball guy. I think Legette in this offense could be deadly if he is available at 55.
Xavier Worthy - WR - Texas
Well, we all know McDaniel's real name is Mikey McSpeed so this would be no shock. Worthy is more than just fast though. His speed and quickness make him a good route runner, and his hands have improved over time. He will still have frustrating drops, and he is one of the smaller receivers in the class, but he could be a great option to learn under Tyreek and Waddle to take the reins when Hill's time is up. He may not be Tyreek, but he could surely be Jaylen Waddle's Jaylen Waddle if you catch my drift.
Ja'Tavion Sanders - TE - Texas
So a few weeks ago, I was pounding the table for this guy at 55. However, the league seems to have cooled on him over that time. I still think he will be a great NFL TE, but my questions about him are surrounding the need for another TE. Jonnu could hold that spot up for a couple of seasons, and there are plenty of great players in round 2. Sanders is a terrific athlete, despite some less-than-stellar testing numbers. He does a great job of finding pockets of space in the defense and plays well with the ball in his hand. As far as pass catchers go, I would love to see Sanders in Miami. I just wonder now if 55 is a bit too early for him.