I am going to preface the choices in this article by saying that just because Joe Alt is probably the best tackle in the class, he obviously will not be available for the Fins at 21. Additionally, Taliese Fuaga, Troy Fautanu, and Olu Fashanu will not be included, as I believe they will be gone before Miami selects. Fuaga or Fashanu would top this list if they were included.
These rankings are based on whether or not I believe the player would be a good fit in Miami. JC Latham, for example, is a great player, but I don't love his fit in the offense even though he is a great player, so he will not be included. I am also passing up on Tyler Guyton and possibly Amarius Mims on this list. I believe Mims will go before Miami, but even still, I have concerns about both of those guys in this system. Both guys are inexperienced, and too big to kick inside to guard, so they will not play this season when Armstead is healthy. Even if they did, they would be switching from RT to LT and I would prefer a natural LT. I also don't think either of them has the athletic profile in terms of the quickness that the offense is looking for. So, with all that said, let's jump into the list.
1. Graham Barton - LT - Duke - Projected Mid 1st - Early 2nd
If you have been on the site in the past month, you know my infatuation with this guy. Barton is an explosive athlete with tons of experience and positional versatility. He is the premier player in this class on the offensive line for Miami. He is intelligent, sees the field well, can eat up space like no other tackle in this class, and he is terrific in pass protection. What's the catch? He has short arms. So, he may be better suited to play guard in the NFL. However, a year at guard and the chance to compete for the left tackle job when Armstead retires is a perfect selection for this year's class. It isn't a wasted pick or someone who will need to sit behind Austin Jackson or Armstead. This is the best fit in the class for Miami full stop.
2. Jordan Morgan - LT - Arizona - Projected Late 1st - Mid 2nd
As I said, this may seem crazy to leave Tyler Guyton or Mims off this list, but Morgan, to me, is a better fit. He has three years of starting experience at LT and many believe he has the versatility to move to guard if needed. His strength is a question mark, but his athleticism and his ability to get to the second level are solid. While he is not perfect in pass protection, he is adequate and will get better with coaching. His experience, football IQ, and athletic profile are slightly behind Barton's, but still very much at a high level. He is a great candidate for Miami if they decide to trade down and Barton is off the board.
Next: Tackle Prospects for Round 2 or later
3. Kingsley Suamataia - LT - BYU - Projected Late 1st - Mid 2nd
This was my second highest-rated tackle prospect for Miami until I threw on tape of Jordan Morgan. Kingsley is close, but he is just a bit more raw. He just turned 21, so he is young, and he is the cousin of Detroit lineman Penei Sewell. He has longer arms than both Barton and Morgan and has played at both tackle positions. He is not a player who is projected to play at guard, but his lack of polish in pass protection and his run-blocking prowess make me believe he could kick inside for a year if needed. He is a player that needs to develop, but playing guard for a year to get his feet under him, then kicking back out to tackle next year may be a benefit to his long-term development. He is just as athletic as Jordan Morgan, and probably a bit stronger; he just needs to develop some aspects of his game to be an all-around stud.
4. Kiran Amegadjie - LT - Yale - Projected Early 2nd - Late 2nd
This would be if the Dolphins passed on the O-Line in the first round and picked at 55 without Morgan on the board. The discussion would be between Suamataia and Amegadjie. The latter is an FCS project who gave up 1 sack in three years while at Yale. He played guard and tackle, and has an athletic profile on par with Suamataia. He is extremely powerful but is still able to get to the second level quickly. He lacks awareness and anticipation at times when going out to block linebackers, but this is something that can be improved. The level of competition he played may be a concern, but if all linemen off this list are gone, taking Amegadjie at 55 is a worthwhile pick.
5. Frank Crum - LT - Wyoming - Projected 5th Rd - 7th Rd
There are obviously better tackles than Crum in the middle rounds. I like Roger Rosengarten, Blake Fisher, and Caeden Wallace. However, many of those guys would likely go in rounds 2-5, and I wanted to include a late-round shot in the dark here. If Miami wants to take a shot on a late-round tackle, Crum is as interesting as they come. He is a massive 6'8", 313lbs, and ran a sub 5s 40-yard dash. He is a 4-year starter with tons of experience, long arms, and terrific athleticism. He may only have the potential to be a quality backup or swing tackle in the league, but with Miami's recent history with O-Line injuries, a solid swing tackle late in the draft would be a great pick. Rounds 5-7 are where you draft athletic freaks and see if you can develop them; Crum is that athletic freak.