The Dolphins are in a great position, with four picks in the top 50 of the NFL draft after gaining a first and second from the Houston Texans. Even better, Miami went 10-6 and still gets the 3rd overall pick, thanks to the Texans’ poor season. So what is the best-case scenario for the Miami Dolphins?
I project that the Dolphins trade back from 3 to either 5 (Cincy drafts Sewell) or 8 (Carolina takes a quarterback), and Miami will still be in a great position to get a Waddle, Chase, or Smith. If the Dolphins add a big-time wide receiver to their roster in the draft like Ja’marr Chase, Devonta Smith, or Jaylen Waddle to go along with Will Fuller, who they signed in free agency, the Dolphins offense will be truly transformed into a big-play style offense. And in 2021, a lot of NFL betting will be on the Dolphins as they will have a diverse offense with a talented young quarterback at the helm.
I think Chase is the first one off the board, so I’m going to say the pick is WR Jalen Waddle out of Alabama. But if the Dolphins are looking to add a playmaker in the passing game and do not want a wide receiver Kyle Pitts the tight end out of Florida is a big-time prospect who would instantly give Miami a 1-2 punch at the tight end position the league hasn’t seen in many years.
With the 18th pick, I am not the biggest fan of getting a running back in the middle of the first round, and the Dolphins need youth on the pass rush. So if Miami’s Gregory Rousseau is on the board at 18, I think Miami takes him and develops into that elite pass rusher alongside Christian Wilkins and Emmanuel Ogbah for the Dolphins front seven in 2021. Some other names to keep an eye on here with the 18th pick are Jayson Oweh, Penn State, Azeez Ojulari, Georgia, and Kwity Paye, Michigan. With the Dolphins moving on from Kyle Van Noy, finding someone who can set the edge in the running game and get after the quarterback and bring pressure is necessary. It is one of the biggest weaknesses on this Dolphins defense currently.
Here’s a bold prediction, I think Miami will be aggressive when they get to the 36th pick and trade up back into the end of the first round up to 27 with Baltimore. And they will get either a Najee Harris or a Javonte Williams and will be able to jump a team like Buffalo, who is RB-needy. Or if Miami thinks a Travis Ettiene will be there at 36 and they like him enough, maybe they stay put and take the best running back on the board at the top of Round 2.
Don’t rule out them trading up from 36, though; they can use the assets they got from the 3rd pick if they slide down to trade back into the first and have 3 picks in Round 1. Just like in 2020 when Miami had 3 selections in the first round and took a quarterback, left tackle, and a cornerback.
