We’ve come to that time of year again—mock draft season. Everyone has one, and anyone that doesn’t certainly have an opinion on everyone else’s. 

I sat down and used multiple draft simulators and used varying strategies. Each produced varying results, some bad and some good. In doing this exercise, though, one thing became abundantly clear, the Dolphins have to do everything they can to trade the #3 overall pick. With that being said, I present to you a 7 Round mock draft (no trades) which I feel would be a home run. 

Round 1 – Pick 3 – Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon – The first two picks went chalk, with Lawrence and Wilson going one and two overall. Had the Dolphins not signed Will Fuller, then a wide receiver would have definitely been in play here. It’s becoming evident that Miami is forging an identity that they will not be pushed around on either side of the ball. One way to do that is to help solidify the offensive line with the best tackle in the draft. This pick not only strengthens the tackle position, but it should allow Robert Hunt to slide inside to right guard and move Kindley to left guard. All of a sudden, the Dolphins have the potential to have an excellent, very large offensive line who should be able to play together for years to come. 

Round 1 – Pick 18 – Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama – The draft fell the Dolphins way here for sure. I had a plethora of players to choose from. Still on the board were DeVonta Smith, Najee Harris, Travis Etienne, and Kwity Paye. The urge to take Harris here and pair him with a strengthened offensive line was great. I also thought that with all this talent still on the board that it would be likely one of the top three running backs would still be on the board in the second round. I also had the desire to take Kwity Paye to help bolster the Dolphin’s pass rush. In the end, I decided that the greatest need was to give our young franchise quarterback a weapon, and one that he was familiar with, so it came down to Smith vs. Waddle. In the end, I decided Waddle over Smith to add another element of speed to the wide receiver corps. 

Round 2 – Pick 36 – Javonte Williams, RB, University of North Carolina – The first-round gamble paid off. Williams is a bruiser with great balance that fits well into the Dolphins’ migration toward bully ball. Williams is not as skilled a pass catcher as Najee Harris but will be a hard man to tackle during 4th quarters in Southern Florida. I once again passed on a pass rusher in this spot. Gregory Rousseau from the University of Miami was still available here, but the desire to get a young bruising running back won out.

Round 2 – Pick 50 – Jayson Oweh, Edge, Penn State University – Once again, the draft couldn’t have fallen better. Oweh comes out of Penn State as a very athletic, albeit raw, edge rusher. The Dolphins have made it a point to hire coaches who can teach. You can teach techniques, but you can’t teach athleticism. Oweh might not have a big impact in year one, but it is an outstanding pass rush prospect that should pay dividends in year two and beyond. Two other players were available at 50 that I gave quite a bit of thought to Baron Browing, linebacker from Ohio State, and Landon Dickerson, Center from Alabama. I nearly went Dickerson with this pick, but I also didn’t feel like I could find an edge player of Oweh’s quality later in the draft, so ultimately the edge player won out.

Round 3 – Pick 81 – Josh Myers, Center, Ohio State – Passing on Dickerson in the second doesn’t come back to bite the Dolphins because sitting there in round three is the third-rated center in this year’s draft. Myers instantly becomes another piece to a very young offensive line that should have time to learn and grow into an NFL center. Myers is known for being a better run blocker than pass blocker, so he fits the theme of building a road grading offensive line. Two options were on the board for the defensive side of the ball. Chazz Surratt, the linebacker from North Carolina, was considered here. The problem with Surratt is that he doesn’t really fit the size criteria we’ve seen the Dolphins lean toward. Surratt is built more like a big safety at 6’1” and 227 pounds. I also took a look at Jamar Johnson, safety from Indiana. You know Brian Flores loves defensive backs, but when the football gods smile on you and let a player fall to you, don’t disrespect them.

Round 4 – Pick 123 – Dayo Odeyingbo – Edge – Vanderbilt University – After having 5 picks in the top 81, the Dolphins draft starts to show its holes. After waiting 42 picks, the Dolphins double down on an edge rusher. Odeyingbo fits the Dolphins mold measuring 6’6” and 276 pounds and arms more than 35” in length. Odeyingbo has the size and ability to play anywhere on the defensive line. He was second-team All-SEC in 2020, registering 32 tackles, 8 TFLs, and 5.5 sacks. Odeyingbo looks to be another position flexible piece for Flores defense. I also looked at Patrick Jones, an edge player from Pitt, and Kendrick Green C/G from Illinois. In the end, the size and athleticism possessed by Odeyingbo won out. 

Round 7 – Pick 238 – Shane Buechele – QB – Southern Methodist University – If you’re a baseball fan, the name may sound familiar. Buechele is the son of Steve Buechele, a 10 year Major League baseball player. Shane Buechele started his college career at the University of Texas, wherein his freshman year, he threw for nearly 3,000 yds to go with 21 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. In his sophomore season, injuries shortened his season, which ended with him losing his job to Sam Ehlinger, one he would never win back. Buechele transferred to SMU to play his junior year, where he had his best year as a collegiate quarterback, throwing for just under 4,000 yards with 34 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Buechele finished his college career with over 11,000 yards with 87 touchdowns and 32 interceptions. He also chipped in 8 rushing touchdowns—a practice squad developmental quarterback. 

If nothing else, know this; the 2021 draft will be fascinating for Miami Dolphins fans. It has the potential to be incredible as easily as it could be regrettable. I’m going to trust Flores and Grier to fill the cupboards for years to come.