NFL Draft guru Jordan Reid of ESPN put out his latest 2-round Mock Draft, and in the first two rounds he has Miami filling two big needs on it’s roster.
Round 1, Pick #11: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami (FL)
“Mauigoa has some of the cleanest film to evaluate of any prospect in this year’s class. He’s a model of consistency as a steady blocker who has the mauling power to generate movement and enough lower-body quickness. While there is talk of the 6-foot-5, 329-pound Mauigoa possibly kicking inside to guard at some point, drafting him here and pairing him with Patrick Paul would give the Dolphins’ new regime a pair of bookend offensive tackles to start their rebuild around.”
Overview
Highly touted prospect who met expectations as a durable three-year starter at right tackle. Mauigoa has a guard’s broad build, but he moves like a tackle in pass sets. He’s highly experienced with an impressive football IQ that pops on tape. He has good contact balance and a strong core. He delivers firm first contact but excessive leaning diminishes not only his leverage and sustain as a run blocker but also his ability to deal with spin counters when protecting. He’s good at trapping rushers at the turn and can smother their momentum. He has the footwork, anchor and punch timing to diversify his pass-set approach. He works with an innate feel for pocket depth and is rarely out-paced to the top by speed. Mauigoa has a high ceiling but the leaning must be eradicated. He’ll be an early starter at right tackle but a move to guard could be on the table in the future.
Strengths
- Three-year starter and 2025 team captain.
- Dense build with broad frame and outstanding lean muscle mass.
- Well-balanced delivering pop on contact into the opponent’s frame.
- Generates torque from hips to clear kick-out blocks from gaps.
- Fits the block and cranks up his foot chop to push the sled.
- Good hip-to-hip positioning working double-teams.
- Unlocks hips and digs in with in-steps to door-jamb bull rush.
- Hands are patient during smooth, measured pass slides.
- Latches in and runs the rush around the pocket.
- Has anchor for vertical sets and range to hit diagonal set points.
Weaknesses
- Average range getting to angles and landmarks in outside zone.
- Too much leaning and not enough bending as a drive blocker.
- Falls off the block when feet lag behind his pads.
- Spin counters are a mounting concern in pass pro.
- Lack of length limits rush redirection when beaten.
- Could struggle staying connected to stacked moves.
Round 2, Pick #43: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego St
“After drafting an offensive tackle in Round 1, the Dolphins can go with Johnson here. He is a rock-solid corner prospect who is climbing up draft boards. He would give Miami a high-end starter and fits coach Jeff Hafley’s prototype for an outside corner.”
Overview
Scheme-versatile cornerback prospect with average size and the ability to play inside or outside. Johnson is consistent in mirroring the release from his pedal and rarely labors when transitioning with route breaks. While many college corners lean on lax officiating to grab and maul, Johnson stays disciplined. He trusts his footwork and technique to remain tight to the route. He attacks the catch point with run-through force and is a tenacious wrap-up tackler who can quickly end plays. Big receivers can steal some high-points, but not enough to cause concern. Johnson’s coverage versatility, toughness and athleticism should make him an early starter for a coverage-hungry team.
Strengths
- Coverage movement is controlled and confident.
- Mirrors and matches the release with consistency from his pedal.
- Rarely declares hips early to release or route fakes.
- Footwork is clean and natural in transitions and recovery.
- Tracks throws with the intention of making a play on the ball.
- Closes distance to suffocate work space on vertical routes.
- Trusts his feet and was rarely penalized in coverage.
- Attacks blockers with aggressive punches and is a wrap-up tackler.
Weaknesses
- Average recovery speed when he’s beaten.
- Phases on top side of the route and loses positioning late.
- Features small delay transitioning from the top of his drop.
- Had trouble battling big-bodied receivers on jump balls.
- Big running backs can drag him for extra yardage.
