2018 NFL Draft: Miami Dolphins 7-round mock
By Joe Romano
Round 5 – No pick for the Miami Dolphins
Round 6 – Pick 186
Jaylen Samuels, TE/FB/RB, North Carolina State
Looking at the three positions listed for Jaylen Samuels probably is confusing. In all honesty it may not be enough. North Carolina State used Samuels in every aspect of the offense. He should just carry the term offensive weapon. He would be a great piece the dynamic Miami offense.
At N.C. State, Samuels played all over the field and even as a wildcat quarterback down in the goal line. His future at the NFL is probably as a H-back/tight end. Measuring about 6-feet and 200 pounds, places Samuels in a weird size range. Samuels played well at the Senior Bowl despite being used strictly as a running back, shining in the pass catching drills. With an impressive combine he could become a riser on draft boards. He is already a favorite by many draft fans on Twitter.
In Miami, Samuels would offer the team another goal line weapon from all over the field. The team has struggled in the red zone for a few years now. Adding a weapon like Samuels who can come out of the backfield, line out wide or even at quarterback should address that issue.
Round 7 – Pick 223
Folorunso Fatukasi, DT, UConn
After addressing linebacker, secondary and edge, grabbing an interior defensive lineman late should give the Dolphins some depth up front. Ndamakung Suh is clearly the starter and still a dominant player. Miami needs some depth up front in the middle. Folorunso Fatukasi would provide that and has flashed upside during his time at Connecticut.
Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 318 pounds, Fatukasi provides the space eating ability Miami would love to help free up Suh and the new linebackers. With a seventh round pick that is about the best a team can ask for.
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Round 7 – Pick 229
Van Smith, S, Clemson
Another area that seems well addressed but could use some depth for Miami is safety. Starters T.J. Mcdonald and Rashad Jones are fine players on the back end. Saftey Van Smith out of Clemson would give the team insurance at the position. McDonald has already missed time due to violating the substance abuse policy.
Smith was an afterthought on Clemson’s defense that features four potential NFL defensive lineman and talented corners. What he brings is a rangy middle of the field player who could develop into a rotational player in the secondary. Miami is comfortable with their starting safeties but getting a guy who can fly like Smith, even if just for special teams is great value this late in the draft.