2020 NFL Draft: Miami Dolphins 7-round mock draft

With 14 picks including five in the top 60, the Dolphins stand as the most exciting team in this year’s draft – how will they choose to build the team?

The Miami Dolphins are on a spending spree and after being among the worst teams in football a season ago, they needed to be. During the early days of free agency, they have significantly improved the team on paper, which will allow them some added flexibility as they enter the NFL’s annual selection meeting.

Among the highlights of the team’s massive talent influx: start cornerback Byron Jones, linebacker Kyle Van Noy, defensive end Shaq Lawson, and guard Ereck Flowers.

Despite the efforts, the team will still enter the draft with innumerable holes to fill, outlined nicely by Brian Miller at our Miami site Phin Phanatic, after the first week of free agency. He includes offensive tackle, safety, interior offensive line, running back, defensive line (tackle and edge) and quarterback.

I do not see Miami standing in pat much in this draft and would absolutely expect them to package picks and move up to secure their quarterback at the top of the first round, and likely one to three other times during the draft as well.

For this exercise, we’ll assume they make all of their picks as scheduled – it just should not be the expectation.

There is a chance the Dolphins aim for Joe Burrow instead, here, and trade all the way up to the first pick to do so. If they do, expect that package to include either Josh Rosen or Ryan Fitzpatrick, as the Bengals will look for a competent starter to pair with a rookie, and the Dolphins will move to make room for their rookie on the roster.

If Miami does not secure Burrow, it is difficult to imagine a world where they do not move to make sure they acquire Tua as the next face of the franchise.

Admittedly, the global pandemic that is the novel coronavirus makes it more difficult to trust this selection. Medicals will be harder to check leading up to the draft as teams are not allowed to bring in prospects for visits and pro days are canceled. But Tua appears on track to making a full recovery and the former All-American, former Heisman finalist has too much upside for the Dolphins to pass on.

Wide receiver is not the most pressing need for the Dolphins, but there are no offensive tackles left at this point that are worth this high of a selection, and drafting Ruggs not only gives them someone who has legitimate No. 1 receiver potential, but also gives their new signal-caller some familiarity in their pass-catching corps.

Ruggs is a gifted athlete who only lasts this long in the draft because the receiver position is absolutely stacked in this year’s draft class. This is a great pick for Miami and gives them a legitimate rookie combo at two premier offensive positions.

The run on offensive talent continues at the bottom of the first round for the Dolphins when they pick up the draft’s best running back in former Bulldog D’Andre Swift. Swift is extremely versatile and an excellent running back who will be outstanding at the NFL level.

Dolphins’ fans will no doubt argue that the team has solved the position with Kalen Ballage and free agent Jordan Howard. We’re just going to have to agree to disagree. This first round transforms Miami’s entire offensive outlook by pairing returning starters Mike Gisecki (tight end) and Devante Parker (wide receiver) with an infusion of young impressive talent.