The Miami Dolphins can change the face of its franchise during the NFL Draft. They have four picks in the top 50 of a draft with a lot of interesting talent. They also have the third-overall pick they got from the Laremy Tunsil deal. After taking Tua Tagovailoa with a high pick last season, that pick can either be used to trade down for a quarterback desperate team or to take a generational talent at a different position.
The Dolphins addressed a ton of needs last year through free agency and the draft, and it got them to the cusp of the playoffs. They missed the playoffs thanks to a blowout loss to Buffalo in Week 17. With everything on the line, they put up a pathetic effort against the Bills, who had already clinched its spot in the postseason.
This season, the Dolphins need to smash the draft and free agency to become a true competitor with the Bills in the AFC East.
Miami Dolphins Seven-Round Mock Draft
Round 1
It’s basically down to four options at four if the Dolphins are happy with Tua Tagovailoa at quarterback. They can either take Oregon offensive lineman Penei Sewell, LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, or Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith.
Smith and Chase are two receivers from a different breed. They both can be the best at the position in just a few years. They both have a championship pedigree (it’s rare to have two wide receivers from different teams with their last games ending with a championship win). The Dolphins have a need at wide receiver and the players available here are second to none.
The Alabama connection is the only thing that’s going to make the Dolphins choose Smith over Chase. So, if the Dolphins do something to replace Tagovailoa that somehow still leaves them with this pick, then Chase is coming. However, finding someone who is already used to Tua’s left handed throw, then it makes a lot of sense.
Smith isn’t a bad prospect, and he’s going to make an NFL impact on day one. The chemistry is a bonus.
Kwity Paye has been rising up draft boards throughout the 2020 season, and now he’s considered the best defensive end prospect in the draft. He was easily getting into Big Ten backfields last season, and now he’s looking for a spot in the middle of the first round. He’s really good in run-stuffing schemes, and he can stop even great running backs in their tracks. He’s been incredibly hard to block in a conference that focuses on run blocking.
Paye only played in four games this past season, but he was able to put up 22 pressures on the quarterback according to Pro Football Focus. He’s the kind of player teams fall in love with at the draft process, but without an NFL Combine, his athleticism will only come off on film and at pro days. Paye has all the tools to start in the NFL tomorrow.
The Dolphins will love to add him to the defensive line if he’s available at 18.