The Miami Dolphins lack the kind of draft property the group has had the previous three years due to a number of trades which have left the group with simply 4 picks within the 2022 NFL draft — with solely a type of alternatives (No. 102) within the first three rounds.
However that shouldn’t stop the group from leaving the draft, and the undrafted signing interval that follows, with a handful of prospects who can change into contributors as a result of groups that may correctly consider expertise don’t want early picks to enhance their rosters.
Right here’s a take a look at Miami’s top-five positions of want, and the way the Dolphins may doubtlessly deal with them with a perfect match that may encourage buying and selling up, a second-tier participant that might finally change into a starter, and a fallback possibility accessible in Day 3.
NEED: Edge rusher — Emmanuel Ogbah is Miami’s second-best defender, however the Dolphins want to search out somebody dependable to place reverse him. Jaelan Phillips, Miami’s 2021 first-round decide, thrived when Miami scrapped their plans to make him an outdoor linebacker, and used the previous Hurricanes standout strictly as a go rusher final season. Behind these two there’s solely linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel and two developmental initiatives in Daeshon Corridor and Darius Hodge as edge gamers.
Commerce-up goal: Purdue’s George Karlaftis
Karlaftis is an phenomenal athlete who wins with energy and physicality. He’s efficient at setting the sting within the run recreation and performs with an aggressive temperament that may permit him to function a 3-4 defensive finish. He makes use of his fingers effectively on the level of assault and has an array of countermoves that allowed him to ship 14.5 sacks in his three seasons at Purdue.
Fallback plan: Kentucky’s Josh Paschal
Paschal’s motor runs sizzling, and that tenacity helps him win his fair proportion of battles on the line of scrimmage. He units the sting successfully, utilizing his size and powerful fingers to discard blockers. His rush abilities lack polish, which explains why he solely managed 13.5 sacks within the 52 video games he performed over 5 faculty seasons.
Make-it-work choice: Ole Miss Sam Williams
Williams has fast, violent fingers, and a motor that helps him clear up on performs. He has loads of prototypical traits, like his 4.46 time within the 40-yard sprint, which signifies that he’s a greater athlete than he's a soccer participant. Character considerations that stem from a felony assault cost that was later dropped will doubtless get him chosen a spherical or two decrease than his expertise would point out. His struggles towards the run in faculty imply that he could be greatest utilized as an outdoor linebacker.
NEED: Inside linebacker — Elandon Roberts’ profession historical past signifies that he’s a two-down linebacker contemplating he’s struggled in go protection, and Jerome Baker thrived enjoying exterior linebacker for Miami final season. If Baker stays in the identical function he performed the second half of final season, the Dolphins want to search out an inside linebacker who has run-game instincts and pass-coverage abilities.
Commerce-up goal: Alabama’s Christian Harris
Harris is a real three-down linebacker with free hips, velocity and athleticism wanted to cowl in area. His quickness and velocity permit him to beat blockers, however he additionally has the scale (6-2, 230) wanted work in site visitors. Nevertheless, offenses appeared to focus on him in protection in faculty and that might change into a problem within the NFL.
Fallback plan: Georgia’s Channing Tindall
Whereas Tindall was a job participant for the Bulldogs’ elite protection, he flashed playmaking means and traits that point out he’s an athletic mover who may change into a sideline-to-sideline defender. The one knock on Tindall is that he appears hesitant when dropping into zones. However he generally is a core particular groups participant who brings worth to the third part of the sport.
Make-it-work choice: Wyoming’s Chad Muma
Muma is a quick and instinctive linebacker who has a knack for stacking and shedding would-be blockers. His instincts present up when he’s requested to drop again into protection. He’s extra comfy enjoying together with his eyes within the backfield, which implies opposing quarterbacks may finally goal him within the passing recreation. One of the best side of Muma’s recreation is that he’ll be a direct particular groups contributor.
NEED: Middle — Michael Deiter began eight video games at middle final season, however hasn’t confirmed he’s an NFL starter in his three seasons. Whereas normal supervisor Chris Grier appears dedicated to seeing the previous third-round decide stay a starter, competitors by no means damage anybody, and seeing that Deiter is coming into the ultimate season of his rookie deal it will profit the Dolphins to be ahead considering by including a younger, developmental middle until the plan is to coach Robert Jones how one can snap.
Commerce-up goal: Iowa’s Tyler Linderbaum
This Iowa stud is athletic, and extremely fast. He’s good for a zone-blocking scheme that requires their middle to succeed in landmarks. As a result of he’s a tad undersized at 286 kilos, some groups would possibly draw back from making him a first-round decide, and that would offer Miami a fantastic alternative to pick a All-Professional caliber participant late within the first spherical, or early within the second if they're motivated to commerce into these rounds. All of it comes down as to if Miami’s decision-makers really feel Linderbaum is value buying and selling away a future first-round decide for.
Fallback plan: Wake Forest’s Zach Tom
Tom, who ran an official 4.94 40-time, has Day 3 worth as an above-average backup who can finally earn a beginning place. He’s cell sufficient to be efficient on attain blocks, and has the quickness and athleticism to play in any scheme. The largest concern is that he may need bother anchoring towards highly effective nostril tackles. He needs to be accessible in Day 3 until there’s an sooner than anticipated run on facilities.
Make-it-work choice: Arizona State’s Dohnovan West
West, a three-year starter for the Solar Devils, is at his greatest when he’s in open area. He has fast toes and good steadiness, and that helps him recuperate when crushed. There may be some concern if he can successfully anchor towards highly effective nostril tackles, which might clarify why he’s seen as a third-day expertise.
NEED: Nostril sort out — Who remembers how a lot the Dolphins struggled within the 4 video games Raekwon Davis missed, and throughout the handful of video games he performed whereas nonetheless recovering from his early season knee damage? It’s clear that Miami wants so as to add a greater nostril sort out than John Jenkins, somebody who could be developed right into a rotational participant, and potential starter since 5 defensive linemen have contracts that expire over the subsequent two seasons.
Commerce-up goal: UConn’s Travis Jones
This cumbersome nostril sort out makes use of his decrease physique to extract the ability he performs with within the trenches. He has spectacular quickness, and alter of path abilities, which point out that he may change into greater than a two-down defensive lineman. However lots about his recreation must be cleaned up from a technical standpoint. If he’s nonetheless on the board when Miami’s 15 picks from making their choice within the third spherical, the Dolphins ought to think about buying and selling as much as get him.
Fallback plan: LSU’s Neil Farrell Jr.
Farrell has fast fingers, possesses a great get off, and performs with a low middle of gravity, which helps him get beneath blocks. He can uproot offensive linemen, stacking and shedding persistently. Which means he has the talent set wanted to wreck a group’s run recreation. However he’s an excessive amount of of a straight line athlete to be a risk as a go rusher, regardless of the 7.5 profession sacks he produced in 52 faculty video games.
Make-it-work choice: Arkansas’ John Ridgeway
Ridgeway’s heavy fingers permit him to steer blockers the place he needs them to go, and his means to maneuver effectively laterally permits him to be an efficient upfield participant. His measurement (6-5, 320), power and motor will make him an intriguing prospect for many line of defense coaches as a result of he has all the pieces he must be profitable with good teaching.
NEED: Cornerback — Xavien Howard and Byron Jones are among the finest cornerback duos within the NFL, and Nik Needham is a younger, growing participant. However Needham has struggled at instances enjoying nickel cornerback, which depends closely on quickness and physicality. It might profit the Dolphins to discover a true nickel to develop, particularly since Needham is enjoying on a one-year deal.
Commerce-up goal: Washington’s Kyler Gordon
His uninspiring mix efficiency (4.52 within the 40-yards sprint) prevents him from being labeled among the finest athletes on this draft class, however he’s a fluid athlete who wasn’t overshadowed by his faculty teammate Trent McDuffie. He’s at his greatest in off-man protection and is instinctive in zone protection. He’s aggressive in run assist, which implies there could possibly be some potential for him as a nickel cornerback if he’s nonetheless accessible in Day 2.
Fallback plan: Alabama’s Jalyn Armour-Davis
Accidents led to a gradual begin at Alabama, however when Armour-Davis obtained on the sector he proved he because the make-up of a high cornerback within the NFL. He’s clean in his backpedal and is aggressive in run assist. It doesn’t damage that he ran a 40-time within the 4.3s, so don’t anticipate him to be on the board previous the third spherical as a result of Nick Saban cornerbacks are often NFL prepared and groups know that.
Make-it-work choice: Sam Houston State’s Zyon McCollum
McCollum has the scale (6-2, 200), physicality, velocity (4.33 within the 40-yard sprint) and athleticism (3.98 shuttle) that might make him a Day 2 choice. It doesn’t damage that he produced 13 interceptions and broke up 41 passes throughout the 56 faculty video games he performed. However there will probably be considerations in regards to the degree of competitors he confronted. However in two years he may turn into a high quality starter with the proper of teaching.
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