After two years in the wilderness, the Miami Dolphins are on track to pick in the first round for the first time since Brian Flores’ last NFL Draft with the team.
But that won’t be the only new development for the team this April.
Miami Dolphins’ NFL Draft Strategy
Their selection is in a range — the 20s — that the Dolphins have picked just once in since 2010.
That, of course, is a reflection of the team’s uninspiring on-field performance of the last two decades. Teams that pick in the 20s made the playoffs the year before, which the Dolphins have done just three times since winning the division in 2008.
So how will Mike McDaniel react to his first first-round pick?
Will he roll the dice on a player with red flags but high upside, or will he go with a safer, more boring pick? Those might be the only choices in that range since the cleanest prospects will be long gone by that point.
NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, who spent nine seasons in NFL scouting before talking about it on TV for a living, has some advice.
“To me, you’re the Miami Dolphins,” Jeremiah said during a national conference call Thursday. “You’re right smack dab in the middle of your window. So, to me, you’re looking upside — guys that are ready right now.
“I always think about what [Ravens general manager] Ozzie Newsome used to always say, ‘Let’s just hit doubles in the first round. Let’s not strike out,'” Jeremiah added.
“If I’m the Miami Dolphins, I want someone who can come in and help me, who I feel like is a rock-solid player ready to roll right now. That would be the area I’ll be leaning towards — if I had the choice between Player A and Player B, I might be a little bit more conscious of the floor, just personally, where they are. A lot of times, those high-floor picks end up being really really good players.”
Jeremiah’s pick for the Dolphins at 21 in his latest mock draft?
UCLA EDGE rusher Laiatu Latu, a senior who had 24 sacks and 35.5 total tackles for loss in 33 collegiate games.
Jeremiah’s reasoning?
KEEP READING: Trade or No, Dolphins Need To Address Wide Receiver in Free Agency
“Latu would give the Dolphins three outstanding pass rushers with Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips already in place,” he wrote. “Keep in mind: Miami could lose Andrew Van Ginkel in free agency.”
Other players potentially available in that range that address the Dolphins’ needs?
Tackles Troy Fautanu (Washington), Tyler Guyton (Oklahoma), and Amarius Mims (Georgia); and cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell (Toledo) and Ennis Rakestraw Jr. (Missouri).
Miss football? The 2024 NFL Draft is almost here, boss. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!