In what’s been a wild offseason thus far, draft discussions are finally upon us as a top priority for teams around the NFL. A decent amount of time exists between the draft and now, but mock drafts are in full force among both experts and fans alike. Questions are constantly being hurled around sports talk shows in an effort to rile up audiences. Will the 49ers take Mac Jones or Justin Fields? Is Kyle Pitts a top five pick? Who’s the best receiver in the draft?
No matter what your answers to those questions are, not a single soul can seem to give a definitive answer regarding their ideas and predictions for this upcoming event. Everyone thinks they have it figured out, but can’t give a definitive answer in crunch time. So, what’s our thoughts on this whole fiasco, and specifically the Miami Dolphins, you ask?
Well for starters, the Dolphins occupy the 6th overall pick and are sure to stir up some juicy draft rumors. Sitting at 10-6 last year, the team showed that they are only one or two pieces away from qualifying as a serious playoff contender.
Now, all eyes rest on Miami and their front office. Whether their picks come on the offensive or defensive side of the football, picking the right guy to wear the Dolphins uniform will be absolutely essential.
6th Overall Pick: WR Devonta Smith, Alabama
As stated earlier, there’s no clear cut No. 1 wide receiver in the draft. Before 2021, it would have been Jamar Chase of LSU. However, Chase opted out of this past year’s CFB season, giving others the opportunity to join the spotlight. Step in none other than Devonta Smith, an Alabama WR who immediately took advantage of the national spotlight around him. The ‘Bama senior dominated the SEC, earning a reputation as Mac Jones’s No. 1 target. His efforts in bringing the Crimson Tide to another College Football Playoff were well received, as he won the Heisman trophy over some of the nation’s top quarterbacks. Now, he looks to lead off a stacked wide receiver group in the NFL Draft.
As for the Dolphins, the team desperately needs to expand on their current wide receiver core. We’ll admit that DeVante Parker and Will Fuller are great components to the team, but aside from those two, there’s really nobody else for Tua Tagovailoa to target. If the Dolphins want play at a more competitive level, then they’ll have to give their young quarterback someone else to work with.
That someone is Smith. Smith played with Tua Tagavailoa in college, and he’ll be sure to act as a difference-maker from the get-go. Sure, he’s young, but he’s shown all the character traits and statistics necessary to stand out above the rest.
Other top options: WR Jamar Chase, WR Jaylen Waddle, OL Penei Sewell, and Kyle Pitts
18th Overall Pick: RB Najee Harris, Alabama
Bama, Bama, and more Bama. Did we forget to mention Bama? If so, let’s just say we’re pretty high on the guys coming out of college football’s titletown this year.
Sure, the best guys in college aren’t always the best guys in the pros. However, Alabama qualifies as a productivity machine when it comes to producing NFL-ready talent.
So, it only makes sense when we say that the Dolphins should take not one, but TWO players from Alabama in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft. Who’s that second player, you ask? Well don’t worry, it’s certainly no schmoe. In fact, we thought it would only be right if the Dolphins accompany the best wide receiver in the draft with arguably the best running back in the draft.
That’s right, we have Miami taking none other than Najee Harris with the 18th overall pick. While some people may say that’s too high to take a running back, we say there’s no better place to fix one of the biggest issues on the Dolphins roster. Sure, Myles Gaskin isn’t bad, but having him as a RB1 stands out as a problem. Fixing the issue in the run game is an absolute must, and we would prefer if the Dolphins get it done early rather than waiting. For that reason, don’t be surprised if Miami becomes the new Alabama of the NFL.
Other top options: RB Travis Etienne, EDGE Gregory Rousseau, and DE Jaelen Phillips
Concluding Thoughts
Whilst not set in stone, we have a confident feeling in the predictions presented above. Taking arguably the best wide receiver AND the best running back in the draft would completely revamp the Dolphins’ offense to a new extent. Tua Tagavailoa would easily feel much more comfortable at the quarterback position with two of his former college teammates by his side. Of course, there are plenty of great go-to options, but Devonta Smith and Najee Harris are sure to act as difference-makers wherever they go.
At the end of the day, all eyes will be on the Miami front office during draft day. With that being said, Fins Up!
