The first wave of free agency is officially in the book, which means the NFL Draft is the next big event on the offseason calendar. In just over one month, the Cincinnati Bengals will officially be on the clock, and the dreams of 100’s of collegiate athletes will finally come true. Trying to predict what will happen during the draft requires a lot of luck, as there are so many variables to account for. However, this Miami Dolphins mock draft takes a look at the players the Dolphins could go after when April rolls around.
Note that this Dolphins mock draft does not include any trades due to the obvious issues with trying to simultaneously make decisions for two separate teams. Also note that this exercise was performed using the Draft Network’s Mock Draft Simulator, so all of these players have a decent chance of being on the board when Miami is on the clock.
Miami Dolphins Seven-Round Mock Draft
First Round (5th Overall) – Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama
In the real world, the Dolphins will probably have to trade up to secure their quarterback of the future. However, since this Dolphins mock draft doesn’t have any trades, Miami sits back and lets Tua Tagovailoa fall into their laps. The Alabama product reportedly passed all his medical checks and recently posted a video of him doing some quarterback drills. His long-term health shouldn’t be a worry, so this pick isn’t even a question.
Tua Tagovailoa NFL Draft Profile
First Round (18th Overall) – Josh Jones, OT, Houston
The first step to a successful rebuild is finding the quarterback of the future. The second step is providing said quarterback with enough tools to succeed. The Dolphins helped bolster the offensive line by adding Ted Karras and Ereck Flowers, but they still need to address the tackle position. Josh Jones is a little raw, but he has the size and strength you dream about in a tackle prospect. While his fundamentals could use some refining, he should start right out of the gate and could develop into a top-five tackle if he perfects his hand usage and leverage.
First Round (26th Overall) – Grant Delpit, S, LSU
The Dolphins have a fantastic cornerback duo with Byron Jones and Xavien Howard, and they continue to address the secondary with the selection of Grant Delpit. The LSU product has great ball skills, can line up against tight ends and running backs, and is a dangerous force as a box safety. If Delpit pans out, then the Dolphins should have above-average starters at three of the four secondary positions.
Grant Delpit NFL Draft Profile
Second Round (39th Overall) – Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Colorado
DeVante Parker finally broke out in 2018, so receiver isn’t that big of a need. However, getting a player like Laviska Shenault in the second round is just too good of an opportunity to pass up. Shenault has ideal size and hands for the position, knows how to separate, and is an absolute menace in the open field. If Preston Williams can continue his upward trajectory, this should be one of the better receiving trios in the league.
Laviska Shenault NFL Draft Profile
Second Round (56th Overall) – Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State
Josh Jones is a fix for left tackle, but the Miami Dolphins still need a right tackle. Ezra Cleveland spent his collegiate career playing left tackle, but enough players have made the transition to the right side of the line to make you believe that Cleveland should handle this transition in stride. The Boise State product has all the athleticism you could ever hope for, but still needs to add some size before reaching his ultimate ceiling. He should be an average starter in the short-term with above-average potential, which is more than enough to justify a second-round pick.
Third Round (70th Overall) – Netane Muti, OIL, Fresno State
If Netane Muti can stay healthy, then he could be the best interior offensive lineman in the entire class. The Fresno State product is an absolute monster in the running game, capable of throwing defensive lineman around like they’re punters. He’s just as good in the pass game and is one of the most complete players in the draft. However, he’s also missed significant time to injuries over the past two years. Muti is a high-ceiling, low-floor player that is easily worth the risk in the third round.
Fourth Round (141st Overall) – Jordan Elliott, IDL, Missouri
Jordan Elliott isn’t a superstar, but he’s the type of player you dream about taking in the fourth round. The Missouri product knows how to use his hands, has a good first step, and can play all over the defensive interior. However, he still has work to do as a pass-rusher and needs to add another move or two to his game. He’s a solid rotational piece in the short-term with potential to develop into a league-average starter.
Fifth Round (153rd Overall) – Lamical Perine, RB, Florida
Lam’ical Perine is a jack of all trades, master of none. The Florida product is decent with the ball in his hands, can read rushing lanes, and probably has the potential to catch 20-30 passes out of the backfield at a relatively efficient rate. However, he won’t make too many explosive plays and isn’t going to pick up more than what’s provided by the blocking. He probably won’t beat out Jordan Howard for the starting spot, but he should be a valuable member of the running back rotation.
Fifth Round (154th Overall) – David Woodward, LB, Utah State
At this point in the draft, the Dolphins should just worry about taking the best player available. In this version of the draft, said player is linebacker David Woodward. From an athletic standpoint, Woodward leaves a lot to be desired. However, his football IQ jumps off the page, as he always knows where to break and can diagnose the weaknesses in a blocking scheme. He can fight for one of the final spots on the roster.
Fifth Round (173rd Overall) – Myles Bryant, CB, Washington
Myles Bryant spent his collegiate tenure at safety but doesn’t have the range to play the position at the NFL level. He’s going to be a slot cornerback in the NFL and should be able to hold his own in the short part of the field. However, he doesn’t have the speed to cover anything deep and is probably going to need to make a living on special teams.
Sixth Round (185th Overall) – Michael Divinity Jr., EDGE, LSU
Michael Divinity is something of a steal in the sixth round, as he probably should be a mid-round pick based on pure talent alone. However, the LSU product missed some time after violating team rules in 2019, and this will affect his draft stock. From the outside looking in, he’s worth taking in the sixth round. If the suspension isn’t reflective of his long-term team mentality, then the Dolphins get a solid depth piece late in the draft. If he’s not worth the headache, the Dolphins can just move on with no harm done.
Seventh Round (227th Overall) – Josiah Scott, CB, Michigan State
This is another pick that’s all about shooting for upside at the bottom of the draft. Josiah Scott projects as a slot cornerback thanks to his play strength, but he doesn’t have much experience manning the slot. Additionally, he has a history of injuries and his frame suggests that they weren’t just one-time flukes. However, if he can stay healthy and pick up the slot, he could be a decent depth piece.
Seventh Round (246th Overall) – Aaron Parker, WR, Rhode Island
Aaron Parker has phenomenal hands, ball skills, and nothing else. The Rhode Island product can haul in just about anything thrown his way, but he can’t do anything else with it. He’s a below-average route runner that struggles to separate, and he isn’t anything special in the open field. He could theoretically develop into a decent red zone threat and is worth a late-round flier.
Seventh Round (251st Overall) – Tipa Galea’i, EDGE, Utah State
Tipa Galea’i has some interesting traits, but doesn’t stand a chance of being an NFL regular unless he gets a lot bigger. He could stick around if he stands out on special teams, but he’s probably destined for the practice squad. And with that, we are done with the Miami Dolphins seven-round mock draft.
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