The Miami Dolphins knocked it out of the park with their first-round selections in the 2020 NFL Draft, but they still have plenty of picks left. As of this posting, the Dolphins currently have the 39th, 56th, and 70th overall picks during Day 2 of the NFL Draft. While they could trade some of those selections, there should be plenty of good players left when the Dolphins are on the board.
Miami Dolphins Day 2 NFL Draft Options
Pick 39
Xavier McKinney/Grant Delpit [NFL Draft Profile – McKinney] [NFL Draft Profile – Delpit]
The Dolphins are well on their way to building one of the best secondaries in football. With Byron Jones, Xavien Howard, and first-round pick Noah Igbinoghene at cornerback, the Dolphins are three deep at perhaps the most important non-quarterback position. However, they can further bolster their coverage unit by getting either Xavier McKinney or Grant Delpit. Both players are versatile first-round talents that excel at disrupting the passing game. Opposing offenses simply aren’t going to have any easy throwing lanes with this much talent on the back end.
Josh Jones [NFL Draft Profile]
The Dolphins got their left tackle of the future in Austin Jackson, but they still need a right tackle. Josh Jones is an absolute monster of a man that most projected to go off the board late in the first round. However, he could very well be around when the Dolphins are on the clock at 39. With Jones on board, the Dolphins should have a solid offensive line with answers at every starting position. There’s nothing more important for a young quarterback than solid protection, especially when factoring in Tua Tagovailoa’s injury history.
Denzel Mims [NFL Draft Profile]
The Dolphins don’t need a wide receiver, but Denzel Mims is going to be hard to pass up at 39. DeVante Parker and Preston Williams are a solid duo, but adding an athletic freak like Mims should be enough to take the unit over the top. Most defenses don’t have three cornerbacks capable of covering guys of this talent, so somebody should always be open for Tagovailoa.
D’Andre Swift [NFL Draft Profile]
Considering positional importance, the Dolphins could probably wait to select a running back. However, there’s no denying that D’Andre Swift is a talented all-around player. The running back is more than capable of reading blocks, picking the right holes, and making big plays when in the open field. However, what truly sets him apart is his pass-catching ability and dynamic receiving skills. He should be yet another reliable weapon for Tagovailoa as the Dolphins begin their rebuild.
Pick 56
Netane Muti [NFL Draft Profile]
If healthy, Netane Muti could be the steal of the draft. When on the field, Muti is arguably the best all-around interior lineman in the class. The Fresno State product is simply unstoppable in the run game, capable of blowing up interior lineman with the speed to chase down linebackers in space. He’s just as good in pass protection, as it’s rare to see him ever lose a rep. However, the big question with Muti is health. He missed a sizable portion of the past two seasons with an Achilles and shoulder injury, respectively. However, if the Dolphins are shooting for upside and upside alone, Netane Muti should be the obvious pick.
Ashtyn Davis [NFL Draft Profile]
If Miami passes on safety at 39, they could still get an immediate starter in Ashtyn Davis. While he’s not quite as versatile as a guy like McKinney, his range in the deep part of the field is second to none. Brian Flores loves to keep his cornerbacks in press coverage, and Davis’ range should allow that aggressive play-calling to work. It’s going to be hard for anyone to complete deep passes with Davis’ above-average anticipation and range.
Lucas Niang [NFL Draft Profile]
This obviously won’t happen if the Dolphins take Josh Jones at 39. However, it’s easy to imagine the Dolphins passing on a tackle to select Lucas Niang later in the second. Niang is a powerful blocker that can clear massive lanes in the run game, although his work in pass protection leaves something to be desired. Flores comes from the Bill Belichick tree, and they have a long history of being able to fix fundamental flaws in young prospects. Based on raw talent alone, Niang has the potential to be a cornerstone at tackle for years to come.
Zack Baun [NFL Draft Profile]
The Dolphins don’t necessarily need Zack Baun, considering they signed edge defenders Kyle Van Noy and Shaq Lawson in the offseason. However, Flores loves guys of Baun’s profile, and the value might be too good to pass up. There’s no such thing as too much pass rushers, and Baun’s ability to play in multiple fronts should only make him all the more tempting for Flores.
Michael Pittman [NFL Draft Profile]
Another value pick here, as Michael Pittman has the potential to be a perennial Pro Bowler. In most years, a guy of his talents would be an easy first-round pick. However, thanks to the depth at the position, he’s something of a forgotten man. Combining Pittman with Parker and Williams will give the Dolphins one of the best receiving cores in the NFL.
Pick 70
Logan Wilson [NFL Draft Profile]
If the Dolphins want to bolster their run defense, Wyoming’s Logan Wilson is the best man for the job. He’d thrive in a different era of football, as he’s a ferocious north-south runner with great vision and tackling skills. He can be effectively utilized as a blitzer, but his struggles in coverage should push him down into the late third. Despite the NFL’s pass-happy nature, there is still a role for a guy like Wilson in today’s NFL. While he lacks superstar upside, he should be a solid rotational player at the next level.
Cam Akers [NFL Draft Profile]
Akers isn’t quite as dynamic as a guy like D’Andre Swift, but he’s still capable of making plays on all three downs. While he’s more of a runner than a receiver, he is still capable of doing everything a running back needs to do to see the field on all three downs. He might start his career splitting snaps with Jordan Howard, but should be the unquestioned starter by 2021 at the latest.
Neville Gallimore [NFL Draft Profile]
Neville Gallimore is the classic run-stuffing interior lineman that defensive-minded coaches absolutely adore. He’s unmovable in the trenches, holds up to double teams, and is surprisingly quick off the snap. While he’ll need to improve his overall balance, he should be an immediate contributor as an early-down run stuffer.
Willie Gay [NFL Draft Profile]
The Miami Dolphins could use another linebacker, and Willie Gay could be Miami’s ideal third-round target. Gay is the perfect linebacker for the modern NFL, as the Mississippi State product excels in coverage and can go step-for-step with tight ends and linebackers. While he’s not the best run defender, he is easily worthy of an early third-round pick if the Dolphins decide that the reason behind his 2019 suspension isn’t cause for serious alarm.
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