The Miami Dolphins 2023 NFL Draft has come and gone; it was a draft that met all of their needs, (for the most part), while leaving a huge question mark, regarding one of their selections and a player they parted ways with in free-agency. Without further adieu, here is who is heading to South Beach!
To summarise the Miami Dolphins 2023 NFL Draft Picks:
- Second Round, Pick 51st overall: Cam Smith, CB
- Third Round, Pick 84th overall: Devon Achane, RB
- Sixth Round, Pick 197th overall: Elijah Higgins, TE
- Seventh Round, Pick 238th overall: Ryan Hayes, OT
Miami Dolphins 2023 NFL Draft Review Grade: 8/10
Miami Dolphins 2023 NFL Draft Review: Expecting the Unexpected (A Miami Dolphin’s Mantra)
The Best Player: Cam Smith
Cam Smith will fill in nicely for a Dolphins secondary that was banged up and under performed last season. He will likely see a lot of time in a rotation with last year’s undrafted rookie standout, Kader Kohou, and should help add depth to starters Xavien Howard and the newly acquired, Jalen Ramsey.
The Head-Scratcher: Elijah Higgins
Here is where things became a little, confusing. Elijah Higgins is listed as a 6′-3″, 235 pound, wide receiver. Seeing as how the Dolphins already have enough wide receivers to fill at least the top five slots, (should they decide to keep five on the roster), they did not need a wide receiver. However, they do need a tight end, which is likely what the Dolphins will attempt to do with Higgins (convert him to an NFL tight end).
The question becomes (and it is likely due to money), why did the Dolphins let Mike Gesicki who could not block well, but made athletic grabs in the clutch, walk and then draft a player who can block but cannot make athletic catches? Unless Miami needs blocking more than a pass-catching tight end (plausible, considering the number of running backs currently on the roster), the question then becomes, why did Miami draft Higgins, who was mainly a receiver in college, instead of a player who solely played tight end in college?
The Surprise: Devon Achane
Pundits speculated before the NFL Draft that the Minnesota Vikings planned to send Dalvin Cook to the Dolphins prior to or during the Draft. It remains surprising to see those sentiments not come to fruition. Reports even conveyed that Cook wanted to come “home” to Miami to play for the Dolphins. Miami selecting Achane was also surprising considering the Dolphins already have Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson Jr., Myles Gaskin, and Salvon Ahmed occupying a four-man deep running back department. In the end, the Dolphins opted to add even more speed. Miami is already as speedy as they come, and they just got faster.
The Steal: Ryan Hayes
The Dolphins steal of the draft is Ryan Hayes. The lineman adds much needed depth to a Jekyll and Hyde offensive line. Week to week, Dolphin fans cannot never know which of the two versions of the offensive line plans to show up. Hayes played football at Michigan, where a player is not going to play football unless they have some sort of talent. Ryan Hayes should not be an exception.
Most Likely to Turn Heads in Training Camp: Ryan Hayes, again
Again, Hayes is the prospect, of the four, who is most likely to overachieve. He will show his worth, especially during training camp. At camp he can demonstrate his ability to anchor an offensive line. Hayes should aid the Miami Dolphins offensive line, who year in and year out have an identity crisis.
The Rest
The Dolphins only had four picks this season. The NFL docked their first-round pick for “Brady-Gate.” Miami also used draft capital to acquire Bradley Chubb last season from the Denver Broncos.
Main Image: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
