With the Miami Dolphins 2021 season having come to a disappointing end, it’s time to focus on the future and ensure that this team takes some positive steps towards becoming a contender.
The draft is one of the biggest events of the offseason, and it’s less than 100 days away, so everybody is interested in who Miami could select to improve their team. At this point in the year, mock drafts are coming nearly every day, and on Wednesday, ESPN dropped their most recent mock draft that has the Dolphins selecting Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson at 26th overall.
Here’s what ESPN’ Mel Kiper Jr. had to say about the selection:
“Miami has used significant assets to build its offense around quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, but not every move has worked out, particularly along the offensive line. They’ve used three top-50 picks on the O-line in the past two drafts, and none of the three — Austin Jackson, Liam Eichenberg and Robert Hunt — is a surefire above-average starter. With Trevor Penning off the board in the previous pick, though, I don’t have another lineman with a Round 1 grade. So let’s address another spot to help Tagovailoa with this pick, which comes from the 49ers’ trade up in last year’s draft.
Dotson is a speedster who had 91 catches for 1,182 yards and 12 scores in 2021. Jaylen Waddle caught 104 passes as a rookie, but the best way to help Tagovailoa is to get him another pass-catcher who can make plays after the catch. Dotson is explosive with the ball in his hands and has the versatility to line up all over the field.”
In most mock drafts so far, the Dolphins have selected an offensive tackle to replace at least one of their starters. Kiper’s approach is one I think a lot of Dolphins fans would like to see. If they add a wide receiver to give Tagovailoa more weapons, they can go out and grab a veteran tackle with all of the cap space they’re projected to have.
With Waddle, Dotson, and DeVante Parker, Miami’s offense could take that next step.
