As Miami Dolphins fans awake on Saturday morning, with more NFL Combine to go, it’s natural that wishlists have been made across the social-media verse. While Miami is without a first-round selection, they’ll make their initial 2023 draft pick at No. 52.
In what’s excellent news for the Dolphins, and fans who understandably have newly found fandom in the prospects they covet to land in Miami, positions of need such as inside linebacker, tight end and running back seem to be plentiful in the areas where they select.
In the top 85 picks, Miami has three (No. 52, No. 77 and No. 84), which all could be perfect spots for their needed positions.
Again, they’re out of the first round, but with at least four quarterbacks, and several players from already accounted-for positions like wide receiver, edge and defensive tackle likely off the board in the first 31 picks, the Dolphins are in a solid spot based on their vacancies to land a plug-and-play starter.
Miami is very thin overall at linebacker and can use a pure-inside “Mike” style man-in-the-middle, and while many Dolphins fans have one in mind, No. 52 may be a tad too late for combine stock-riser in Iowa’s Jack Campbell.
Prior to the combine, Campbell was inside of the top-100, and a third-round mock-drafted player from analysts like Chad Reuter of NFL.com. As his mid-February three-round mock played out, and ironically, Reuter had Campbell’s name fictionally called by the Seattle Seahawks at No. 83, one slot before Miami’s pick at No. 84.
Campbell is a hard-nosed, tough inside linebacker who can start Week 1 for any team in need. Miami is certainly one of them, and while his numbers at the combine arguably move him into the top three or four at the position, he just may have spiked his value to creep up into the early portions of the second round, if not higher.
As per his number at the combine and the Next Gen Stats they produced, he was first among linebackers in Athleticism Score at 89, fifth in Production Score at 74, and third in overall Total Score at 82.
He clocked a 4.65-second 40-yard dash, a 37.5” vertical jump, 10’8” broad jump and a three-cone drill of 6.74 seconds. These numbers match with what is on tape from his years at Iowa, and that’s his physical, clearly athletic and much-needed cerebral play with his high football IQ.
At 6-foot-five and weighing 249 lbs, Campbell has great length and could be a captain-quality player in the near future. Miami’s new defensive coordinator, Vic Fangio, would have a perfect pupil in Campbell.
As social media indicated, Campbell is becoming rather popular on social media.
Continuing our series of scouting reports on potential #MiamiDolphins draft targets with a look at intriguing Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell, the pros and cons of his game, how well he would fit with Miami, and more.https://t.co/hfcKPfYV2l
— Alain Poupart (@PoupartNFL) March 4, 2023
Iowa LB Jack Campbell was the Butkus Award winner playing in a defense similar to the one the Dolphins will have with Vic Fangio – and he's already envisioning matching up with Tyreek Hill. https://t.co/DHZrjMs94G
— Daniel Oyefusi (@DanielOyefusi) March 2, 2023
Hey Miami Dolphins fans! Tune into a new episode of our draft coverage show as the guys discuss Dolphins potential draft pick Iowa LB Jack Campbell, plus they do our 2nd Round 1 Mock Draft! Tune in now: https://t.co/3WuO9jE9Hi #FinsUp #NFLCombine2023 #NFLDraft #NFLTwitter pic.twitter.com/1VeN0qhRb4
— Fins Talk Sports Network (@FinsTalkNetwork) March 4, 2023
Jack Campbell isn't getting to round 2 #FinsUp https://t.co/biKE4R6mvs pic.twitter.com/FOynFWTZ2l
— Tom Ernisse (@DolphinsTalkTom) March 3, 2023
I honestly wouldn’t, ton of good players going to be available at 51 & I think Jack Campbell can possibly one of them (I’m praying)
— Bobby Shouse (@B_Shousejr) March 3, 2023
Would LB Jack Campbell be available for #Dolphins at 52? #FinsUp
— Matthew Basinger (@MaineFinFan) February 25, 2023
https://t.co/7X6Z6M1egR for you @BobbyFinsTalk
— DolphinsThirsty.com (@DolphinThirsty) February 24, 2023
Jack Campbell Training With Legend Luke Kuechly👀Should Dolphins Draft Jack Campbell?#FINSUPPPP #jackcampbell #lukekuechley https://t.co/UQGBJVzUEQ pic.twitter.com/Qfyzaszy4r
— DGSC 🐬🇭🇹 (@DolphinGangA1) March 4, 2023
Jack Campbell, você será um Dolphin! #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/GDQe77ronQ
— Phinsverso 🇧🇷 (@PhinsversoBr) March 3, 2023
Iowa LB Jack Campbell says he won't flinch covering Dolphins' Tyreek Hill https://t.co/aHPe3g6Llg #miamidolphins
— Phins.com (@Phinscom) March 2, 2023
Two defensive players I really like for for the #Dolphins at 51, Julius Brents and Jack Campbell
— Chris Winn (@ChrisWinn211) February 26, 2023
Kind of read the Miami Dolphins twitter community slightly and they’ve now discovered Jack Campbell like a lot have and are in love. We’re screwed though, he isn’t making it to 51 overall.
— Cody Foster (@Co2dy_Foster) March 3, 2023
Now, of course, it’s very likely that Campbell now can move into a top 40 area, and if Miami is serious about him, there could always be the possibility of a trade-up. However, with limited picks in 2023, general manager Chris Grier may have to work some slight magic to position himself for a chance to make Campbell a Miami Dolphin.
Perhaps Grier can call upon a team with a surplus of picks, cap room and a need for a veteran player with which the Dolphins can assist. If Campbell clears the first round, Miami should do anything in its power to move up the 15-20 slots to select this potential difference-maker on defense.
Yet, if a team sees crystal-clear potential in the Iowa Hawkeye and calls his name in the first round, at this point, it’d come to nobody’s surprise, as he’s looking like a bullseye pick.
