Now that the 2022 NFL draft is officially closed, the Miami Dolphins added four selected players as well as a slew of undrafted free agents.
The Dolphins added a pair of linebackers in the draft in third-round pick, Channing Tindall from Georgia, and seventh-round pick, Cameron Goode from California.
Tindall is Miami’s earliest drafted linebacker from Georgia since Bill Stanfill was selected 11th overall in 1969. At the time of his retirement, Stanfill led the Miami franchise in sacks. Today, he’s third in team history.
Goode is the first-ever linebacker from California picked by Miami, and the earliest Golden Bear drafted by the Dolphins since tight end and current South Florida broadcaster, Joe Rose.
The Tindall pick clinched the continuation of two trends displayed by Miami general manager Chris Grier in his tenure as a lead executive. He’s gone through seven straight drafts with selecting a player from a reigning collegiate national champion. He’s also picked an SEC player in all of his selection processes.
Grier also took care of the offensive side of the ball as well, as he added two depth pieces in wide receiver Erik Ezukanma out of Texas Tech and closed their draft with quarterback Skylar Thompson from Kansas State.
Ezukanma is the sixth player Texas Tech player drafted by Miami. The last was wide receiver Jakeem Grant. The former Dolphin was taken in the sixth round of the 2016 NFL Draft and was dealt to the Chicago Bears last season.
Of course, legendary linebacker Zach Thomas was from Texas Tech, and Ezukanma’s new wide receivers coach Wes Welker was also a Red Raider. Perhaps a ready-made apprentice-teacher relationship is inevitable for Ezukanma and Welker.
Thompson, who was just the ninth quarterback Miami has ever drafted, was moved to tears when getting the phone call from Grier and his new coach making him Dolphin.
The 📞 every football player dreams of.
Here's @skylarjthompson's reaction!#NFLDraft x @Verizon pic.twitter.com/0em4UMIS7w
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) May 1, 2022
While the 2022 draft ended with four players, the fewest in one selection meeting in team history, Grier beefed up the roster with a crew of undrafted free agents.
On Miami’s roster right now, cornerback Nik Needham, wide receiver Preston Williams, offensive lineman Robert Jones and defensive lineman Benito Jones all eventually earned a spot as undrafted free agents.
The Dolphins will look forward to mini-camps with their rookie class in May, leading into a summer of what looks to be a number of heated positional battles.
Following the draft, rookie head coach Mike McDaniel was asked how he felt now that his first selection process in Miami went.
“I feel like there has been a lot of work done, but nothing has been done if that makes sense,” he told reporters.
That’s becoming a typical McDaniel response. It’s this type of answer Miami fans should be excited about, on top of every other aspect this new coach brings to the table. Grier has set the table with the groceries, and now it’s time for McDaniel and staff, as well as their players, to cook.
