The Miami Dolphins are sitting pretty heading into the 2021 NFL Draft. Loaded with picks on top of picks, Miami could build a championship team sooner than later. After already making a big trade to move down in the draft, the Dolphins are ready to build a team that stays dangerous for years to come. Let’s head inside the war room to check out the Dolphins draft strategy.
1st Round
- No. 6 overall (via Philadelphia Eagles)
- No. 18 overall
2nd Round
- No. 36 overall (via Houston Texans)
- No. 50 overall
3rd Round
- No. 81 overall
5th Round
- No. 156 overall
7th Round
- No. 231 overall (via Houston Texans)
- No. 258 overall (via Kansas City Chiefs)
Two picks in the first… two picks in the second… future first coming from San Francisco? Oh My!
Let’s start with that 6th overall pick. The Dolphins are in a great spot. Miami has essentially guaranteed themselves Penei Sewell, Kyle Pitts, or Ja’Marr Chase. One of them is going to be on the board. Let’s just say Pitts is the guy at 6. Imagine what a weapon like this does for the Dolphins’ offense? I would guess that’s how Miami is looking at this situation and why they traded down.
At 18, in a perfect world, doesn’t Miami attack the offensive line here? A year ago, Miami took Austin Jackson. Could they go back to the USC well with Alijah Vera-Tucker? Vera-Tucker is a versatile lineman coming into the league. Whether he profiles best as a guard or tackle, it’s another body to stick up front to protect Tua Tagovailoa.
At the top of round two with the other Texans pick, will Miami think running back? The Myles Gaskin & Salvon Ahmed situation is not ideal. You would have to think that Najee Harris and Travis Etienne will be off the board by pick 36. Javonte Williams wouldn’t be a bad alternative who was a broken tackle machine at North Carolina.
With the other pick in the second round, will Miami double down on the offensive line? Quinn Meinerz sounds awfully tempting. Matt Skura is a great stop gap but Meinerz has the potential to lock down this position long term. The Wisconsin White-Water product has had a great predraft promise and risen up boards.
At some point, the Dolphins should also look at a pass rusher. Trading away Shaq Lawson really depletes that unit. Maybe the Dolphins take a trip to Pittsburgh and consider Rashad Weaver or Patrick Jones? I think both would fit.
