Meet the Dolphins 2022 Draft Class!

The Phins 2022 team has added it’s last big pieces

So… I was hoping for a Running Back and MJ was hoping for an Offensive Lineman. As always, the Phins rarely get you what you want in the draft. Instead of selecting any lineman or running backs, the Dolphins pulled the trigger on two linebackers, a wide receiver, and a quarterback. I’m just hoping if I can’t get what I want, at least I get what I need to have a successful 2022 Season!

Phins picked up a lean and mean linebacker

With the Miami Dolphins first pick in the 3rd Round they selected Linebacker Channing Tindall from Georgia. While Tindall wasn’t a starter for the Championship Bulldogs, he played a lot and was a big contributor to their dominant defense. He tested as one of the most athletic Linebackers at the combine ever, scoring a 9.69 on the RAS out of a possible 10.0 (Relative Athletic Score), which ranked him 77 out of 2419 LB from 1987 to 2022! Tindall played both inside and outside linebacker at Georgia, showing his versatility. He was also one of the fastest LBs in this draft class and is a true sideline to sideline type of player. The downside is he’s a bit on the smaller side and has limited playing time with fewer than 600 snaps in 4 seasons due to all the talent ahead of him on the depth chart.  Most pay per head sites see high potential, but he will need to put in the work to make the next step.

In the fourth round the Dolphins opted to add another Wide Receiver to the roster in Erik Ezukanma from Texas Tech. For me, this had to be a ‘best player available’ type of a selection because the Dolphins are pretty deep at Wide Receiver. Ezukanma is a big receiver, so he can potentially fill the void left by trading away the big bodied DeVante Parker. The kid is highly talented and has excellent run after the catch ability, for a big man is very elusive, and has great explosiveness. He is also very good at catching the ball at its high point, which was a specialty of Parker’s. The biggest knock on him is his limited route tree and need to improve on creating separation, but these are things that can be taught and improved upon.

Tindall, Ezukanma… and some 7th Rounders

In the 7^th round the Dolphins selected another Linebacker in Cameron Goode from the University of California-Berkeley. He’s another speedy linebacker with a active motor who is a downhill and physical tackler. However, he needs to get stronger, add bulk to his frame, and tends to play a bit upright. Goode is most likely a potential special team’s player… if he can make the roster.

Lastly, the Dolphins used their other 7^th round pick on QB Skylar Thompson from Kansas State. Even though we didn’t need a QB this year, I have always liked the idea of adding a QB each draft because you never know when the next late round Tom Brady will be found. If you select a QB each draft your odds of finally finding a franchise QB increases. There’s no harm in using a late pick to take a chance on the most important position in football… especially when he’s the only player in Kansas State school history to throw for 6,000 yards and rush for 1,000 yards in a career. 

Thompson has very good accuracy on short timing routes, which is a key requirement in the West Coast Offense that Coach McDaniel runs. In addition, he is very mobile and has a knack for making defenders miss. But let’s be realistic, he’s a late pick for a reason. Thompson needs to really improve on his decision making, do a better job of reading coverage’s, and doesn’t have an elite arm. Clearly, Thompson is a project, but maybe we get lucky with this late round flier pick.

All in all, with the little ammo Miami had use in the draft, they seem to have found one or possibly two player who can help this franchise turn the corner.