Chris Grier and Mike McDaniel finally have a 1st Round selection after not selecting a top 32 pick since 2021. The Miami Dolphins fan base has been feverishly wargaming about the possibilities of what the Phins will select for months. The fanbase should be excited because the talent pool is rich and it’s a sure bet with the best pay-per-head that Miami could find themselves with a real stud if the draft falls right or they don’t trade back to acquire more picks. So, let’s do one last wargame on who the Phins will select tonight.
The Phins 21st Pick could reel in a stud!
The Dolphins need as many good players as they can get their hands on to overcome the likes of the Chiefs, Ravens, and Bills. Depending on how the board falls and their philosophy, trading out of the 21st spot to get more draft picks could be the best move. Sometimes more can be more… and sometimes more can be less. Grier hasn’t talked much about trading back, so I don’t think this is the plan.
If the Phins use the pick, they need an immediate starter that can hopefully turn into a perennial Pro Bowler. Grier tends to draft guys that need to cook for a few years before they hit the ground running. Let’s hope we get a player that fires out of the shoot hot because the Dolphins had a roller coaster off-season, losing former draft picks to free agency. Thankfully Grier made some very savvy acquisitions to offset mostly what they lost and fill other holes on the roster, positioning the Phins to select the best player available even if it is not at the position of the most need for them.
The various bookmaker software providers have the Dolphins as a -175 favorite to use their first pick on an Offensive lineman, the 2nd favorite is +200 for them to select a defensive lineman, and the 3rd favorite is +600 on a wide receiver. This makes total sense and it would be fair to say we will use that first pick on a player at one of these positions, compared to any other position.
Physicality in the trenches or more pass-catching talent?!
In terms of offensive lineman Miami lost Robert Hunt and Connor Williams, and Terron Armstead is probably playing in his last year before he retires, so the Offensive line is an area we need to get young at and land a Day 1 starter. The 2024 Draft is loaded with top-tier tackle talent and two studs at center. If we go linemen the most common names mocked to us are Taliese Fuaga, Jackson Powers-Johnson, and Graham Barton. I would go with Powers-Johnson or Fuaga, but Fuaga is the least likely to be there at 21.
On the Defensive Line, the Dolphins have a monster hole after losing DT Christian Wilkins, and on the edge, we lost Van-Ginkel, and both Phillips and Chubb recovering from season-ending injuries. The name that keeps getting mocked to go to us at DT is Jer’Zhan Newton, who could potentially come in to start Day 1. At the edge position, Jared Verse is a player to keep your eyes on. Of the two I would prefer Newton since we have a bigger mystery and hole at DT than at the edge position.
Lastly, wide receiver is not a huge need, but it was obvious from last year that Miam needs a better 3rd wide receiver that can also make plays to draw defenders off Hill and Waddle. This is an ultra-deep wide receiver class, so if Miami doesn’t use their first pick on a receiver, they very well could find one in the 2nd Round. The two names linked the most to Miami are Brian Thomas Jr. and Xavier Worthy, who is intriguing because he set the NFL combine record for the fastest 40 time ever at 4.21. YES! Miami’s offense is already the fastest in the league, but they could reach superhuman levels with Worthy. The problem with him though is that he is small, and we already have a bunch of small fast receivers on the roster. MJ and I both like Thomas Jr. more because we’d probably be better off adding a taller receiver who is also fast.
What the Miami Dolphins do tonight will likely shock us. Hopefully, it’s the right move whatever it is. Miami must take another step forward this season and these top two draft picks will go a long way toward making that happen!
What are the rest of the Miami Dolphins news fans thoughts on who we should select with our first pick?
