The Miami Dolphins require better protection for their quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, and Jordan Reid from ESPN predicts that the team will do so early in his seven-round mock draft.
Reid thinks the Dolphins will choose Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims with the No. 21 pick. This would give the Dolphins more depth at a crucial position and help keep Tagovailoa from getting hurt this season.
“Terron Armstead will be back for the 2024 season, but Miami may need to plan for the future at offensive tackle, especially after losing key players from the O-line in free agency,
Reid said when explaining why he thinks Mims will be chosen. “Mims potentially has more talent than any other offensive tackle in this group. The only issue is that he has only started in eight games, so there isn't a lot of data to judge him on.”
Dolphins Choose in First Round After 3-Year Break
If the Dolphins make a pick at No. 21 or stay in the first round on Thursday, it will be the first time the team has picked in the first round since 2021. Miami lost its 2023 first round pick because of two illegal tampering violations.
The Dolphins tampered with now-retired quarterback Tom Brady in 2019 while he was with the New England Patriots and in 2021 while he was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Miami also tampered with Denver Broncos head coach Sean Payton in 2022 while he was still with the New Orleans Saints.
The Dolphins also lost a third-round pick for this year as part of the penalty, but the team still has six picks overall in every round except the third and fourth.
Dolphins Focus on Defense in Draft
Reid predicts the Dolphins will choose a defensive tackle Braden Fiske from Florida State in the second round.
“I predict Miami will continue to focus on the trenches after choosing offensive tackle Amarius Mims in Round 1, but this time they'll focus on the other side of the ball,” Redi wrote. “Fiske has excelled in every step of the pre-draft process and would fill a major gap for the Dolphins after losing defensive tackle Christian Wilkins in free agency. Fiske ran the 40 in 4.78 seconds at the combine, demonstrating his overall speed, and he ended last season with 10 run stops and six sacks.”
Reid then predicts the Dolphins will go for Texas A&M guard Layden Robinsonin the fifth round at No. 158. He has started 31 games in the last three seasons for the Aggies.
In the sixth round, Reid has the Dolphins selecting Michigan edge Jaylen Harrell at the No. 184 pick. Harrell has 10 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, and 78 tackles in his time with the Wolverines.
Miami also picks up Washington safety Dominique Hampton at No. 198 in the sixth round in Reid’s mock draft. Hampton has two interceptions, 14 pass deflections, 189 tackles, and a forced fumble in his time with the Huskies.
Lastly, Reid suggests the Dolphins should focus on defense again with the No. 241 pick in the seventh round, selecting Georgia State linebacker Jontrey Hunter. The standout player for the Panthers has recorded six sacks, seven forced fumbles, 234 tackles, and 22.5 tackles for loss throughout his career.
