The Miami Dolphins are in a great position to ace the 2020 NFL Draft. They have five selections within the first two rounds, including three of the top-26 picks.
This will enable general manager Chris Grier to move up and down the draft board as he sees fit. With needs throughout the roster, Miami should have a ton of success come draft day.
It’s in this that we give you the Dolphins full 2020 seven-round mock draft.
First round, fifth pick: Justin Herbert, quarterback, Oregon
Miami has been linked to Tua Tagovailoa for more than a calendar year. Issues have now come up regarding his injury and the inability of teams to meet with the former Alabama star. This has led to suggestions that the Fins are now higher on this Oregon product.
Herbert is your prototypical drop back quarterback. He has a strong arm and plus-level intermediate accuracy. Sure the former Duck standout is raw. Most quarterbacks are coming out of college. But head coach Brian Flores can sit him for a season behind Ryan Fitzpatrick to help the talented young signal caller learn the nuances of the NFL and adjust to the speed of the pro game.
First round, 18th pick: K’Lavon Chaisson, EDGE, LSU
One of the most-talented pure pass rushers in this year’s class, Miami would be getting an absolute steal in Chaisson in the middle of the first round. We’re talking about a 6-foot-3, 254-pound edge rusher with elite speed and plus-level pass-rush ability out of the gate. Chaisson might be a bit raw, but he can win with talent out of the gate.
The additions of Shaw Lawson and Kyle Van Noy as pass-rush options in free agency helps Miami. It should also be centrally focused on offense early on. With that said, Chaisson is too talented for general manager Chris Grier and Co. to pass up on.
Second round, 37th pick: Jonathan Taylor, running back, Wisconsin
Trade: Dolphins send 26th pick to the Colts for 37th pick and third rounder
Already boasting the most picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, a trade down from the end of the first round doesn’t make a ton of sense. That’s until we realize running back is a target position for Miami and it can find tremendous value on Day 2. Under this scenario, the Fins trade down 11 spots and pick up an extra third-round selection.
With this pick, Miami adds a potential future All-Pro back in Taylor who absolutely dominated elite college competition in the Big 10. Taylor (5-foot-1, 226 pounds) tallied 6,581 total yards and 55 touchdowns in three seasons with the Badgers. He showed an ability to catch the ball out of the backfield last season and is already a plus-level blocker. Taylor would be a Day 1 starter in South Beach.
Second round, 39th pick: Antoine Winfield Jr., safety, Minnesota
Miami has addressed the cornerback position in a big way. Making Xavien Howard and Byron Jones the highest-paid corner tandem in league history is going to help out the back end of the Dolphins’ defense. Though, they still need help at safety. Veteran journeyman Adrian Colbert just isn’t going to cut it at free safety.
Enter into the equation an elite-level cover single-high safety in that of Winfield. Outside of his father’s NFL success, this former Minnesota star has an ability to become a true center fielder from that position. It’s what teams need in today’s NFL. This would be an absolute steal.
Second round, 56th pick: Lynn Bowden Jr., wide receiver, Kentucky
We did wait for a bit to go wide receiver. It’s just the way the draft board played out. It’s also not necessarily a bad thing given the depth at this position in the 2020 NFL Draft. Miami also needs help behind DeVante Parker if a young quarterback is going to have success in this offense.
That’s where the ultra athletic Bowden comes into play. He lined up at quarterback, running back and wide receiver during his Wildcats career. The 5-foot-11 playmaker figures to be more of a Tyreek Hill type in the NFL. His short-area speed and break off the line will help a young quarterback find open throwing lanes on a consistent basis. Bowden put up 745 receiving yards for Kentucky in 2018 before tallying 1,468 rushing yards last season.
Third round, 70th pick: Adam Trautman, tight end, Dayton
Former second-round pick Mike Gesicki upped his game as a sophomore last season. Despite this, you can never have enough capable receivers at the tight end position. Flying under the radar because of his status as a small-school college player, Trautman would be an absolute steal in the third round. The 6-foot-5 pass catcher hauled in 70 receptions for 916 yards last season.
Third round, 71st pick: Robert Hunt, guard, Louisiana-Lafayette
Miami finally addresses a major need a long the offensive line in another small-school product. Hunt (6-foot-5, 323 pounds) already boasts a pro-ready frame. He has a rare combination of size and athleticism teams covet. If Hunt had played at a bigger school, he’d likely be seen as a second-round pick. Alas, Miami gets a lineman who has experience playing both tackle and guard. It’s a much needed fit for Flores and Co.
Fourth round, 141st pick: Davion Taylor, linebacker, Colorado
Even after bringing in Elandon Roberts from the division-rival New England Patriots, Miami could use depth and talent at inside linebacker. The 6-foot, 228-pound Taylor brings that to the table. He ran a tremendous 4.49 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine and has sideline-to-sideline speed. It’s something the Dolphins could use.
Fifth round, 153rd pick: Darnay Holmes, cornerback, UCLA
Holmes is seemingly being underrated by the masses heading into this month’s NFL Draft. At 5-foot-10, he’s seen as too small to play on the outside. Being limited to the slot will hurt his stock. But that’s what Miami needs with Howard and Jones on the outside. Holmes has great speed and ball skills. He’ll also be utilized as a returner early in his career before seeing snaps on defense.
Fifth round, 154th pick: Trey Adams, offensive tackle, Washington
Seen as a potential top-10 pick heading into the 2017 season, injuries derailed Adams’ career in Seattle. Adams tore his ACL that season before suffering a bulging disc in his back the following year. However, he did return to play every game as a senior and earned All Pac-12 honors. If he proves that these injuries are behind him, Adams could very well be Miami’s left tackle of the future. It’s a risk the team should be willing to take in Round 5.
Fifth round, 173rd pick: Jonah Jackson, guard, Ohio State
Three mid-round offensive linemen? That’s what Miami should be doing here as a way to build up both depth and talent. In Jackson, they’d be acquiring an elite-level guard who is limited to zone-blocking systems at this point in his career. Jackson more than proved his worth against elite Big 10 competition. He’d be a steal in the fifth round.
Sixth round, 185 pick: Quez Watkins, wide receiver, Southern Mississippi
We couldn’t possibly complete this seven-round mock without adding a second receiver to the mix for Miami. Watkins (6-foot, 185 pounds) ran a 4.35 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine. He was also extremely productive for the Golden Eagles over the past two seasons, recording 136 catches for north of 2,000 yards.
Seventh round, 227th pick: Raequan Williams, defensive tackle Michigan State
Yet another player who was seen as a potential first-round pick a couple years back, Williams has the frame to hold up at the NFL level. He stands at 6-foot-4 and weighs just north of 300 pounds. Issues with consistency at Michigan State have seen him fall off the map. He’s a high-upside player who can line up at multiple positions. Why not blindly throw a dart in this direction?
Seventh round, 246th pick: James Robinson, running back, Illinois State
Even after adding Taylor earlier in the draft, Miami needs to find more talent at running back. Free-agent signing Jordan Howard is not the long-term answer. Enter into the equation a reliable running back in that of Robinson. He put up 5,218 total yards and 48 touchdowns with Illinois State. At the very least, Robinson could be a core special teams performer. At best, a short-yardage and third-down back.
Seventh round, 251st pick: Jordan Mack, linebacker, Virginia
One of the leaders on a pretty darn good Cavaliers defense over the past several seasons, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound Mack has the athleticism to play multiple positions. He suited up at linebacker and both safety spots for Virginia last season, recording 69 tackles and 7.5 sacks.