A 7-round NFL Draft preview for the Miami Dolphins, as well as a top running back prospect to watch for the Dallas Cowboys.
In this edition of NFL Draft Notebook, we look at how the Miami Dolphins can add a couple of game changers despite only having two picks in the first four rounds of the NFL Draft. These playmakers will most likely be on the line of scrimmage as the team works to improve both the defensive and offensive lines.
In addition to anticipating what the Miami Dolphins may do in the 2024 NFL Draft, this week’s piece discusses what the Dallas Cowboys could do at running back, a potential legacy pick for the Denver Broncos, and much more.
Miami Dolphins’ Mock Draft
The Dolphins suffered huge defensive line losses, with Christian Wilkins joining the Las Vegas Raiders and Emmanuel Ogbah being released in a cap-saving maneuver. Jer’Zhan Newton, an Illinois defensive lineman, could play defensive end in the Dolphins’ 3-4 system owing to his explosiveness off the ball and remarkable strength.
Offensive guard is largely expected to be selected with the Dolphins’ first-round choice, but Miami will most likely find better value in the second round. UConn’s Christian Haynes should be able to boost the Dolphins’ 31st-ranked pass-blocking unit, which only allowed 12 pressures previous season.
The Dolphins need more depth behind Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer. Beau Brade of Maryland is an aggressive run defender who has the potential to be an excellent special teams cover man.
Another position where Miami will most likely attempt to add depth late in the 2024 NFL Draft is wide receiver. Ainias Smith of Texas A&M is an explosive wide receiver who would fit in well with Mike McDaniel’s playbook. Smith averaged 15 yards per reception last season and was a dangerous return man, ranking seventh in the FBS with a 14.3 average.
“He’s a unique player, a unique competitor, and I love him to death.”
While the Dolphins have two explosive runners in Raheem Mostert and De’Von Achane, both have some concerns. Mostert is 32 years old and will likely soon start to lose some of his explosiveness. Achane had a good rookie season when healthy, but injuries will likely always be a concern with him. Louisville’s Jawhar Jordan is another playmaking running back who has the hands to help out in the passing game
With their last pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Dolphins add one of the most productive pass rushers in college football. Last season, Green was named the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year after setting the conference record with 15.5 sacks in just nine games. He should be able to give Miami some much needed depth at the outside linebacker spot which they need with Bradley Chubb and Jaelan Phillips coming off significant leg injuries.
NFL Draft News and Notes
UNI defensive tackle gaining a lot of attention: Last week, I picked UNI defensive tackle Khristian Boyd to my All-Underrated team, and he is attracting NFL interest. According to Bleacher Reports, Ryan Fowler has 11 trips scheduled so far. This, combined with Boyd’s 38 bench press repetitions at Northern Iowa’s Pro Day, increases the likelihood that his name will be called during the draft. Boyd is now ranked as one of my top small-school players for the 2024 NFL Draft, with a fifth-round grade.
Cowboys address running back: It is starting to look more and more like the Cowboys will be addressing the running back position in the 2024 NFL Draft, after losing Tony Pollard in free agency and not signing any starting quality running backs. A player they have show a strong interest in is Texas’s Jonathon Brooks. The team met with him at the NFL Combine and sent offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer to meet with him at his pro day, Brooks is coming off an impressive season that saw him rush for 1,139 yards in just ten games before tearing his ACL.
Legacy continues: One of the top wide receivers in Denver Broncos history is Ed McCaffrey who spent eight years with the team and was named to the Denver Broncos 50th Anniversary Team. Denver is now looking at his son Luke McCaffery and are bringing him in for a visit. Luke is wide receiver who shows impressive quickness and is a big threat to pick up yards after the catch. Also, like his dad he excels at catching the ball in traffic showing both the contraction and strong hands to come away with the tough catch. I currently have a fourth-round grade on him and could see Denver using one of their four picks in the fourth or fifth round to take him.
How high would Shedeur Sanders have gone? Colorado head coach Deion Sanders made headlines last week when he revealed that his son, Buffalo quarterback Shedeur Sanders, would have been the second quarterback in the 2024 NFL Draft. I have a hard time seeing this, and I believe North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels would have been selected ahead of him. Instead, I probably would have given him a mid-first or second-round grade. The reason for this is because he has good arm strength and impressive accuracy when not under pressure. However, to be a top-five choice, he will need to enhance his pocket knowledge and speed up his reads.
“He would not have been the first quarterback off the board. I believe he had the skill, but he would have been the second quarterback selected.”
– Deion Sanders regarding Shedeur Sanders.
NFL Draft numbers for week 150: The Michigan Pro Day attracted over 150 NFL workers, making it one of the most attended pro days in NFL history.
3: Stanford kicker Joshua Karty made all three of his field goals from more than 60 yards during his pro day. He went an incredible 11 of 13 on the day.
4: Montana wide receiver Junior Bergan could be the best return man in the 2025 NFL Draft. Last season, he returned four kicks for scores, including three punt returns and one kickoff.
85: Miami wide receiver Xavier Restrepo set a Hurricane record with 85 receptions last season. He enters the 2024 season as one of the best wide receivers in college football.
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