Draft analysts weigh in on what Dolphins should do with 21st and 55th overall picks

Where should the Dolphins turn with the NFL Draft’s 21st pick on April 27?

Five analysts weighed in on that and Miami’s 55th overall selection:

▪ In his initial mock draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has the Dolphins selecting Washington guard Troy Fautana and offered this comment:

“The Dolphins could lose two starting offensive linemen in free agency, as center Connor Williams and right guard Robert Hunt are scheduled to hit the market in March. They also likely will have limited cap space… Why not add an O-line replacement here? There’s room to improve, as Miami ranked 31st in pass block win rate (49.2%).

“Fautanu started 31 career games for the Huskies, spending most of his time at left tackle. I see his future at guard, however, as his 6-foot-4, 317-pound frame and playing style fit on the interior. He allowed two career sacks on nearly 1,250 pass-blocking snaps. It wouldn’t shock me if a team drafted Fautanu to play tackle, but I see All-Pro upside for him at guard.”

The players who Kiper has the Dolphins bypassing at 21 but going in the next five slots: Oregon State offensive lineman Taliese Fuaga (who started 25 games at right tackle for the Beavers), Illinois defensive tackle Jer’Zhan Newton (16.5 sacks in three seasons), Arizona offensive lineman Jordan Morgan (35 starts at left tackle), BYU offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia (had 12 starts at right tackle and 11 at left tackle the past two seasons) and Penn State defensive end Chop Robinson (5.5 and 4.0 sacks the past two seasons).

Kiper has FSU edge player Jared Verse and Georgia cornerback Kamari Lassiter being selected right before Miami’s pick at No. 21.

▪ NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah mocks LSU receiver Brian Thomas Jr. to Miami. Because of needs on the offensive line and cornerback (two deep positions in the first round), this pick is somewhat difficult to envision unless the Dolphins surprisingly trade Jaylen Waddle two years before he’s due for a big contract.

On the flip side, he’s a big target who would address the Dolphins’ red zone issues and gives Miami a player who potentially could win his matchups when teams are blanketing Hill and Waddle. Whether it’s a third receiver or a tight end who’s a seam threat, the Dolphins could use another weapon who can beat man coverage against good teams.

“Miami elects to build on a strength,” Jeremiah said in explaining his Thomas pick. “I could see Thomas going much higher than 21st in the draft, but Tua Tagovailoa reaps the benefit in this scenario. Thomas gives the Dolphins some size — without sacrificing speed — alongside Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle.”

The 6-5 Thomas had 68 catches for 1,177 yards (17.3 average) and 17 touchdowns last season.

Jeremiah’s picks immediately after the Dolphins’ selection at No. 21: Oklahoma offensive tackle Tyler Guyton, Penn State edge rusher Robinson, Arizona offensive tackle Morgan, Duke guard/center Graham Barton (“could play all five spots up front”) and Missouri cornerback Ennis Rakestraw Jr.

Jeremiah has UCLA edge player Laiatu Latu and Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims going in the two spots just before the Dolphins’ pick at 21.

▪ The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has Miami picking Oregon guard/center Jackson Powers-Johnson at 21, bypassing aforementioned fellow linemen Fuaga, Guyton, Fautanu, and Suamataia.

Powers-Johnson impressed at Senior Bowl practices early this week. “Cannot say enough say impressive Jackson Powers-Johnson has been,” PFF lead draft analyst Trevor Sikkema said on X. “Dominating at center and guard. Wins consistently with power, but here he shows the patience and quickness, too. Not sure he’s lost a 1-on-1 rep all week.”

▪ Then Brugler has Miami taking Texas A&M linebacker Edgerrin Cooper at 55 with this explanation:

“A long, rangy athlete, Cooper showed steady improvement throughout his time in College Station and capped it with a career year (led the Aggies in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks and forced fumbles). He can impact the game in a variety of ways.”

Kiper calls Cooper the best off-ball linebacker in this class but doesn’t have him as a first-rounder.

Cooper had 84 tackles (including 17 for loss) and eight sacks last season.

Among players at need positions, Brugler has Penn State cornerback Kalen King, Michigan inside linebacker Junior Colson, Texas tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders, West Virginia guard/center Zach Frazier, Iowa State cornerback T.J. Tampa and Missouri cornerback Rakestraw Jr. going into Miami’s second-round range at 55.

▪ PFF has the Dolphins taking Alabama offensive tackle JC Latham at 21, though some have him off the board by then.

PFF says he’s a “plug and play option” as a rookie, but that wouldn’t be necessary with Terron Armstead (if healthy) and Austin Jackson.

PFF has Oregon interior lineman Powers-Johnson at 55: “He’s 6-foot-3 and 320 pounds and a mauler in the run game with good movement skills.”

The Dolphins don’t have third- and fourth-round picks. PFF recommends looking out for FSU tight end Jaheim Bell with Miami’s fifth-round pick, speculating that “the Dolphins will be in [on] Jaheim Bell due to the athleticism he brings to the position. He is listed at 6-foot-3, 240 pounds and has been used all over the field. In his college career, he played 190 snaps in the backfield, 100 as an outside receiver, 381 as a slot receiver and 454 as an inline tight end. He is the Swiss-army knife type of tight end who Mike McDaniel could use as a mismatch.”

▪ CBS’ Chris Trapasso, like ESPN’s Jordan Reid previously, mocks Oregon offensive tackle Morgan to Miami at 21. Trapasso says: “Given [Tagovailoa’s] inability to be a consistent creator off-script, the Dolphins have to throw assets at the offensive line in the draft, and Morgan is a clean pass protector.”