Dolphins seven-round 2021 NFL mock draft: Miami lands Tua Tagovailoa a well-known weapon in Jaylen Waddle

The Miami Dolphins wasted no time shaking up the NFL Draft. Already, they’ve made numerous notable trades, together with a deal that noticed them ship out the No. 3 general decide to San Francisco for No. 12 and different property. Brian Flores’ membership later moved that first-rounder to the Eagles to get again inside the highest 10 and are actually slated to select No. 6 general. For sure, it was a reasonably wild sport of musical chairs. Even with them now being in a brand new spot within the draft, the Dolphins are nonetheless well-positioned to herald some high-quality expertise to assist Tua Tagovailoa. 

How will they precisely do this? Here is a method the Dolphins’ 2021 draft may play out (h/t The Draft Community‘s mock draft machine):

LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase was the goal at No. 6, however the Bengals took him off the board proper in entrance of the Dolphins, which despatched them to Plan B in Alabama’s Jaylen Waddle. In fact, there’s a familiarity there between Waddle and Tagovailoa from their collegiate days and Miami may have simply as simply gone with fellow ‘Bama pass-catcher Devonta Smith on this spot as effectively. Nevertheless, we leaned towards Waddle attributable to his blazing velocity and game-changing skills. He additionally has excessive promise as a returner, which may very well be the kind of versatility that Flores — a disciple of Invoice Belichick — may discover endearing. Waddle could also be an instantaneous influence kind of participant and may gain advantage from studying the methods of the NFL from fellow deep menace Will Fuller, who signed a one-year cope with the Dolphins firstly of free company. 

From there, Michigan’s Kwity Paye was a great discover at No. 18. The sting rusher may very well be drafted a lot sooner than this spot, but when he falls to the Dolphins he is somebody with large upside whom Flores will like to unleash on a weekly foundation. The 6-foot-4, 277 pounder performs finest together with his hand within the dust, may be very athletic, and has the potential to wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks. 

Outdoors of the primary spherical, the Dolphins may look to improve a working again place that has been one thing of a headache for them over the previous few years. Miami’s 3.9 yards per carry was the fourth-worst within the NFL they usually might look to rectify that by bringing in Javonte Williams out of UNC. He is younger (shall be 21 firstly of the season) and is the kind of highly effective again that the Dolphins have been looking for. 

The offensive line was an space that was focused a lot earlier within the draft however opted to pick Waddle over Oregon deal with Penei Sewell. Nevertheless, Iowa’s Alaric Jackson — who might go a lot increased than the place this mock had him — is an intriguing addition because the Dolphins proceed to attempt to construct a wall round Tagovailoa. He performed left deal with at Iowa and at 6-foot-6, 315 kilos he has the body of an NFL deal with. Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz additionally has a historical past of growing sturdy NFL linemen and Jackson may very well be the newest from that lineage. He can be a welcome sight for Miami because it continues so as to add younger items to that O-line after drafting Austin Jackson (USC) and Robert Hunt (Louisiana-Lafayette) in 2020.