Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest mock draft is out. Who does he have the Miami Dolphins picking?
ESPN’s NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. released his latest mock draft this week.
And unlike his first mock draft from January for the 2022 draft class, this one does not see the Dolphins taking a wide receiver with their first-round pick.
Rather, Kiper forecasts the Dolphins to address their offensive line when they make the 29th overall selection of the 2022 NFL Draft in April. The Dolphins are slotted at No. 29 this year after their trade with the San Francisco 49ers last year gave the Niners the No. 3 pick in exchange for the No. 12 pick last year, a first and third round selection in the 2022 NFL Draft and a first round pick in 2023.
Since the Niners reached the NFC Championship game, that pushed the Dolphins down the first round draft order.
Kiper predicts Central Michigan offensive tackle Bernhard Raimann will go to Miami at No. 29 next month.
Here’s what Kiper wrote about the pick:
“Miami has a tackle problem. Austin Jackson, the No. 18 overall pick two years ago, had to move to guard because he couldn’t cut it outside. Liam Eichenberg, a second-round pick in 2021, was just OK as a rookie. The offensive line around Tua Tagovailoa just wasn’t good enough last season.”
“Raimann is a 6-foot-6, 305-pound former tight end who had a great 2021 season. He can move his feet in pass protection and anchor in the run game. He had some trouble at times with better prospects at the Senior Bowl, but I believe in his upside. He could play left or right tackle for Miami.”
Kiper’s initial mock for the 2022 class had Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson going to the Dolphins at No. 26. He still has Dotson at the pick, but the Titans are in that slot following the 2021-22 season.
