Dolphins double up on offensive line, take Louisiana-Lafayette G/T Robert Hunt
The Dolphins might have their offensive line bookends of the future (and maybe the present):
Austin Jackson and Robert Hunt.
That’s the reality after the Dolphins took Hunt, a nasty guard/tackle, with the 39th pick — their first of two first-rounders — in the 2020 draft.
“I try to finish people,” Hunt told reporters shortly after the Dolphins took him with the 39th pick. “... It’s fun and it looks really good. It’s something I like to do. You don’t get in trouble for destroying people on the football field.
“I came into every game with a bully mentality. I wanted to bully anyone who stepped in front of me.”
Hunt is a 6-foot-5, 323-pound redshirt senior out of Louisiana-Lafayette. He’s a bruiser who should plug in quickly at right tackle. He’s also three years older than Jackson, whom the Dolphins took with the 18th pick Thursday night.
Hunt probably would have gone earlier this weekend if not for injury history. He missed all but seven games of his final year on campus with a groin issue, although he insists he’s 100 percent now.
Hunt played left guard, left tackle and right tackle for the Cajuns, and does not have a position preference in the NFL.
Here’s his scouting report, courtesy of NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein:
“Like Cody Ford in last year’s draft, Hunt is a plus-athlete with a big man’s frame who could be considered at guard or tackle. Inconsistent footwork and pad level are the primary culprits when he fails to win the rep, but there aren’t any physical limitations that should prevent him from improving in both areas. Pass protection traits are present but getting the skill level up to par is going to take time. He’s a little raw but has the necessary talent to become a solid future starter at right tackle.”
Here’s how the second round unfolded, which allowed the Dolphins to take Hunt:
Pundits called this the best wide receiver draft in years, and Day 2 reflected that sentiment. The Bengals kicked off Round 2 by taking Clemson’s Tee Higgins. A few minutes later, the Colts selected USC’s Michael Pittman.
Those moves probably didn’t hurt the Dolphins. But the name the Lions submitted at 35 probably did: George running back D’Andre Swift, who probably was high on Miami’s wish list.
Moments later, Alabama safety Xavier McKinney came off the board (to the Giants), as did Lenoir–Rhyne safety Kyle Dugger (to the Patriots). Just before the Doplhins went on the clock, the Panthers took Penn State defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos.
This story was originally published April 24, 2020 at 7:47 PM.
