NFL Draft live updates: Dolphins get more help for Tua, add TE Hunter Long in third round
The Miami Dolphins got Tua Tagovailoa some help in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, then bolstered their defense with a second first-round pick Thursday.
Jaylen Waddle and Jaelan Phillips are in the fold, but the Dolphins still have plenty to get done, starting with three picks in the second and third rounds of the NFL Draft on Friday.
It begins with the fourth pick of the second day — another pick Miami landed in its trade with the Houston Texans in 2019 — then wraps up with the 18th pick of the second round and another in the third.
Follow along for live updates, rumors and analysis throughout the day:
Dolphins pick Long at 81
10:27 p.m.: The Dolphins are getting more help for Tua Tagovailoa.
After taking a wide receiver with its first pick in the first round, Miami got another receiver for its quarterback, drafting Boston College Eagles tight end Hunter Long with the 18th pick in the third round — No. 81 overall.
9:45 p.m.: The second round of the Draft is over. So far, the Dolphins have landed one of the top three wide receivers, the No. 1 defensive end, a plug-and-play tackle and arguably the Draft’s top safety.
Running back remains the biggest need as Miami prepares for its final pick of the day.
North Carolina Tar Heels running back Michael Carter is still available and the Dolphins worked with him at the Senior Bowl. He could be an option, as could Ohio State Buckeyes running back Trey Sermon.
Other players to keep an eye on are North Carolina linebacker Chazz Surratt, Washington Huskies cornerback Elijah Molden and North Carolina State defensive tackle Alim McNeil.
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Dolphins take Eichenberg at 42
7:55 p.m.: The Dolphins made an aggressive move to bolster their offensive line and get more protection for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.
Miami moved up from No. 50 to No. 42, sending a 2022 third-round pick to the New York Giants, to grab Notre Dame tackle Liam Eichenberg with the 10th pick of the second round.
Eichenberg was a consensus All-American last year and started every game at left tackle in the last three seasons for Notre Dame. He’s a potential plug-and-play tackle for the Dolphins, who traded away guard Ereck Flowers to the Washington Football Team on Tuesday to open up a starting spot on the line.
Dolphins take Holland at 36
7:32 p.m.: The Dolphins didn’t get a running back with the first of their three second-day picks, but they did land the top safety in the Draft.
Miami selected Oregon Ducks safety Jevon Holland with the fourth pick of the second round — No. 36 overall — on Friday. He’s the first safety off the board in the Draft and a mild surprise.
TCU Horned Frogs safety Trevon Moehrig was widely regarded as the top-ranked safety in the Draft, but Holland has the positional versatility coach Brian Flores covets.
7:30 p.m.: Another top running back is off the board.
The Denver Broncos traded with the Atlanta Falcons to leap past the Dolphins and take North Carolina Tar Heels running back Javonte Williams with the No. 35 pick.
Miami is now on the clock.
Trader Chris’ return?
7 p.m.: As Night 2 gets underway, let’s put a bow on Night 1.
Most specifically, let’s discuss what turned heads by what didn’t happen: Dolphins general manager Chris Grier did not execute a trade.
The smart money is on that changing at some point in Rounds 2 and 3.
The Dolphins have three picks Friday: Nos. 36, 50 and 81.
The 50th pick, in Beasley’s humble opinion, is one to watch.
The Dolphins already have more than enough bottom of the roster guys. They don’t really need much on Day 3.
If they have a chance to package 50, one of those vets or a third-day pick and jump up 10 spots, it would help them capitalize on a pretty talented group of remaining players.
What the updated mocks say
3:45 p.m.: The Dolphins have three picks Friday and major needs to still fill.
Take a look at what the analysts have Miami doing with its two second-round picks, and its third-round selection:
ESPN.com: OLB Azeez Ojulari, Georgia; CB Elijah Molden, Washington; N/A
CBSSports.com: OL Teven Jenkins, Oklahoma State; S Andre Cisco, Syracuse; LB Chazz Surratt, North Carolina
NFL Network: OT Liam Eichenberg, Notre Dame; LB Baron Browning, Ohio State; N/A
USA Today: Jenkins; RB Michael Carter, North Carolina; LB Cameron McGrone, Michigan
Sporting News: Jenkins; LB Nick Bolton, Missouri; Carter
The Athletic: RB Javonte Williams, North Carolina; Jenkins; Browning
What we’ve written
Noon: Start Friday by reliving the first day of day of the Draft:
- The Dolphins missed out on tight end Kyle Pitts and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, but got Waddle, reuniting the former Alabama Crimson Tide wide receiver with Tagovailoa. Adam Beasley, the Miami Herald’s Dolphins beat writer, has the story on the No. 6 pick.
- Beasley also got to catch up with Waddle in Cleveland. Check out his exclusive from Ohio.
- Analysts and evaluators are raving about the Waddle pick, too. Herald columnist Barry Jackson rounds up the takes.
- There’s room for second-guessing the pick, though, because of all the trades and Miami’s decision to pass on Heisman Trophy-winning wide receiver Devonta Smith. There’s only one way to silence critics, Herald columnist Armando Salguero writes.
- Those trades will ultimately come to define this Draft for the Dolphins, Herald columnist Greg Cote argues.
- The Dolphins used the No. 18 pick to keep Phillips home in South Florida. The former Miami Hurricanes defensive end was the first defensive lineman picked Thursday. Susan Miller Degnan, the Herald’s Hurricanes beat writer, has the story.
- Analysts and evaluators are also all about Phillips.
- Phillips carries some risk, too, particularly with his history of concussions.
- Want to feel old? Cornerback Patrick Surtain II, the son of former Dolphins star Patrick Surtain, is headed to the Denver Broncos as the No. 9 pick. Herald reporter David Wilson has the story.
- Don’t forget to check out a new episode of the Dolphins in Depth podcast, as Beasley, Salguero and Jackson recap Day 1, and look ahead to Day 2 of the Draft:
This story was originally published April 30, 2021 at 12:00 PM.
