10 potential Dolphins draft targets to watch at the 2022 Senior Bowl
The Dolphins won’t have the luxury of coaching in the 2022 Senior Bowl like last year but there is no shortage of talented prospects gathering in Mobile, Alabama, this week for Saturday’s all-star game. Another key difference is that the Dolphins still do not have a new head coach, as their search for Brian Flores’ replacement continues.
Nonetheless, the Dolphins’ scouting department will be hard at work watching potential contributors for the next season. Despite the up-close look in the 2021 Senior Bowl, the Dolphins didn’t draft anyone that played in the game but maybe this year is different.
Here’s a look at 10 Senior Bowl players the Dolphins could target in the draft:
Minnesota offensive tackle Daniel Faalele
The 6-foot-9, 380-pound senior started playing football just five years ago but his quick ascension in the sport could result in him being a first-round pick in the NFL Draft in April. Faalele, a native of Melbourne, Australia, was a three-year starter at Minnesota and started 13 games at right tackle in 2021. He was voted All-Big Ten First Team by the conference’s coaches. Faalele moves well for his size but his technique is viewed as raw, a byproduct of relative inexperience in the game.
Georgia running back James Cook
The 5-foot-11, 190-pound senior is a familiar name, the younger brother of Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook and a former standout at Miami Central. He had a career-high 112 receiving yards in the Orange Bowl as he made his return home, playing at Hard Rock Stadium. Cook never got the opportunity to be the lead back at Georgia but showed his versatility as a runner and receiver, logging snaps at various spots on the field. Cook is expected to practice a bit at wide receiver; in recent years, players such as Antonio Gibson and Demetric Felton have boosted their draft stock by performing well at other positions.
South Alabama wide receiver James Tolbert
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound redshirt senior will feel right at home practicing at his alma mater, where he was one of the most explosive wideouts in college football. Tolbert’s 16 deep receptions ranked tied for seventh in the nation in 2021, according to Pro Football Focus, and he excelled in man coverage, using his big frame to come away with contested catches. Playing in the Sun Belt Conference, Tolbert is currently pegged as a Day 2 pick but his draft stock could improve with a good showing against some Power Five talent.
Penn State wide receiver Jahan Dotson
The 5-foot-11, 184-pound senior was not only one of the best deep threats in the nation but played bigger than his size suggests and complements his speed with smooth route running. There are some concerns about Dotson’s frame at the next level but he didn’t miss a game to injury the last three seasons. ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. predicted the Dolphins will select Dotson in his first 2022 NFL Mock Draft.
Georgia linebacker Quay Walker
The 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior was one of the many key players on a dominant defense for Georgia, though he’s not as highly regarded as teammates such as Jordan Davis and fellow linebacker Nakobe Dean. Walker has the size to take on blocks in run defense but is also fluid in his movements, offering some upside in coverage. Elandon Roberts and Duke Riley are both unrestricted free agents and Jerome Baker was often used as an edge defender in 2021, leaving the Dolphins with a potential void in the middle of their defense. Walker is a potential Day 2 option for Miami.
Wyoming linebacker Chad Muma
The 6-foot-3, 232-pound senior could join Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen as the latest Wyoming product to make the jump to the NFL. Muma’s 142 tackles led the nation in 2021 and as a converted safety, he flashes the ability to make plays in coverage. Like Allen, Muma will have to shed the “small school” label that’s placed on many non-Power Five prospects and the Senior Bowl will mark a big opportunity to do so. Muma isn’t in the same tier as linebackers such as Dean and Utah’s Devin Lloyd but is an intriguing Day 2 option.
Florida State defensive end Jermaine Johnson II
The 6-foot-5, 262-pound redshirt senior took a long-winded path to become an NFL prospect. Lightly recruited out of Eden Prarie, Minnesota, Johnson went to Independence Community College, notably the host school of Netflix’s “Last Chance U” for two seasons. Johnson was the top junior college prospect in the Class of 2019 and spent two seasons at Georgia where he recorded 6.5 sacks. He spent his last season at Florida State, where he recorded a team-high 12 sacks in 2021 and was named ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Johnson uses his athleticism to his advantage as a pass-rusher and in run support, and his size offers positional versatility. He’s currently a fringe first-round prospect who could climb draft boards after athletic testing.
San Diego State defensive lineman Cameron Thomas
The 6-foot-5, 270-pound redshirt junior is a disruptive pass-rusher who got better year after year at San Diego State, culminating in a 10.5-sack season and first-team All-Mountain West honors in 2021. Thomas is a technically sound player but doesn’t possess the athleticism of some of the draft’s top edge players such as Michigan’s Aidan Hutchinson and Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux. Thomas is currently a borderline first-round prospect.
Houston defensive lineman Logan Hall
The 6-foot-6, 275-pound senior primarily worked inside despite his smaller weight for a lineman, lining up as a 3-technique on the inside shoulder of offensive tackles. He held his own, though, recording six sacks in 2021 and grading out by Pro Football Focus as a good run defender. Hall has the athleticism to play on the edge, too, but could ultimately benefit the most by adding muscle to his frame to take on bigger linemen in the NFL. He’s currently projected as a Day 2 pick.
Colorado State tight end Trey McBride
The 6-foot-4, 260-pound senior is arguably the top-rated player in a skilled tight end class. McBride was Colorado State’s first unanimous All-American selection and received the John Mackey Award, given to the nation’s top tight end. His 90 receptions and 1,121 yards led all players at his position and he’s a more than capable blocker with his size. McBride isn’t expected to go in the top five like Kyle Pitts did last year but he’s a possible late first-round pick. The Dolphins traded Hunter Long in the third round of the 2021 Draft but Mike Gesicki and Durham Smythe are both unrestricted free agents.
