Draft analysts’ final picks for the Dolphins. And what makes the most sense
A look at some final mock drafts from the prominent analysts, and some thoughts here and elsewhere, on the Dolphins’ best draft path this week, with Round 1 on Thursday, Rounds 2 and 3 on Friday and Rounds 4 to 7 on Saturday:
▪ ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates, in their joint mock draft, have the Dolphins taking Michigan cornerback Will Johnson at 13, noting:
“Johnson is one of the 10 best players in this class. His excellent ball skills, instincts and 6-foot-2 size all stand out. The Dolphins have a hole opposite Jalen Ramsey, making cornerback a pressing need. And yes, Miami must also address the offensive line, but it can do so on Day 2.”
The need is even more pressing with Ramsey preferring to play elsewhere and Miami trying to accommodate him.
At pick No. 48, Kiper and Yates have Miami bypassing Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts and LSU tight end Mason Taylor (among others) and instead taking Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander, noting that “Arizona guard Jonah Savaiinaea was under consideration. But the defensive line is also a weak spot. Alexander is quick enough and strong enough to hold up wherever Miami would line him up.”
And at No. 98, Kiper and Yates mock William & Mary offensive tackle Charles Grant to the Dolphins, noting: “I really like watching Grant play. The former high school wrestler has great physicality and explosiveness. He could bounce inside and push Liam Eichenberg at guard, or he could be a backup plan at left tackle now that Patrick Paul has taken over for recently retired Terron Armstead.”
Kiper and Yates have an appealing guard from Georgia — Dylan Fairchild — going three spots before Miami’s pick at 98.
Our view: Johnson makes a lot of sense at No. 13 if he’s there — which is iffy — because of Miami’s dire need at corner. A strong case also could be made for Texas’ Jahdae Barron.
At 48, Texas’ Alfred Collins and Alexander make a lot of sense. Both could fill a massive hole on the defensive line.
▪ The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has Miami taking South Carolina cornerback Nick Emmanwori at 13, adding:
“The Dolphins have more questions than answers at several positions, including safety. At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds with 4.3-second speed, Emmanwori is a physical freak. His teammates also praise his football IQ and reaction skills. A talent like that in Anthony Weaver’s scheme would be fun.”
Curiously, Brugler has the corners - Johnson and Barron - slipping to 23rd and 24th.
At 48, Brugler has Miami taking Ohio State guard/tackle Donovan Jackson at 48, adding: “Liam Eichenberg is replaceable as a starter and James Daniels is coming off an Achilles injury, so expect the Dolphins to add a guard early. With his inside-outside versatility, Jackson would be a terrific fit — if he lasts this long.”
Brugler’s other picks for Miami: Iowa State cornerback Darien Porter Jr. at 98; Texas defensive tackle Vernon Broughton at 116; Oregon quarterback Dillion Gabriel at 135; Georgia edge Tyrion-Ingram Dawkins at 150; Iowa State offensive tackle Jalen Travis at 155; Arkansas receiver Isaac TeSlaa at 224; Western Kentucky cornerback Upton Stout at 231; and Texas Tech running back Tahj Brooks at 253.
Our view: The Dolphins brought in Emmanwori for a 30 visit, but taking him at 13 would seem like a reach, with more pressing needs elsewhere.
▪ NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah has Miami taking Georgia safety Malaki Starks; he’s a player the Dolphins like, adding: “He would be a plug-and-play replacement for Jevon Holland, with the versatility to play as a high safety or nickelback.”
Jeremiah said on a conference call last week that “I would not feel, at all, when you go through that exercise, that you have to take a corner to replace Jalen Ramsey in the first round. I think you can find other guys you can plug in there on Day 2.
“I don’t think they’re one position, one player away, in terms of, ‘We have to draft a corner and that’s the last piece of our puzzle here.’ I think they can be a little bit more best-player-available with where they’re looking at that point in time.”
Our view: Cornerback must be addressed in the first two days. If Ramsey is traded, the Dolphins’ would have perhaps the weakest corner group in the league – with only one proven player in Kader Kohou.
▪ ESPN’s Jordan Reid has Miami selecting Barron at No. 13, with this comment: “Even prior to the Dolphins actively exploring trade options for cornerback Jalen Ramsey, the team had a major hole at the position. Barron is capable of playing on the perimeter or inside. He logged 300-plus career snaps at all four cornerback spots [right, left, slot and wide], which shows alignment versatility unmatched by any other corner in this class. The Dolphins’ 16 takeaways ranked 27th in the NFL last season, and Barron is a standout turnover generator with a career-high five interceptions in 2024.”
At 48, Reid has Miami taking Arizona guard Savaiinaea, noting he’s “a wide-bodied blocker with experience at guard and right tackle, though he projects best at guard in the NFL. Savaiinaea didn’t allow a sack in the final 669 pass-blocking snaps of his college career.”
At 98, Reid has Miami picking Kentucky defensive tackle Deone Walker:
“The Dolphins need defensive linemen, and Walker falling to them here would be ideal. He has appealing size (6-foot-7, 331 pounds) and potential.”
Our view: Reid has Barron going two spots before Michigan’s Johnson, and the perspective here is that Miami needs to take whichever of the two it has a conviction about. There’s no defensive tackle projected for the early teens, and corner is too big a need to ignore.
▪ NFL.com’s Chad Reuter has Miami trading down a spot with the Colts and taking Texas’ Barron at 14. “Barron’s 4.39 speed and competitive nature make him a natural pick here,” Reuter said.
Reuter’s other picks for Miami: Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts at 48, West Virginia guard Wyatt Milum at 98, Oregon defensive tackle Jamaree Caldwell at 116, Oregon quarterback Gabriel at 135, Texas A&M defensive tackle Shemar Turner at 150, Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II at 155, Cal Poly edge player Elijah Ponder at 231, Wyoming safety Wyett Ekeler at 253. Reuter has the Dolphins trading one of their seventh-rounders.
Our view: Turner and Gordon were brought in for 30 visits, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Dolphins drafted them.
This story was originally published April 21, 2025 at 1:53 PM.
