Miami Dolphins coaches dish on a small rookie draft class that’s exceeding expectations
The Dolphins essentially used most of their key currency of the 2022 Draft — first-, second- and fourth-round picks in 2022 along with fourth- and sixth-round selections in 2023 — to snag Pro Bowl receiver Tyreek Hill.
Hill alone would have made this a good draft.
But here’s the bonus: The modest collection of picks that remained, post-Tyreek, in what became the quietest Dolphins draft in memory, may yet yield big returns.
Third-rounder linebacker Channing Tindall has made several nice plays recently and looks like a sound tackler with pass rush skills.
Fourth-rounder receiver Erik Ezukanma — with an enviable combination of size and speed — looks like a long-term rotational receiver.
Seventh-round edge player Cameron Goode has flashed considerable upside as a pass rusher.
And seventh-rounder Skylar Thompson, the 24-year-old Kansas State rookie, has looked as good as any quarterback in this draft class.
When quarterbacks coach Darrell Bevell watches Thompson, does he see an NFL quarterback — as opposed to say a project?
“Yes, that’s outstanding how you want to look at it, and he doesn’t look out of place,” Bevell said. “He looks like he belongs out there. He looks like if he got a call, he would be ready to go.”
Has he surprised Bevell?
“I wouldn’t say surprised, but I’m very encouraged and pleased how far he has come in the mental part of it,” he said. “The skill set we saw on tape is what we really liked. The makeup of the guy and the work ethic he has, has enabled him to do what he’s doing. The skill set is there.
“He studies his stuff. He’s on top of it. The best technique thing we talked about are feet. That’s what sets the timing for our offense. He has bought into that and is doing a great job of throwing on rhythm. His feet speak to him and tell when the ball is supposed to be out and where it’s supposed to go. He’s really buying into the details.”
Thompson — who didn’t throw an interception in the first eight days of camp — has a 121 passer rating in two preseason games: 29 for 38 for 347 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in more than five quarters.
Of all the rookies, Ezukanma seems most likely to help immediately, potentially as a No. 4 receiver if he holds off Trent Sherfield.
Receivers coach Wes Welker gave a glowing recommendation to general manager Chris Grier after watching Ezukanma work out privately for the Dolphins in Lubbock, Texas, before the draft.
And Ezukanma’s camp and preseason — filled with intermediate and deep catches, easy and difficult ones — have only cemented Welker’s conviction about him.
“It’s always tough for rookies coming in, and I think he’s done an exceptional job of paying attention, being very coachable, listening, taking notes, and really just becoming a pro,” Welker said this week.
“You never know what you’re going to get with these kids coming out of college. [With both Welker and Ezukanma] coming from Texas Tech, I got nothing but great reports from everybody there. So I knew [his character] wouldn’t be an issue.
“I knew coming from the offense he was coming from, where there was a lot of signals, a lot of one-word plays, lining up in the same spot over and over again, there’s a big learning curve that goes on with that and he has hit it in stride and has really attacked this offense and has understood how important it is.
Because he’s got the physical ability. He’s got the talent and all those things. Now it’s just dialing in how to play the game at a high level play in, play out. We couldn’t be happier with him. He’s done everything we have asked of him. It’s only going to get better. If he keeps on attacking it the way he is, he’s definitely got a bright future, and we’re glad that we got him.”
On Saturday against Las Vegas, Ezukanma became the first NFL rookie this decade to produce at least 110 yards receiving in a preseason game.
Tindall, selected 102nd overall, has improved as camp has progressed. He seems unlikely to have a significant role initially, but that’s more because Duke Riley has seized the third inside linebacker job with an exceptional camp.
“Channing has got legitimate strength, a powerful kid,” linebackers coach Anthony Campanile said. “He runs really well. He’s got those explosive traits we’re looking for. And there’s enough multiplicity to what he can do that in this system — that’s what we value — so we’re excited about that. He’s doing the extra stuff. He’s been putting the work in the classroom to do that.”
So a draft that was something of an afterthought might end up bearing significantly more fruit than Hill.
This story was originally published August 22, 2022 at 4:45 PM.
