How ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and others sized up Dolphins draft and why the grades were good
In an annual ritual, pundits routinely hand out draft grades to teams without seeing any of these players take a snap in the NFL.
But if you’re curious, here’s how five analysts assessed the Dolphins’ four-player class (second-round cornerback Cam Smith, third-round running back Devon Achane, sixth-round tight end Elijah Higgins and seventh-round offensive tackle Ryan Hayes):
▪ ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. gave the Dolphins a B, with this remark:
“Miami entered this draft with just four picks, the fewest in the league, and it had already filled its biggest roster hole via the March trade for cornerback Jalen Ramsey. This is a really solid team, though its success hinges a great deal on the health of quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was in the MVP discussion before concussions caused him to miss five games. I wanted to see the Dolphins get immediate help somewhere, and I love their first two picks.
“Cornerback Cam Smith [51] excelled in zone coverage in college, and he locked down SEC wideouts. Running back Devon Achane [84] could be one of the steals of the draft. He should be on preseason Rookie of the Year watchlists. Achane is super fast and has ability in the pass game; what’s not to like? Ryan Hayes [238] is my 15th-ranked offensive tackle; I was surprised he lasted that late. His 2022 tape is very solid.
“This class was handcuffed by the forfeited first-round pick, but general manager Chris Grier landed two tremendous players on Day 2.”
▪ Pro Football Focus gave the Dolphins a B-, with this comment:
“Smith is always around the football, has a propensity for pass breakups and tested faster than he played on tape, which could be a sign of continued growth. No one’s big board ranking dropped more precipitously over the last month of the pre-draft cycle, but he could end up being a value. Smith makes a lot of sense starting in the slot with Jalen Ramsey and Xavien Howard out wide in Vic Fangio’s loaded defense.
“Miami gets another legitimate track star for their offense by taking Texas A&M running back Devon Achane at 84th overall. Achane clocked a 4.32-second 40-yard time and was a star member of the Aggies’ track squad. He racked up a whopping 36 breakaway runs of 15-plus yards over the past two seasons.
“Higgins is a bit of a tweener between being a bigger wide receiver and move tight end at 6-foot-3 and 239 pounds with 4.54 speed. He was an underneath target at Stanford who turned in PFF receiving grades below 70.0 in each of the past two seasons as a starter. Despite his size, Higgins ranked in just the 26th percentile at the position in contested catch percentage since 2021.
“It’s not a bad idea for the Dolphins to throw a late-round dart at the offensive line given their struggles up front in recent years. Hayes took a step forward in 2022, grading out above the 50th percentile at the position in pass-blocking grade on true pass sets and as a zone run blocker.”
▪ NFL.com’s Chad Reuter gave the Dolphins a B-, adding:
“Miami forfeited its first-round pick and has yet to see what it truly has in edge Bradley Chubb, who was acquired with a first-rounder gained from the Niners. Smith could be a nice nickel defender early in his career, and head coach Mike McDaniel will surely figure out how to use Achane’s speed.
“Miami sent fourth- and sixth-round picks to Kansas City as part of the Tyreek Hill trade. The Dolphins found two offensive players with their remaining picks, with Higgins moving from receiver to tight end in the NFL due to his size and Hayes projecting as a swing tackle for the Dolphins.”
▪ The 33rd Team, a think tank launched by former Dolphins executive Mike Tannenbaum and others:
“Cam Smith needs to add weight to his frame, but he is a twitchy, athletic corner with speed and good instincts. Scouts love his feet and his top-level change of direction ability. With his overall football awareness, he should be able to adapt to the NFL game quickly as a rookie.
“Achane is a great fit for the Dolphins’ scheme and he brings home run-hitting ability. While he is not a big back, he does not shy away from contact. This is a sold value and good fit.
“Higgins is a big-bodied slot receiver who plays with good physicality and toughness. He is a good route runner with just average speed and separation ability. He was announced as a tight end with the pick and has the size and frame to make the transition.
“Hayes is a highly intelligent player that needs to add some strength to his frame. He lacks great length, but plays tough and to the whistle. He will battle for a roster spot in Miami.”
The website gave a B- to the Smith pick and a B to the Achane pick.
The 33rd Team has a group of five former NFL scouts or personnel executives who assess draft prospects.
▪ The Sporting News gave the Dolphins the 18th-best grade of the 32 teams, with a B-, adding:.
“The Dolphins cannot finish higher than this because they did something stupid to flush away their first-rounder and had limited draft capital otherwise with some big recent trades.
“Smith is a great value, but it’s for a position of strength. Achane can excel in Mike McDaniel’s system, but in the short-term, also feels a bit superfluous after the team re-signed both Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr.”
This story was originally published May 1, 2023 at 10:08 AM.
