2024 NFL Mock Draft: Miami Dolphins

The Miami Dolphins (my favorite team) take part in the first installment of my 32-team Mock Draft series, and by the looks of it, this is perfect timing. Miami is in a tricky situation financially and personnel-wise. This one is going to be a lot of work. Let's take a look at their offseason thus far:

Key Departures (as of 3/11/24): 

DT Christian Wilkins --> Las Vegas Raiders (4 yrs/$110M; $84.7M guaranteed)
RG Robert Hunt --> Carolina Panthers (5 yrs/$100M; $63M guaranteed)
LB Andrew Van Ginkel --> Minnesota Vikings (2 yrs/$20M; $14M guaranteed)
SAF Brandon Jones --> Denver Broncos (3 yrs/$20M; $12.5M guaranteed)
LB Jerome Baker
DE Emmanuel Ogbah
CB Xavien Howard (post-June 1st cut)

Key Signings (as of 3/11/24):

TE Jonnu Smith (2 yrs/$8.4M; $3.96M guaranteed)

LB Jordyn Brooks (3 yrs/$30M)

LB Anthony Walker

CB Nik Needham

DB Elijah Campbell

DT Isaiah Mack

DT Daviyon Nixon

So, where do we even start? Miami has lost a large portion of their defensive unit including several key contributors, a top-tier right guard, and are at risk of losing even more talent to free agency - such as Connor Williams. Looking at the rest of their own free agent list, if I'm Miami, I'd try my best to retain:

OT Isaiah Wynn

OT Kendall Lamm

SAF Deshon Elliott

WR River Cracraft

With the hiring of DC Anthony Weaver (formerly Baltimore Ravens), the rumor mill is swirling with whispers of free agent LB Patrick Queen joining the Dolphins. There isn't any concrete evidence of conversations between parties going on, but signing Queen would be a huge boost and a step in the right direction towards re-bolstering the defensive front. Miami's losses in free agency thus far have already made their prospective offseason very difficult to navigate. Let's see what I can do in a 7-round Mock Draft...

Mock Draft completed via the PFF Mock Draft Simulator on 3/11/2024

TRADE: Miami Dolphins receive 2024 Round 1 (Pick #23), 2024 Round 4 (Pick #122), 2024 Round 7 (Pick #224); Houston Texans receive 2024 Round 1 (Pick #21), 2025 Round 7

Miami's draft capital this year isn't very strong, as they are absent some picks in the middle rounds (Round 3 pick forfeited). In this deal with the Texans, Miami moves back only two spots, but acquires two additional picks in this draft. Working with the PFF Mock Draft Simulator, Duke OT Graham Barton was still on the board at 23. Ideally, I would have like Jackson Powers-Johnson here (Center, Oregon), but Barton has the versatility to play all five spots on the line, and with the currently vast amount of grey area surrounding Miami's interior offensive line, Barton is a perfect fit. This may not be the flashy picky that Dolphins fans might want, but Barton is a plug-and-play starter at the next level.

Orhorhoro is an athletic, high-motor, dynamic interior defensive lineman out of Clemson. Considering the departure of Christian Wilkins, the Dolphins should look for a replacement and/or depth at the position. They do have Zach Sieler, but adding Ruke to the defensive front unit as either a rotational piece or early down disruptive presence would be huge for this defense in its current state.

I've loved Cooper Beebe as a prospect throughout this entire draft process. He's a mauler in the run game with a supreme anchor and has an excellent ability to get moving. I think after this picking, the Dolphins are cooking in terms of their offensive line. You're looking at: LT Terron Armstead, LG/C/RG Graham Barton, LG/C Connor Williams, LT/LG/RG Cooper Beebe, RT Austin Jackson. There's a lot of flexibility now within the interior after adding Barton and Beebe via the 2024 Draft.

Going back to tending to the defense in the draft, the Dolphins double-down on the Clemson talent by selecting edge rusher Xavier Thomas in Round 5. I think Thomas is one of the more underrated edge rushers in this class. I have a round 4 grade on him. Thomas is an athletic, scrappy edge rusher with good bend. He has work to do in other areas such as hand placement and overall technique, but with the departure of Andrew Van Ginkel and both Jaelen Phillips and Bradley Chubb returning from injury, Miami needs to bring in some threats off the edge.

Watts is a feisty, agile 6'3" corner. He's keen on contributing in run support, and would be a bigger-bodied rotational piece in the secondary for the Dolphins. Last season, it was clear to see that having the ability to make a sure, simple tackle was lacking from secondary players outside of Jevon Holland and Jalen Ramsey. With polishing, Watts could be a quality downhill-style corner with potential safety flexibility.

Another prospect I love: Trevin Wallace. He had an excellent career as a Wildcat in Kentucky, and was one of the best performers (in my eyes) in the linebackers group at both the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine. I have a round 4 grade on Wallace, so to draft him here in round 6 feels like a steal. The Dolphins did sign LB Jordyn Brooks today, but the depth is a need. Wallace is an instinctual thumper with good hip fluidity, but his coverage skills need work.

ANOTHER prospect I love out of Florida Atlantic, Evan Anderson! He is a mountain of a zero-tech in the middle. He has good fire off the LOS, and is extremely violent with both his hands and body. He isn't flashy and doesn't have much finesse to his game, but if you want an early down disruptor who can effortlessly flood into the backfield, then Anderson is your guy. Evan Anderson has the ability to be an extremely high return on investment.

Not many people know about Jaden Shirden, as he's coming from a small school out of the FCS. I've talked about Shirden over on X/Twitter, as I think he has the potential to be an absolute steal on Day 3. Shirden is a true workhorse back, with back-to-back seasons of 200+ carries, 1400+ yards, and 10+ touchdowns. He has quick feet and excellent vision, but is susceptible to getting stuffed behind the LOS if it gets too crowded too quickly for his comfort. Shirden seeks out a lot of contact, which I think he can dial back. Overall, he is a very underrated, high-quality prospect out of the Colonial Athletic Association. I know Miami has a solid running back room already, but Shirden has the ability to be a quality practice squad/depth piece who can develop into a steady contributor.

PFF Mock Draft Grade: B