Dane Brugler 7-Round Mock Draft has MIAMI Selecting

NFL.com Draft Profile

Faulk has a long, developing frame, good movement skills and the potential for odd or even fronts once he gains more muscle mass. He’s a culture player with high character who earns a grade bump based on his age (turns 21 in September), traits and advanced foundation. A fluid athlete with good movement skills, he works around blocks with finesse but needs more assertive initial strikes to set firmer edges in gap control. His toughness and mentality suggest he’ll play through blocks more consistently in an NFL environment. Faulk’s rush is diverse. However, with average upfield burst, he might require a move inside on passing downs, where his long levers, quickness and agility can overmatch guards. Faulk needs polish but offers a high ceiling that should reveal itself within a couple of years.

Strengths

• Culture player praised for leadership, accountability and character.
• Won’t turn 21 until September but has the skill level of an older player.
• Potential to align at any spot in odd or even fronts depending on the down.
• Long levers to strike blocker’s frame first and take early leads.
• Has the tools to penetrate or maintain gap integrity on lateral run plays.
• Smooth arm-over move can create early wins when aligned inside.
• Has access to a diverse set of rush approaches and moves.
• Able to open up edges with efficient, sudden hands.
• Does a nice job of stalking and hounding scrambling quarterbacks.
• Long frame allows him to expand his tackle radius near the line.

Weaknesses

• Upfield burst is average when rushing off the edge.
• Would benefit from more violent hands to dislodge the punch.
• Has a habit of overrunning pocket depth instead of working back under.
• Tends to play tall as a run defender and on inside rush counters.
• Needs to become more assertive and physical to control the point.
• Inconsistent to press and extend from run blocks.

Round 1, Pick #30: Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego St

“I don’t think anyone expects this pick to be a quarterback or running back, but every other position might be on the table as the Dolphins facelift their roster. Cornerback certainly falls in the “need” category, and Johnson has the talent and intangibles to be a cornerstone player on defense.”

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Overview

Scheme-versatile cornerback prospect with average size and the ability to play inside or outside. Johnson is consistent in mirroring the release from his pedal and rarely labors when transitioning with route breaks. While many college corners lean on lax officiating to grab and maul, Johnson stays disciplined. He trusts his footwork and technique to remain tight to the route. He attacks the catch point with run-through force and is a tenacious wrap-up tackler who can quickly end plays. Big receivers can steal some high-points, but not enough to cause concern. Johnson’s coverage versatility, toughness and athleticism should make him an early starter for a coverage-hungry team.

Strengths

• Coverage movement is controlled and confident.
• Mirrors and matches the release with consistency from his pedal.
• Rarely declares hips early to release or route fakes.
• Footwork is clean and natural in transitions and recovery.
• Tracks throws with the intention of making a play on the ball.
• Closes distance to suffocate work space on vertical routes.
• Trusts his feet and was rarely penalized in coverage.
• Attacks blockers with aggressive punches and is a wrap-up tackler.

Weaknesses

• Average recovery speed when he’s beaten.
• Phases on top side of the route and loses positioning late.
• Features small delay transitioning from the top of his drop.
• Had trouble battling big-bodied receivers on jump balls.
• Big running backs can drag him for extra yardage.

Round 2, Pick #43: Chris Bell, WR, Louisville

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Overview

Possession receiver coming off of his most productive year and a late-season ACL tear. Bell’s scores frequently came as a move target across the hashes, where he was able to use impressive build-up speed to eliminate angles and outrun everyone in the secondary to the paint. He’s average at eluding press and separating from tight man underneath. Improving his catch focus and positioning when contested will be critical. Bell lacks dynamic qualities and his ACL tear could impact his draft slotting, but he’s a big, physical target with room to improve. He has a chance to become an average WR2/3 in time.

Strengths

• Big, boundary target with an NFL frame.
• Stair-stepped production in each season he played.
• Battles back against handsy coverage at the top of the route.
• Speed-builder capable of turning crossers into long gains.
• Squares his numbers to quarterback on in-breaking routes.
• Makes athletic adjustments to throws on his back hip.
• Resilient post-catch and difficult to bring down on the move.

Weaknesses

• Suffered an ACL tear late in 2025 season.
• Struggles to beat press cleanly with his footwork.
• Route running lacks salesmanship and disguise.
• Lacks short-area quickness in and out of breaks.
• Will slow his feet when turning to locate the throw.

Round 3, Pick #75: Caleb Tiernan, OT, Northwestern

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Overview

Highly experienced college tackle who is likely to kick inside due to a lack of length that affects his protection projection. Tiernan is tall but carries the denseness of frame and core strength of a guard. Feet feature good initial quickness and he takes excellent angles on the move. He often finds early positioning advantages as a base blocker but lacks the anchor and play strength to consistently fortify/sustain. Leaky edges in pass pro will be less concerning with smaller spaces to patrol, while his punch timing and lateral quickness provide advantages. “Solid” feels like the ceiling for Tiernan as a guard/swing tackle who can eventually elevate into a starting role.

Strengths

• Team captain with experience at both tackle spots.
• Tall but compact with good lean mass and core strength.
• Takes excellent angles on back-side/play-side cutoffs.
• Creates leverage with hand placement and resets when needed.
• Delivers well-timed strikes with above-average pop in pass pro.
• Moves well enough to succeed in space in screen game.
• Size and core power make it tough for rushers to play through him.

Weaknesses

• Needs to stay back and guard against leaning in pass pro.
• Short arms create issues with redirection and block seal.
• Long defenders can stack and separate at the point.
• Average play strength to improve positioning during sustain phase.
• Edges become too leaky when challenged by the rush.
• Lacks tools to play outside and has a tall center of gravity for the interior.

Round 3, Pick #87: Sam Roush, TE, Stanford

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Overview

In a draft landscape full of pass-catching tight ends, Roush stands out as one of the few plug-and-play “Y” tight ends (in-line blocking TE) available. He can make cut-off blocks in zone and combo blocks in gap schemes. He holds his own in pass protection, too. As a receiver, he’s not stiff, but he lacks elusiveness underneath. He needs to apply more of his tough playing style to win combat catches and expand his role beyond run blocker/zone beater. While his catch production might draw questions, his size, toughness and pro-ready blocking profile could push him into Day 2 consideration

Strengths

• Long line of collegiate/pro athletes in his family.
• Relied on as an extension of the offensive line at Stanford.
• Comes off the ball with good knee bend, pad level and inside hands.
• Runs through initial contact to pop opponents and establish the tone.
• Footwork and positioning to help seal the edge on wide runs.
• Well-schooled in working up to the linebacker on combo blocks.
• Gets in and out of breaks/stems with good efficiency.
• Runs behind his pads after the catch and is tough to bring down.

Weaknesses

• Outside arm will reach and hook defender when he misses positioning.
• Fails to disguise route intentions and elude man coverage.
• Can be crossed up by throws that are outside his frame.
• Needs to play bigger when contested.
• Must do a better job of using size/strength to carve out catch space.
• Holding penalties were an issue for him in 2024.

Round 3, Pick #90: Bud Clark, Safety, TCU

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A sixth-year senior, Clark’s traits won’t pop but his tape most certainly will. Clark is a coverage-versatile safety in a cornerback’s body with the talent to range over the top or man up on the slot. He plays with an overriding desire to do everything all at once – which produces spectacular takeaways and occasional breakdowns – but the good outweighs the bad. He triggers downhill in run support and tackles with proper technique, but a lack of size could lead to broken tackles/durability concerns. He might need time to acclimate to the speed/skill of his opponents but his instincts and ball skills give him a good chance to punish mistakes on the next level as an alignment-flexible option.

Strengths

• Posted 15 interceptions in his last four seasons, including two returned for scores.
• Proactive after diagnosing route combinations.
• Big second gear to run with deep targets or recover.
• Plays defense with the ball skills of a wide receiver.
• Sticky hands with a strong feel for lane-jumping angles.
• Centers runners and finishes with wrap-and-roll technique.
• Run/pass defender who can impact all three downs.

Weaknesses

• Can be manipulated by play-action and basic look-offs.
• Needs to open and get vertical a step quicker in man.
• Too willing to trust ball skills over proper positioning.
• Overly aggressive angles on the throw create potential for trouble.
• Tough but lacks ideal tackle strength.
• Missed games due to injury in 2021, 2022 and 2025.

Round 3, Pick #94: Darrell Jackson Jr., DT, Florida State

NFL.com Draft Profile

Overview

While he’s an enormous interior presence with impressive physical features, Jackson’s inconsistencies are partially rooted in flawed fundamentals and technique. He plays too upright and with inconsistent base width/block take-on, making him more easily cleared from gaps. He might never become a tree stump at the point, but he could see vast improvement in his shed-and-control with quicker hands, improved upper-body power and a full-time move to odd-front end. The tape is uneven with a floor of average backup, but Jackson’s size and length could be considered unmined gold by some teams.

Strengths

• Enormous presence in the middle with proportional build.
• Giant hands at the end of long arms spanning a 7-foot-2 wingspan.
• When he attacks blocks properly, he can consume two gaps.
• Can reach out and slow runners with an arm even when he’s being blocked.
• Uses his length and leg drive to crank up bull rush on centers.
• Moves well enough to bring down the quarterback once he’s in the pocket.

Weaknesses

• Plays with tight hips and a narrow base relative to his frame.
• Needs quicker hands and better upper-body power to control blockers.
• Blockers can crowd his frame and uproot his anchor to clear him out.
• Below-average core power and contact balance for power swaps.
• Movement is mechanical and lacking athletic flow.
• Hasn’t learned to weaponize his length as a rusher.

Round 4, Pick #130: Taylen Green, QB, Arkansas

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Overview

A long, rangy, dual-threat quarterback with upside, Green’s ability to generate explosive plays as a runner and passer helped keep his offense afloat. In-game consistency has been a sticking point, though. He has a long, unorthodox delivery and tends to baby too many throws. He can generate enough velocity and distance to stress defenses over the second and third levels. Green puts the ball in harm’s way at an alarming rate, which will translate to greater trouble against more talented defenders and more complicated coverage reads. His ability to win with his legs on called runs or pocket breaks pushes his value beyond his passing profile. Green’s upside will be tantalizing but his ceiling will only track with his growth as a passer.

Strengths

• Rare size/athleticism for the position.
• Provides dual-theat attack options and can work off script.
• Tall with an elevated release point for layered throws between the numbers.
• Does an admirable job of tying feet to eyes through progressions.
• Gets through progressions smoothly when he finds his rhythm.
• Throws with adequate velocity for tight-window throws.
• Can outstride pursuit and turn scrambles into first downs.
• Ability as a runner gives his offense a chance when passing is off.

Weaknesses

• Disappointing passing results when he breaks the pocket.
• Processing and timing need improvements on the next level.
• Struggles with post-snap recognition of zone lurkers underneath.
• Needs to more consistently quiet his feet to improve accuracy.
• Needs to get better at manipulating and holding coverage with his eyes.
• Throws with a long-limbed delivery that slows his operation and release.
• Aims throws that turn into misfires or underthrown interceptions.
• Too willing to move backwards instead of climbing when under pressure.

Round 5, Pick #151: Ja’Kobi Lane, WR, USC

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Overview

Lane is a red-zone stalwart with elite length and ball skills to mismatch cornerbacks when he’s given room to work. He struggles playing through contact and sees an unusually high number of contested catches, but his catch radius, hand-eye coordination and focus give him a substantial advantage as a ball-winner. He might need releases schemed against heavy press teams and certain limbs on the route tree will be dead for him. Lane has the confidence and talent to become a productive pro and red-zone specialist, though.

Strengths

• Runs downfield routes with gliding strides.
• Shows plus catch focus and creates late separation when contested.
• Gets easy wins when pinning corners on fades.
• Makes impressive late adjustments for quick grabs.
• Long arms and big hands created viral catches.
• Light on his feet to slip first the tackler after the catch.

Weaknesses

• Departure will be delayed by a jamming press.
• Routes are typically run at a single speed.
• Slow to break off and open quickly on stops and comebacks.
• Coverage tends to blanket him through lateral break-points.
• Really struggles to play through route contact.

Round 7, Pick #227: Matt Gulbin, G/C, Michigan State

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Overview

Three-year starter with average size and good power. Gulbin is better at climbing to linebackers than he is at moving laterally to seal in the run game. He can be outreached at the point, but he stays tight to his block to reduce length disadvantages. He excels when washing away targets on inside-zone plays with strong leg drive. He anchors well in protection, but he must stay square and be more alert to loopers on twists. Short arms reduce his margin for error but his consistent body of work suggests he has a chance to make a roster as a center who can swing to guard in a pinch.

Strengths

• Very consistent during three-year run as a starter.
• Hand placement and leg drive make it easier to clear out gaps.
• Takes good angles to linebackers and adjusts to their movement.
• Pushed the Michigan front around with his drive blocking.
• Base width and posture stay steady through protection rep.
• Dense and firm on contact to set solid anchors against power.
• Powerful shoves redirect blitzers off their track.

Weaknesses

• Short arms create smaller margins for error near his edges.
• Must stay very tight to his block to maintain engagement.
• Average lateral range to make play-side cut-off blocks.
• Gets overextended when setting too heavy on his outside foot.
• Chases the picker too deep against twist games.

Round 7, Pick #238: Kendal Daniels, LB, Oklahoma

NFL.com Draft Profile

Overview

Safety-turned-linebacker with outstanding length and athleticism but lagging behind in instincts/fundamentals. Daniels is a step slow to diagnose and flow ahead of the blocking scheme. He lacks the take-on and physicality to leverage his gap. His quickness makes him a menace in the gaps and he has good pursuit speed, but he must improve his tackling technique. He’s proficient in zone and man coverages, and he can be used to blitz or spy the quarterback. Daniels’ traits and potential could raise his profile, but he currently projects as a sub-package linebacker with special-teams value.

Strengths

• Long, rangy and versatile in assignment potential.
• Can spy, cover or blitz as a third-down option.
• Speed and athletic ability for man matchups across positions.
• Able to knife inside the gap and disrupt run-play design.
• Plays off the block with good quickness to tackle.
• Posted 31.5 tackles for loss in his last four seasons.

Weaknesses

• Underdeveloped instincts delay his flow to the football.
• Struggles to take on blocks and leverage his gap.
• Still learning to trust his eyes and trigger with timing.
• Slightly tardy in jumping and shadowing break points from man.
• Needs to play with better route squeeze from zone.
• Settles for catching and arm tackling instead of running through the ball-carrier.