Daniel Jeremiah’s Final Mock Draft has the Dolphins Taking

“The Dolphins could go in a lot of different directions here because they have so many needs. Bain will come highly recommended by Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Dolphins star Jason Taylor, who coached the disruptive pass rusher at the University of Miami.”

NFL.com Draft Profile

Overview

Note taker, grudge holder and block destructor with a compact frame and defensive tackle play strength. Bain is ill-tempered with his take-ons, hitting blockers with heavy hand strikes. He plays through tight ends and can anchor against tackles and double teams. However, his lack of length can lead to him being smothered if he doesn’t land the first strike. He can bend and flip his hips at the top of the rush, swipe away punches and generate a strong bull rush. His playoff run showed an ability to generate quick wins if tackles are passive in setting to him. He can rush off the edge or mismatch guards as a sub-package rusher. Bain’s explosive power and toughness should translate, giving him a high floor as an NFL starter.

Strengths

• Loose hips and violent hands create shorter rush corners.
• Disguises speed-to-power charge, surprising tackles.
• Can stab and shove tackles off-balance, creating inside openings.
• Accurate two-hand swipe batters and clears the punch.
• Power like a defensive tackle with agility like an edge.
• Explodes punch into the chest of blocker.
• Can eat blocks and hold his ground at the point of attack.
• Hands and feet are in full alliance to shed and work around edges.
• Coached by NFL rush aficionado and Hall of Famer, Jason Taylor.

Weaknesses

• Ducks head and drops eyes, driving into run blocks.
• Short arms will get him crowded at the point of attack.
• Average pursuit speed out to the flanks.
• Will take some plays off when action doesn’t come his way.
• Counters don’t come naturally at the top of the rush.
• Average closing burst to the quarterback.

Round 1, Pick #30: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

“Lomu would join Patrick Paul to give the Dolphins a pair of talented, young bookends on the offensive line, and Austin Jackson could move inside if needed.”

NFL.com Draft Profile

Overview

Two-year starting left tackle who is still in the early stages of his development. Utah’s run game leaned heavily on movement and misdirection, preventing Lomu from firing out and showing his power. His run blocking trails his pass protection, but improved pad level and a nastier demeanor could close the gap. In protection, he shows good balance with adequate foot quickness, landing quick, well-timed punches and using a firm grip to control rushers once he’s in. His anchor was rarely stressed by power and his athletic recoveries are average. Lomu flashes but is still under construction. His play could improve rapidly with strength gains and additional coaching.

Strengths

• Good frame with room for more muscle mass.
• Very athletic getting out of stance and into lead pulls or cut-off blocks.
• Activates hands with good quickness in both phases.
• Core strength to keep from having his pads rattled on contact.
• Pass sets with good posture, rarely ducking head and leaning.
• Uses different punch approaches and times them well to maximize his length.
• Shows ability to gather and control rushers with strong grip.
• Sifts through games/blitzes and responds with no panic

Weaknesses

• Gallops and opens his outer half too quickly against speed rushers.
• Better harmony needed between his hands and feet.
• Footwork can get sloppy mirroring inside moves and counters.
• Still learning to find lateral landmarks in the run game.
• Can be out of control and miss his positioning when fitting run blocks.
• Needs to keep improving upper-body strength.
• Below average with sustain and finish consistency.