ESPN’s Matt Miller FINAL Mock Draft has Dolphins Taking

NFL.com Draft Profile

Overview

Fano lacks ideal proportional build but compensates with loose hips, quick feet and high-end athleticism. He has the tools to mirror speed rushers, wall off the top of the pocket and find a late anchor when taking the worst of a bull rush. He needs to stay square longer to prevent inside moves and refine his punch approach/timing. His athletic profile is designed for move-based blocking schemes where he can pull, reach and climb while beating opponents to the spot with quickness/feel for hitting landmarks on time. He gives good effort as a downhill blocker but issues with pad level and core strength lead to him being overtaken as the rep progresses. Fano’s level of NFL success might be tied to scheme fit and individual matchups.

Strengths

• Three-year starter with experience at both tackle spots.
• Has extensive reps in prominent run-blocking schemes.
• Good hand-strike quickness when allowed to fire out.
• Accelerates feet and runs through angle blocks on contact.
• Has footwork and body control to stay connected on move blocks.
• Athleticism/adjustments can spring runs and screens in space.
• Flies out of his stance and in front of the rusher with quickness.
• Above-average mirroring the rush with foot quickness.
• Able to unlock hips and ride edge rushers around the pocket.
• Good at finding his footing after early push from speed to power.
• Feints punches to draw and dry out rusher’s hand swipe attempts.

Weaknesses

• Lean through his chest, waist and thighs by NFL standards.
• Lacks upper-body and core strength to sustain in-blocks at pro level.
• Pad level rides way too high on drive blocks.
• Can be pressed and displaced by heavy-handed ends.
• Loses “first in” battles to the frame with his pass punch.
• Will overset instead of working inside/out against speed rushers.
• Opens outside half too quickly, creating opportunities for inside moves.
• Must guard against lunging with inside hand and hugging with outside hand.

Round 1, Pick #30: Colton Hood, CB, Tennessee

NFL.com Draft Profile

Press-man bully with an ability to put his stamp on the first and last phases of the snap. Hood plays with a disruptive punch and gets his hands on most releases, but shifty NFL wideouts could create issues for him. He has enough speed to stay phased on verticals and does a nice job erasing space on in-breakers from tight press or off-man looks. He’s disciplined in zone but route switches still cause occasional missteps. Hood plays with aggression in the catch space, taking top positioning by force. Physicality also shows up in run support, where he triggers downhill with stopping power and finishes like an extra safety. Hood needs to sharpen his instincts/technique, but he has the mentality and upside to become a CB2 in a press-heavy scheme.

Strengths

• Plays with box-safety physicality in coverage and run support.
• Punches and suffocates outside release against boundary.
• Demands the catch space on jump-ball battles.
• Gathers and triggers with adequate fluidity from depth.
• Operates with discipline/leverage against high/low route concepts.
• Explodes vertically with extended arms to capture high-point.
• Run-defense wiring is exactly what coaches want to see.
• Above-average stopping power when tackling bigger backs.

Weaknesses

• Could struggle matching twitchy NFL releases.
• Hips can get sticky on sudden, aggressive transitions.
• Grabby at break points or vertical routes when he’s out of phase.
• Gets too dialed in to receiver and loses track of ball flight.
• Still developing his instincts from off coverages.
• Leggy with sluggish change of direction as open-field tackler.