I Don’t See The Dolphins Taking A WR In Round 1

I Don’t See The Dolphins Taking A WR In Round 1

The NFL Draft is less than a week away, and like many fans, I like to look at mock drafts to see where people have players going to the Miami Dolphins. With two 1st round picks this year, the Dolphins are going to have some options.

There are mock drafts that have the Dolphins taking a receiver with one of their 1st round picks. I understand why the Dolphins released Tyreek Hill and Nick Westbrook, and traded Jaylen Waddle, so there are going to be people who feel the Dolphins will take. 

I’m not one of those people. I think the Dolphins could take one, especially at pick 30, but I think they won’t. I say this because this is a total rebuild, and the Dolphins have a ton of needs, especially in the secondary and edge rushers. They also have questions on the offensive line. 

I also think it’s because of the new general manager, Jon Eric Sullivan, coming from the Green Bay Packers. The Packers rarely took receivers in the 1st round outside last year when they took Mathew Golden. I think Sully is about the process and building a team from the inside out. 

 However, this is Sully’s first time as a GM and making the final call on draft pick decisions, so who knows what he thinks or how his draft board is, but I think he is about the process of rebuilding and starting things up front. 

The Dolphins drafted a ton of defensive linemen last year, while the offensive line has holes at guard and questions about the long-term answer at right tackle, with Austin Jackson taking a pay cut and his contract voided next year, meaning he will be a free agent after the season. The Dolphins have no edge rushers, corners, or safeties. 

This doesn’t mean I don’t think the Dolphins will take one in the 1st round, but receiver isn’t a premium position. Teams have found receivers beyond the 1st round over the years. I also don’t think this draft has elite receivers. Some have good traits, but also question marks. 

Carnell Tate is considered the first receiver to go, and he has the size, but there are questions about his physicality, and Sully has said that he would like to add more physical receivers. Jordyn Tyson is a receiver possibly linked to the Dolphins at pick 11, and he has the size and ability to play at the next level, but the issue with him is durability, as he missed some games the last few years. Does Sully really want to take a chance on a player with durability concerns when his predecessor, Chris Grier, always seemed to turn the other way when he would take a player with injury concerns and got burned? 

Plus, the Dolphins went down this road in the 1st round in 2015, drafting Devante Parker, and as talented as he was, he was frustrating because of missing games and being inconsistent on the field, always flashing with no consistency. 

There is also Makai Lemon, who is a good slot receiver and could do well against zone defenses, but not sure about his speed. Also, Denzel Boston, who is a big physical receiver, lacks top-end speed. Or KC Concepcion, who has the speed to work the underneath of the defense and stretch the field vertically. Plus, he can be a returner as well. 

The point is, these guys have the ability, but questions about their game as well. They are predicted to go all over the board depending on which expert you believe, and for that reason, I think the Dolphins will pass on a receiver and pick another position. Will I be surprised if the Dolphins take a receiver? No, but I don’t feel receiver is a premium position. You can find a receiver anywhere in the draft as they are a dime a dozen. The Dolphins should focus on building this team on the inside out and not the other way around.

Some will say it could hurt Malik Willis if they don’t take one early, but Willis should be able to show what he can do without a big-time receiver. If he can’t, then he’s obviously not our long-term answer. That would be a story for another day. 

The Dolphins shouldn’t force the issue at receiver because Hill and Waddle are gone. Just go with the best player available on your draft board, and if it’s a receiver, great, but if not, no big deal. The Dolphins aren’t a player away. They are a couple of years away from being good, and this is going to be a slow process.