Latest USA Today Mock Draft has Dolphins Selecting

NFL.com Draft Profile

Overview

High-skill, high-volume slot receiver with average size but extraordinary ball skills. Lemon has room for refinement, but not much. He’s intelligent, confident and polished with the ability to make plays on all three levels. Tempo-driven route-runner who misdirects man coverage and separates out of turns but is fairly average after the catch. Quicker than fast, featuring early acceleration to open seam throws but flashes late burst when needed. More play strength is needed for NFL press and he needs to avoid rushing through multi-breaking routes. He’s an exceptional ball-tracker with excellent catch timing and few focus drops. He wins more combat catches than he loses. Lemon is a plug-and-play, quarterback-friendly talent with first-round value and Pro Bowl upside.

Strengths

• Efficient press release with early acceleration to bypass.
• Manipulates defenders out of position with route acumen.
• Snaps off out-breaking routes at crisp angles.
• Displays above-average burst from turns to gain separation.
• Ball-tracking adjustments and catch timing are elite.
• Ridiculous grip strength once the football hits his hands.
• Elevates his toughness and focus when catch is contested.
• Good patience with late catch adjustment to save his catch space.
• Already dropping two feet inbounds near the sideline.
• Willing run blocker who gives legitimate effort.

Weaknesses

• Could use a hair more patience to prevent rushing the route.
• Appears quicker than fast when working vertical routes.
• Can be a little slow disengaging once captured underneath.
• Competitive but relatively ordinary after the catch.
• Needs runway to break off comebacks out of the drive phase.

Round 1, Pick #30: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

“Miami has very few positions with answers, and corner is among the most unsettled. But a second-team All-SEC performer like Hood could be a nice start for a team that will be regularly combatting MVP-caliber passers like Josh Allen and Drake Maye within the AFC East.”

NFL.com Draft Profile

Overview

Avieon shares the same bloodlines and coverage temperament as his brother, A.J., a first-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2020. Avieon Terrell is an athletic, fluid mover with clean transitions and enough speed to stay in phase on most vertical routes. He’s most effective in press-man coverage, where he mirrors releases with timing and discipline, staying crowded to the route. He concedes 50/50s to bigger targets at times, but is a constant catch irritant with good technique on all three levels. He can play wide or inside and is willing in run support, but he lacks ideal size. Terrell projects as an early starter thanks to his polish, ball skills and coverage versatility.

Strengths

• Blend of athleticism and size to play inside or outside.
• Stays low and balanced when matching the release.
• Guards against losing desired cover leverage at all times.
• Smooth hip flip with quick acceleration into top speed.
• Competitive energy makes route running laborious for the receiver.
• Crowds receiver’s chest and finds the football downfield.
• Closes quickly into the passing lane to harass the catch point.
• Pulls and rips at the football, forcing eight fumbles during his career.
• Good effort and urgency playing off perimeter blocks.
• Triggers downhill with control to do his part in run support.

Weaknesses

• Slender build gives ground to bigger wideouts on 50/50 balls.
• Loses feel for bendy routes from trail positioning.
• More reactive than proactive in anticipating receiver’s break point.
• Average eye balance and route awareness from short zones.
• Will take some losses tackling bigger backs in run support.