The Athletic 3-Round Mock Draft has Miami Making These 7 Picks

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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: Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

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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.

Round 2, Pick #43: Dani-Dennis Sutton

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Overview

Dennis-Sutton is a base defensive end with toughness. He’s effective against the run, but he has limited pass-rushing upside. His predictable, linear rush lacks the burst and bend to beat tackles to the top of the rush and flatten into the pocket. He uses hand violence and brute force to challenge tackles with weak anchors. He’ll get bounced around because his pad level is too high, but he’s tough to finish and finds his way to the action when it’s near him. Dennis-Sutton is equipped to muddy running lanes but might not make many impact plays. He has average upside as an odd- or even-front end.

Strengths

• Heavy hands jolt tackles and create space to operate in both phases.
• Uses up-and-over arm action to clear the inside edge.
• Smooth inside spin opens rush-lane opportunities.
• Can slide laterally with zone blocks and redirect through them against cutbacks.
• Displays powerful pull-and-shed technique at the point.
• Takes on heavy contact but stays in the fight.

Weaknesses

• Plodding upfield rush lands down the middle of the tackle.
• Limited bend to flatten and shrink the pocket.
• Slow to counter when rush stalls at the top.
• Plays with elevated pad level throughout the rep.
• Lacks tackle range and can be wiggled into misses by runners.
• Needs discipline to cut down roughing penalties.

Round 3, Pick #75: Gennings Dunker, G/OT, Iowa

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Overview

Dunker is a three-year starter with a pro-ready frame but limited athleticism that is likely to push him inside to guard. He plays with average pad level, heavy hands and enough upper-body power to displace defenders if he plays with more consistent hand placement. His lateral quickness is average and his movements in space are mechanical, leading to difficulty making needed adjustments. The move inside should accentuate his play strength and allow him to get on top of opponents more quickly, but sub-package rushers and gaming fronts could be an ongoing challenge.

Strengths

• Outstanding frame with proportional build and good lean mass.
• Throws heavy hand strikes into first contact in the run game.
• Clears out down blocks with aggressive finishes.
• Knocks linebackers around on second level
• Held up admirably against Penn State rush talent.
• Protection posture features a tucked chin and flat back.
• Able to sink eventual anchor after being bounced early.

Weaknesses

• Segmented mover getting from block to block on combos.
• Inconsistent pad level and centering getting into blocks.
• Needs better hand placement to prevent slipping off of blocks.
• Below-average punch timing gets him stabbed and rocked back into pocket.
• Heavy legs and tight hips hinder ability to mirror and recover when needed.
• Can be caught off-guard and out of position against twists.

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: Zakee Wheatley, Safety, Penn State

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Overview

Wheatley is a long, athletic safety whose career arc shows steady development. He played with better decisiveness and route recognition from man and zone looks in 2025. He’s rangy with the ability to play over the top or close quickly to limit run-after-catch. Physicality near the line is average, but he competes and stays in the fight. His tackle radius is wide, but he needs cleaner pursuit angles and better play strength to limit missed tackles. Wheatley is still improving and should check in as a Day 2 pick with the potential to develop into a solid starter.

Strengths

• More alert and decisive in coverage in 2025.
• Versatility to play from a variety of alignments.
• Drives downhill for physical finishes to plays.
• Adequate feel for route development around him.
• Rangy to the football from down or high safety.
• Reads run and closes quickly, patching up leaky gaps.
• Able to open hips and mirror runner’s lateral cuts.
• Length is a catalyst for open-field tackling success.

Weaknesses

• Flows faster than change of direction can handle at times.
• Needs to play with more consistent pad level in run support.
• Must punch and play off blocks with better consistency.
• Average stickiness to the route from nickel.
• Average quickness to key and trigger from space.
• Inconsistent locating routes that get behind him.

Round 3, Pick #94: Bryce Lance, WR, North Dakota State

NFL.com Draft Profile 

Overview

Fifth-year senior with two seasons of explosive production as a boundary target. Lance lacks release quickness/short-area agility as a route-runner but possesses outstanding ball skills and positional instincts that allow him to create catch space. He has run-by speed on the FCS level but won’t be able to rely on pure gas to beat NFL coverage. He will have to spend more time polishing up his route work. Lance needs a more intentional route tree on the next level, but he’s smart, has good ball skills and should compete for a role as a backup.

Strengths

• Posted 2,157 receiving yards and 25 scores in the last two seasons.
• Real build-up speed as the route progresses vertically.
• Good suddenness to stop and present on stop routes.
• Footwork and play strength create space at the top of the route.
• Intentional with bodying and shielding corners from his catch space.
• Blue-chip ball-tracking and hand strength to finish deep throws.
• Makes athletic adjustments for back-shoulder wins.
• Stabs throws outside his frame with sudden, sticky hands.

Weaknesses

• Limited exposure to explosive athletes across from him.
• Will need to diversify and refine his release against pro press.
• Below-average short-area quickness and agility.
• Early lean tips off out-breakers and he fails to widen windows out of turns.
• Struggles to sink hips and quickly snap off comebacks.
• Allows the football into his frame as a pass-catcher.