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Three Day 2 targets for the Dolphins in the draft

Iowa tight end Sam Laporta. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Three potential Day 2 targets for the Dolphins in the 2023 NFL Draft

By Colum Dell | Last updated 4/26/23

For the second consecutive year, the Miami Dolphins will have the fewest picks in the NFL Draft with four selections, the exact amount as in 2022.

Had Miami not been caught tampering with Tom Brady and Sean Payton, it would've held the 21st overall pick. The Dolphins' first pick comes in the second round, No. 51 overall, barring a trade.

Miami will make half of its selections on Day 2 of the draft. Here are three potential targets for picks 51 and 84:

Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa

Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 245 pounds

This offseason, the Dolphins lost two tight ends: starter Mike Gesicki, who signed with New England in free agency, and Hunter Long, a trade piece in the Jalen Ramsey deal.

They re-signed Durham Smythe, but he's not the receiving threat the Dolphins need; he only caught 15 passes for 129 yards last season.

Considering some of the elite tight end talents Iowa has produced over the years, it deserves recognition as TEU. Therefore, it provides some perspective on how impressive it was for LaPorta to set the school record for career receptions at the position (153).

Last season, LaPorta recorded 58 receptions for 657 yards, which were both team highs.

HC Mike McDaniel has a history with Iowa tight ends and knows how to utilize the position in the receiving game, having worked with All-Pro George Kittle in San Francisco.

While LaPorta wouldn't block much, he'd bring a different element to the Dolphins' tight end corps and be another reliable target for quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Sam LaPorta treating Kentucky like they're all his little brothers pic.twitter.com/WFroiy7WXP
— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) December 31, 2022

John Michael Schmitz, Center, Minnesota

Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 301 pounds

The Dolphins surprisingly chose to move last offseason's acquisition Connor Williams to center after he exclusively played guard as a pro, and it is arguably his best season to date. Nevertheless, Williams will be a free agent next offseason, just as RG Robert Hunt will be.

Adding a natural center in the draft would be a wise move, and one of Williams or Hunt could fill in at guard if Miami can't retain them both.

Schmitz played five seasons for the Golden Gophers after redshirting in 2017 and capped off his career on a high note, earning first-team All-American honors from the Associated Press.

The 24-year-old was Pro Football Focus' highest-graded center in Division I last season (92.3).

According to Kent Lee Platte's Relative Athletic Score, which has data on prospects since 1987 and evaluates them based on measurables and combine performance, Schmitz scored 7.89 out of 10.

Schmitz's closest player comparison, as determined by his score, is John Sullivan, who played 10 seasons in the NFL and earned a first-team All-Pro selection in 2012.

John Michael Schmitz wrestling background showing up in the run game sheeeesh pic.twitter.com/uloxz9dEBF
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) April 18, 2023

DeMarvion Overshown, LB, Texas

Height: 6-foot-3 Weight: 229 pounds

Overshown failed to make a mark as a safety and transitioned to linebacker in 2020. The move immediately paid off, with Overshown finishing second on the team in tackles that season (60) and leading the Longhorns with seven passes defended.

As a fifth-year senior last season, Overshown posted career highs in tackles (96), tackles for loss (10) and sacks (four). He was named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award and earned first-team All-Big 12 honors.

ESPN's Louis Riddick is as "excited" about Overshown as anyone in the 2023 NFL Draft, listing him as one of his five favorite sleepers.

"If I were an NFL team, I'd do whatever necessary to make sure Overshown ended up on my team by the end of the draft," Riddick wrote. "He fits so well as a 4-3 weakside linebacker and special teams playmaker in today's NFL because of his length, agility, speed and explosive hitting ability."

Although Overshown wasn't successful as a full-time defensive back, the experience could prepare him for a role as Miami's version of Cardinals LB/S Isaiah Simmons.