Six players the Miami Dolphins should select with the 21st pick in the 2024 NFL Draft
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By: Josh Houtz
With the 21st pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select…
Today is draft day, Dolphins fans, and for the first time in the Mike McDaniel era, the team will make a first-round selection! Now, the question on everyone’s mind is, who will McDaniel, General Manager Chris Grier, and his talented scouting department select when Miami is on the clock at 21?
If McDaniel has his way, he might choose a fast, shiny new toy to add to his explosive offense. I’m talking about Texas wide receiver Xavier Worthy, who has repeatedly been linked to the Dolphins over the last several weeks. But then again, maybe with a run-on offensive linemen expected, the Dolphins could have a talented defensive lineman fall into their lap. Which, ironically enough, is something McDaniel once said was his favorite position to scout.
Here’s what Miami’s head coach said about the defensive line’s importance after the team signed Trey Flowers on September 1st, 2022.
this quote has been burned in my brain this draft season pic.twitter.com/bslpoU9jO4
— josh houtz (@houtz) April 23, 2024
Now, do you think the Dolphins will draft a defensive lineman?
It’s hard to say what players will be available when Miami is on the clock without knowing how the board will fall. However, we can hypothesize who may be available based on team needs. Based entirely on Miami’s need and the players I’ve watched intently this draft season, I’ve come up with a list of six players I would like to hear called when the Miami Dolphins are on the clock with the 21st overall pick in the first round of tonight’s NFL Draft.
Here are six players the Miami Dolphins should select in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
* EDGE, UCLA, Laiatu Latu *
Hometown: Sacramento, California
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 259 lbs.
2023 College Stats: 49 total tackles, 13 sacks, two forced fumbles, two interceptions, two pass breakups.
Much like Jaelan Phillips a few seasons ago, Laiatu Latu caught my eye instantly. He’s fast AF off the EDGE and can win in various ways. Additionally, I was impressed with his hand usage and ability to bend around the outside. Like Phillips, he also has an endless motor that never quits. All of these are traits I believe Miami’s coaches will love. Ironically enough, however, the most significant question mark surrounding Latu — like Phillips coming out — is his health. In 2021, Latu was forced to medically retire from Washington, but like his doppelganger, he never gave up. Now, he’s sure to hear his name called on night one. And if I have things my way, it will be to the Miami Dolphins with the 21st pick in the 2024 NFL Draft…
they really cloned jaelan phillips and didn’t tell nobody pic.twitter.com/EW6KLq1vU1
— josh houtz (@houtz) April 18, 2024
EDGE, Jared Verse, Florida State
Hometown: Dayton, Ohio
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 254 lbs.
2023 College Stats: 41 total tackles, nine sacks, one forced fumble, two pass breakups.
One of the names the Dolphins have been linked to most over the last few weeks has been Florida State pass-rusher Jared Verse. The former Albany Great Dane can win several ways, but his Scott Steiner-like power and ability to contain the EDGE stood out most when watching the film. At times, Verse would make an opposing lineman look like a blocking sled or a small child, moving him with relative ease into the quarterback’s lap. Despite that power, he also showed an explosive first step, and his 4.58 speed makes him a literal nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. I like Latu more, but with medical concerns and Verse being more of a well-rounded prospect, I could see Verse being the Dolphins’ pick at 21.
I know people wanna go o-line but I can’t stop thinking about JP and Jared Verse coming off the edge (no diddy)
pic.twitter.com/jZxuntkWby
— Smoke (@nickysmokess) April 25, 2024
Defensive Tackle, Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois
Hometown: St. Petersburg, Florida
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 304 lbs.
2023 College Stats: 52 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, one forced fumble, one recovery, two pass breakups.
With Christian Wilkins making bank in Las Vegas, the Dolphins have a rather large hole to fill on the defensive line alongside the world’s most underrated player, Zach Sieler. Miami has decided to go with a stable of veterans eager to prove they belong. But what if they wanted to draft Wilkins’ replacement? If that’s what Miami hopes to come away with in round one, the name I’d look at is Illinois defensive tackle. Sure, Texas’ Byron Murphy II seems to be the higher-ranked defensive tackle among the draft pundits, but based on games I’ve watched, something about Newton made me feel a type of way. He’s a game-wrecker who can disrupt things in the backfield at a second’s notice—the perfect mix of power and speed. There will never be another salt and pepper, but Johnny Newton and Zach Sieler wouldn’t be too far off. Like Wilkins, it wouldn’t be the sexiest pick, but I think fans would come to love the type of player Newton quickly is.
johnny newton (#4) is a bad dude pic.twitter.com/NOt5IhMhff
— josh houtz (@houtz) April 21, 2024
Defensive Back, Cooper DeJean, Iowa
Hometown: Odebolt, Iowa
Height: 6’ 0 1/2”
Weight: 203 lbs.
2023 College Stats: 41 total tackles, two interceptions, five pass breakups.
When Anthony Weaver signed on as the Dolphins’ new defensive coordinator, we first heard from all the ‘eXpERts’ on social media that it was necessary to have three safeties in this defense. If that’s true and my numbers are correct, Miami’s current safeties are Jevon Holland and 32-year-old Jordan Poyer. This leads me to my next player, Iowa defensive back Cooper DeJean. DeJean is a versatile player who would allow the Dolphins to get creative in the secondary. He’s shown he can play at a high level on the outside, inside, and at safety, making him the perfect pick if Miami plans to move around cornerback Jalen Ramsey more this season. Oh, and he also has some return abilities. I’m not sure where he’d play to start, but long-term having a combination of Holland and DeJean in the secondary feels like an excellent problem with how explosive offenses are quickly becoming.
cooper deJean propaganda — how would you feel if he was the #dolphins pick @ 21? pic.twitter.com/mrtRodj4wp
— josh houtz (@houtz) April 23, 2024
Offensive Lineman, Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon
Hometown: Draper, Utah
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 328 lbs
2023 College Stats: N/A
Yes, I know this is now Graham Barton’s spot in the pecking order, but it feels like just yesterday that many Dolphins fans were banging the table for Oregon Ducks’ center Jackson Powers-Johnson. As I usually do, I try to stick to my guns for better or worse. Thus, making my JPJ my choice for Miami’s starting center/guard of the future. The athletic, violent interior offensive lineman could fill a need on Miami’s line immediately at guard, with the potential to eventually be the team’s starting center. Or, if you’ve been listening to Another Dolphins Podcast, you would know how Brian Baldinger feels about Aaron Brewer playing center… which could open the door for Powers-Johnson to start at center sooner rather than later. He might have fallen down the pecking order, but in my heart, JPJ is still one of one if Chris Grier and Co. plan to draft an offensive lineman.
My favorite offensive linemen for the Eagles in round 1: iOL Jackson Powers-Johnson
Unreal blend power and physicality on the interior
Elite versatility: can play various positions across the oline
Do NOT let this dude fall to the Cowboys at #24#NFLDraft #NFL2024 pic.twitter.com/K1mBrM2nPE— MRCROCKPOT (@mrcrockpot) April 24, 2024
Wide Receiver, Xavier Worthy, Texas
Hometown: Fresno, California
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 165 lbs.
2023 College Stats: 75 receptions, 1,014 yards, five touchdowns.
Maybe it’s the never-ending Worthy highlights I’ve seen on #DolphinsTwitter the last several days, but I have to be honest: I’ve really warmed up to the idea of the Dolphins drafting the king of speed, Xavier Worthy. Yes, he’s only 175 pounds, and some might view him (ignorantly) as only a deep threat. But when you turn on the film, you see that not only is he the fastest human ever timed at the combine, but the tape says he’s a more refined receiver than many give him credit for. Couple that with Miami’s need for a third receiving target, the rumors we continue to hear about their interest in Worthy, and the (potential) uncertainty surrounding the long-term futures of Hill & Waddle, and I don’t know that I’d be as surprised as I once was if Worthy is Miami’s pick. However, it would definitely be more palatable via trade-down or early in the second round.
can’t sleep thinking about tyreek hill, jaylen waddle, de’von achane and xavier worthy pic.twitter.com/sRipEhQbT4
— Tej Seth (@tejfbanalytics) April 16, 2024
* = my favorite
[Please Note: My brain tells me that the Dolphins should draft an offensive lineman. Whether that be Troy Fautanu, Graham Barton, Amarius Mimms, or *insert player’s name here* if they were to fall. Solidifying the offensive line is of the utmost importance!]
One player I would be okay if the Miami Dolphins traded up for…
Tight End, Brock Bowers, Georgia
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Photo by Perry McIntyre/ISI Photos/Getty Images
Bowers is a unicorn that does things most tight ends simply can not. If McDaniel truly wants to take this offense to the next level, finding a way to land arguably the best tight-end prospect in years would certainly help remedy that.
One player I would be okay if the Miami Dolphins traded back for…
EDGE, Chop Robinson, Penn State
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Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images
As of typing this last night, NFL Network’s Peter Schrager has officially mocked Penn State pass-rusher Chop Robinson to the Dolphins via trade down. Why, with the available players on the board, you might ask? I don’t have the answer to that. But I do know that if Miami wants to land a potentially game-changing pass-rusher + land an additional day-two pick, Robinson could be that guy.
Which name do you hope to hear called when the Miami Dolphins make their first-round selection in tonight’s NFL Draft? Do you think they draft an offensive or defensive player? What is the Dolphins’ most prominent need heading into the 2024 NFL Draft? Let us know in the comments section below!
Originally posted on The Phinsider
