Finsmob Unleashed

The good news is that the Miami Dolphins addressed to the 2 positions the majority of us felt we had pressing needs at first. Edge rusher and OL. The FMU consensus pick didn’t happen (Jackson Powers-Johnson), and yes, he was available when we picked at #21. The Dolphins chose a pass rusher with serious athletic ability and what could be a very high ceiling, but OLB Chop Robinson doesn’t have a great college resume (statistically) to show us at Penn State. The next pick was a surprise, at #55 we took Houston OT Patrick Paul. Paul had a tremendous pass blocking career there, allowing a minute amount of sacks and pressures, one of the best in college football. His run blocking left quite a bit to be desired, and Patrick Paul most likely has the longest arms in this draft at just a shade over 3 feet, 36 1/4″. Don’t think of him as a finesse guy though, Paul put up 30 reps with 225, an astounding feat with someone possessing such long arms.

We traded a 2025 3rd RD pick to move up into the 4th RD (Pick #120) to select Tennessee RB Jaylen Wright. I have to add to this that I took Jaylen Wright in my lone mock draft, but that was at pick #158 in the 5th, we took Wright at #120 4th round. I felt like we needed another young RB, perhaps not as strongly as Grier and McDaniel did though. We bring another track athlete, so the speed train continues. Wright is also a good receiver, as well as a good pass protector when he’s been asked to stay back and protect the QB, all good traits. Taking into consideration that RB Raheem Mostert is 32 years old, and despite the early success of RB De’Von Achane, Achane hasn’t been able to stay on the field, and RB Chris Brooks showed a bit of promise early last season, he was out most of the season with an injury. RB was definitely a need, and as always, running backs can usually contribute early on, so we should see a fair amount of Jaylen Wright.

With our next pick in RD 5, (#158), we selected edge rusher Mohammed Kamara. I like that we doubled down on what looks to be a very important need for our defense. Yes, we let DT/DE Christian Wilkins walk in FA, but we’ve now added a couple of good young pass rushers at outside LB with Chop Robinson and Mohammed Kamara. Kamara is actually the opposite of Robinson. While Robinson is all twitched up and a burner who didn’t blow up the college game statistically, Kamara doesn’t impress with that quick burst or have the speed that Robinson has, yet he did put up some nice stats in the college game. Kamara totaled 30.5 sacks, 45.5 tackles for loss and forced 5 fumbles. He plays with tenacity. I think this was a great pick. With the uncertainty of Phillips and Chubb rehabbing serious injuries, we now have a couple of young guys to buoy the pass rush, in addition to veteran Shaq Barrett.

At pick #184 in the 6th RD, the Dolphins finally selected a WR. There was so much talk about how the Dolphins were going to be taking a WR early, which in this writers opinion would have been ridiculous considering how many needs we had more pressing. Malik Washington (Virginia) is a compact slot receiver built like a RB (5’8 191). He has excellent run after the catch ability, and could potentially be a gadget type of player in our offense. Add him to the long list. I’m hoping Erik Ezukanma finally gets on track, but if not, then Malik Washington may get a shot, and he will also have to compete against incumbent slot guy Braxton Berrios.

Many here felt we needed a safety and with our second 6th RD pick, it finally happened. The Dolphins selected at pick #198, Safety Patrick McMorris from California. Nothing in particular jumps off the page about McMorris, but we sorely need depth, and I suppose he’ll get a chance to be just that, along with the obligatory special teams play. With our final pick (#241) in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Dolphins selected another WR, USC WR Tahj Washington. Washington is another slot type receiver with some legit special teams value. He’s a return man, both punts and kickoffs, and is also a special teams gunner on kickoffs and punts.

When evaluating our entire draft haul, it’s too soon of course to say whether we did enough to improve our team. What makes it especially hard is that our 2nd RD pick plays LT, and at least for part of this season we have our LT as long as he’s healthy. I suppose a strong showing by Patrick Paul could land Armstead on the bench or maybe even cut potentially, but if Armstead’s healthy and playing as he always does, not sure Paul fits into the plans for this season. Our first pick Chop Robinson will definitely see lots of reps in different places, all to allow him to rush the passer using his ultra quick get off and closing speed. We didn’t use any draft capital on the D-line, instead staying put with the multiple free agent acquisitions we’ve already made, and potentially might make once June 1st is past. Some potential players of interest could be the ageless Calais Campbell who would be nice opposite Sieler, or even our old friend Emmanuel Ogbah, who’s better suited on the D-line at DE rather than OLB.

On offense, I feel like Jonnu Smith will be a big factor for us. I felt we really needed someone for Tua to go to when either or both Hill and Waddle were covered and have that player do some damage. Durham Smythe caught a fair amount of passes last season but never really did anything after the catch, so Jonnu Smith will help plenty in that regard. I know we have plenty of concerns with the O-line and you can put the target squarely on our C Aaron Brewer. Our front office seem very confident and unconcerned about it, so hopefully for once, they’re right. I’d say our starting O-line on paper would be:

LT Terron Armstead

LG Isaiah Wynn

C Aaron Brewer

RG Robert Jones

RT Austin Jackson

At WR and TE, I’d say the depth chart at the moment is going to look like this:

LWR Jaylen Waddle

RWR Tyreek Hill

SWR Braxton Berrios

TE Jonnu Smith

TE Durham Smythe

At Running Back, I expect new draftee Jaylen Wright to jump the depth chart:

RB Raheem Mostert

RB De’Von Achane

RB Jaylen Wright (R)

At the bottom of the depth chart there will be serious competition between Jeff Wilson, Chris Brooks, and Salvon Ahmed.

At FB it’s Alec Ingold

On the defensive side, it’s going to look like this before the June 1st cutdowns which definitely may affect our D-line. Right now though, this is how I have it.

LDE Zach Sieler

NT Benito Smith

RDE Da’Shawn Hand or Teair Tart

At LB, how quickly the rehab goes for our two rehabbing superstars will affect the starting lineup, but to play it safe, I’ll leave both off for now:

LOLB Chop Robinson (R)

LILB David Long

RILB Jordyn Brooks

ROLB Shaq Barrett

In the secondary, this is how I see it:

LCB Kendall Fuller

RCB Jalen Ramsey

NB Kader Kohou

FS Jevon Holland

SS Jordan Poyer

On Special teams, I think we could potentially see our rookie handling PR/KR’s, but for now I’ll leave it o the incumbent Braxton Berrios.

K Jason Sanders

P Jake Bailey

KR Braxton Berrios

PR Braxton Berrios

I do think they’ll mix in Achane on kickoffs and once again the rookie WR Malik Washington, provising he makes all the cuts.

So in review, I can’t say we improved our team that much this season, with the exception on defense, where I think we’ll be leaning on both rookie OLB’s Chop Robinson and Mohammed Kamara. I know Kamara was a late RD pick but I think this kid is ready to go right now. I defer once again to PSU fans Brian in NY and M13 on Chop Robinson. I was hoping to shore up the interior O-line, where Isaiah Wynn missed lots of time, Robert Jones too, and of course the big question mark on pass blocking for C Aaron Brewer. The depth is solid, but unspectacular. LT, Kendall Lamm and LT Patrick Paul, LG Lester Cotton, OC/G Liam Eichenberg, OG/T Jack Driscoll and RT Kion Smith. Once again, I really like the upgrade at TE, specifically in the receiving aspect because I think Jonnu is going to have another big season, perhaps even bigger than his breakout season last year with Atlanta. He could really be Tua’s best friend, and a big factor on keeping drives going.

As always, we all hope for the best. I think the strategy was surprising in this draft, but I don’t hate it all, in fact I love the fact that they addressed the pass rush by doubling down. It was one of my biggest concerns, almost as much as the O-line. It seems like Grier was confident in his FA pickups on both lines, but again, don’t be surprised when more money is freed up June 1st and even after Tua gets his contract extension that we don’t sign a couple of the guys I mentioned and a ew more like C Connor Williams, if he can get himself healthy. There are a few OG’s still available too, like Mark Glowinski and oft mentioned Dalton Risner. We’ll see what happens on that front. The Jets will be abetter team, not sure about the Bills, but as long as they have Josh Allen at QB, they’re tough to beat. Hopefully Tua stays healthy, and steps up in those big games this season, and the rest of the team follows suit.

GO DOLPHINS!!!