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2021 NFL rookie grades, AFC East

andyahs

andyahs

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Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
Total picks: 7 · Record: 9-8
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 7
Notable Undrafted Free Agent

The NFL is typically the great equalizer for college football gamebreakers. In the pro game, everyone's freakishly athletic. And yet, watching Waddle on Sundays felt just like watching Waddle on Saturdays, with the same thought invariably springing to mind: That guy just looks different. In a sea of physical marvels, Waddle's explosiveness still stands out. Every touch puts you on the edge of your seat. And while the Alabama product set a rookie record with 104 catches, somehow he seemed underutilized. Peppered with quick throws throughout his rookie campaign, Waddle rarely had the opportunity to showcase his downfield dynamism. (Don't let the 5-foot-10, 182-pound frame fool you -- Waddle has no problem making contested catches.) Here's hoping the new coaching staff unlocks MAXIMUM WADDLE in 2022. Mike McDaniel's recent words on the receiver inspire confidence: "I would start him in fantasy."

Waddle wasn't the only Year 1 stud from this Dolphins draft class, either. Displaying the kind of versatility today's NFL teams covet in the safety position, Holland stuffed the stat sheet with 68 tackles, 10 passes defensed, seven QB hits, two fumble recoveries, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions. The second-rounder posted the fourth-highest Pro Football Focus grade in the entire rookie class, only trailing Offensive Rookie of the Year Ja'Marr Chase, Defensive Rookie of the Year Micah Parsons and egregious Pro Bowl snub Creed Humphrey. Meanwhile, Phillips really came on in the back half of the season, finishing with 8.5 sacks and earning a spot alongside Waddle and Holland on the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team.

On the down side, Eichenberg continued a recent Dolphins tradition of throwing a rookie O-lineman into the fire and watching him suffer fourth-degree burns. A 16-game starter, Eichenberg committed 10 penalties and gave up nine sacks as one of the leakiest bookends in the NFL.


2021 NFL rookie grades, AFC East: Dolphins and Patriots load up; Jets mix good with BAD

www.nfl.com
 
Best draft class I can remember. Hopefully the new staff can get Eichenberg’s career headed in the right direction. He seems like a guy who would fit the zone blocking scheme. Definitely not a NFL LT though, IMO at least.
 
The first three picks are great. The rest is awful. This is more like a B so far for me.
 
andyahs said:
Grade
A-
View attachment 95617
Miami Dolphins
Total picks: 7 · Record: 9-8
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 7
Notable Undrafted Free Agent

The NFL is typically the great equalizer for college football gamebreakers. In the pro game, everyone's freakishly athletic. And yet, watching Waddle on Sundays felt just like watching Waddle on Saturdays, with the same thought invariably springing to mind: That guy just looks different. In a sea of physical marvels, Waddle's explosiveness still stands out. Every touch puts you on the edge of your seat. And while the Alabama product set a rookie record with 104 catches, somehow he seemed underutilized. Peppered with quick throws throughout his rookie campaign, Waddle rarely had the opportunity to showcase his downfield dynamism. (Don't let the 5-foot-10, 182-pound frame fool you -- Waddle has no problem making contested catches.) Here's hoping the new coaching staff unlocks MAXIMUM WADDLE in 2022. Mike McDaniel's recent words on the receiver inspire confidence: "I would start him in fantasy."

Waddle wasn't the only Year 1 stud from this Dolphins draft class, either. Displaying the kind of versatility today's NFL teams covet in the safety position, Holland stuffed the stat sheet with 68 tackles, 10 passes defensed, seven QB hits, two fumble recoveries, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions. The second-rounder posted the fourth-highest Pro Football Focus grade in the entire rookie class, only trailing Offensive Rookie of the Year Ja'Marr Chase, Defensive Rookie of the Year Micah Parsons and egregious Pro Bowl snub Creed Humphrey. Meanwhile, Phillips really came on in the back half of the season, finishing with 8.5 sacks and earning a spot alongside Waddle and Holland on the Pro Football Writers of America All-Rookie Team.

On the down side, Eichenberg continued a recent Dolphins tradition of throwing a rookie O-lineman into the fire and watching him suffer fourth-degree burns. A 16-game starter, Eichenberg committed 10 penalties and gave up nine sacks as one of the leakiest bookends in the NFL.


2021 NFL rookie grades, AFC East: Dolphins and Patriots load up; Jets mix good with BAD

www.nfl.com
Click to expand...

I'm interested in seeing what Eich can do with real coaching. Did coaching scheme hold him back? I doubt he has hit his ceiling, I just don't know how high it is.
Why were Long and Doaks given almost no chance? Looking forward to seeing them this fall.
 
steveo style said:
The first three picks are great. The rest is awful. This is more like a B so far for me.
Click to expand...
I think you, and others, need to put it in context. No GM hits on all his picks, not one.

Now if you want to say his drafting, overall, has been questionable, I can go along with that. The question is, how much is it Grier, and how much is the HC?

If you believe last year was a "B", that's fine, but that means there are very few "A"s.
 
I'm not counting out Hunter Long yet. He was hurt in pre-season and he never really had a chance. I'm still bullish on him.
 
LOL @ NE'S draft grade.

A- Ya right. Because NE went to the playoffs? I love that that's the first reasoning/compliment paid to Mac Jones, and not, you know, his actual talent. He's ok. He's not a A.
 
Mach2 said:
I think you, and others, need to put it in context. No GM hits on all his picks, not one.

Now if you want to say his drafting, overall, has been questionable, I can go along with that. The question is, how much is it Grier, and how much is the HC?

If you believe last year was a "B", that's fine, but that means there are very few "A"s.
Click to expand...
I like this post. Look to Atlanta if you think Grier sucks(Dimitroff...ugh). I think Grier has been wildly mediocre with the treasure trove of assets that HE accumulated. But over the last three years even with substantial misses, he's been better than average.
 
Mike McDaniel said:
If you grab what looks to be 3 future Pro Bowlers in one draft, especially the first 3 picks, that's an A+ period
Click to expand...
Usually I would say "pump the brakes" on a statement like that, but in this case, barring injury, it sure looks good. Waddle and Holland are almost a given for multiple post season awards, and I have no reason to believe Phillips won't be as well.
 
Based on the last game of the season. You have to wonder what this coaching staff saw in practice that caused them to start Davis over Jones all year. Jones was really solid against a very good NE defense at RT
 
Aren’t 1st degree burns the worst? Wouldn’t 4th degree burns be minor? I get really irked when people botch the execution on their metaphors
 
steveo style said:
The first three picks are great. The rest is awful. This is more like a B so far for me.
Click to expand...
Considering “the rest” is 60% 7th round and undrafted guys in their first year in the program I question your grading ability
 
Mike McDaniel said:
If you grab what looks to be 3 future Pro Bowlers in one draft, especially the first 3 picks, that's an A+ period
Click to expand...

The downside is, if Mia (no just Grier) 'only' drafts what appears to be 2 Pro Bowlers and 2-3 starters, that's regression. Grier has to go because '21 was a one-off.
 
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