Miami Dolphins NFL draft picks 2021: Analysis for every selection
The Dolphins add three more players on Day 2, drafting safety Jevon Holland, offensive tackle Liam Eichenberg and tight end Hunter Long.
Round 1, No. 6 overall: Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
My take: The Dolphins were smart to add an elite wide receiver prospect in Waddle to build around and help quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Speed and electric playmaking ability were the Dolphins' top offensive deficiencies in 2020, and if those don't describe Waddle perfectly then nothing does. He should immediately become of the NFL's most explosive returners and slot receivers with the potential to be more. My big question here is if DeVonta Smith was a slightly better option than Waddle. Smith, the 2020 Heisman Trophy winner, was far more productive in college and he's more polished as a route runner. In full transparency, I preferred Smith, but the Dolphins are clearly betting on the upside, projection and speed of Waddle to transition into a better NFL receiver.The lingering takeaway is the Dolphins had one of the NFL's slowest and worst separating offenses in the NFL last season. Then they signed one of the NFL's best threats in William Fuller V and drafted Waddle. They attacked a need and it should help Tagovailoa tremendously.
Tide family reunion: It's a family reunion bringing Waddle together with former Tide teammate Tagovailoa -- instant chemistry. It's another clear sign the Dolphins are building around Tagovailoa, getting him playmakers that fit his skill set and players he already knows. This is the third Alabama player selected in the past two drafts and fifth in the past six drafts for Miami. They love their Tide players. The big thing to track is if the Dolphins picked the better receiver between Smith and Waddle, but the Dolphins don't seem to have much doubt and are happy they landed the one they've targeted for a while.
Was the big trade worth it?: The Dolphins' trade out of No. 3 made them miss out on drafting Florida tight end Kyle Pitts or LSU wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, who went No. 4 and No. 5, respectively. Will there be any buyers' remorse? The Dolphins will say they have no regrets and they'll have a 2023 first-round pick as a product of the trade, but if Pitts and/or Chase become All Pro players and Waddle doesn't, this decision will be revisited. Also, the Dolphins could have stayed at No. 12 and kept their 2022 first-round pick while possibly landing Smith. Was securing Waddle worth giving up that extra first? Things to watch in the years to come, but Miami is betting on coming out on the strong side on both of these lingering questions.
Round 1, No. 18 overall: Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami
My take: The Dolphins, as expected, drafted an offensive playmaker at No. 6 and a defensive edge rusher at No. 18. There might be some disappointment that this pick isn't running back Najee Harris, but pass-rusher is a more valuable position and arguably an even bigger need. Phillips is a high-risk, high-reward pick. He was seen by many as the draft's top edge rusher by many scouts because of his physical attributes, production in 2020 at Miami and his upside. The concern was his medical, given he was forced to medically retire at UCLA because of concussions. There were a couple other edge-rusher options available in Michigan's Kwity Paye and Georgia's Azeez Ojulari, but taking Phillips here is a sign Miami is comfortable with any medical concerns.Going back to Miami: Phillips is from California, but he says Miami, where he played college ball, saved him and he was beyond ecstatic to be going back to South Florida. The Dolphins saw him up close at Miami's pro day and used their close contacts to feel comfortable with him. This is the first time since 2012 the Dolphins have taken a Miami Hurricane (both Olivier Vernon and Lamar Miller were drafted in 2012), and it's also the first time the Dolphins have selected a Hurricane defensive player in Round 1.
Sacks without blitzing: Over the past two seasons under coach Brian Flores, the Dolphins ranked 31st in pass rush win rate according to NFL Next Gen Stats, defeating their blocks within 2.5 seconds just 35% of the time. Only the Lions were worse. Adding Phillips should big a boost to that rate, and pairing him with Emmanuel Ogbah gives the Dolphins a duo that offenses have to worry about every week. The Dolphins blitzed 39% of the time last season, third most in the NFL, but with Phillips they might not have to send that much extra pressure to get home.
Round 2, No. 36 overall: Jevon Holland, S, Oregon
My take: First let's get it out of the way, the Dolphins missed out on the top tier of running backs for the second consecutive year which has to be considered a disappointment. Javonte Williams went at No.35 to the Broncos right before Miami's pick and it's worth wondering if Miami did enough to secure one of them.But beyond that, Holland is a perfect fit in Flores' defense. He has that special buzz word -- versatility -- and can play deep safety and man-to-man out of the slot. In fact, Holland played 64% of his coverage snaps in the slot at Oregon. Holland is a playmaker with nine interceptions over two seasons, which should help the Dolphins be better covering sideline-to-sideline and tackling speedy receivers. Miami allowed 6.2 yards after catch per reception last season, easily the worst in the NFL (next-closest were the Chiefs at 5.8).
The lingering impact of this pick could impact veteran Bobby McCain, who has a $6.4 million non-guaranteed salary. Holland could be his replacement if he's ready to start from Week 1.
Round 2, No. 42 overall: Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame
My take: The Dolphins were a near-lock to take an offensive lineman on Day 2, and the theme of positional versatility continued with Eichenberg. He played mostly left tackle at Notre Dame, but seems like an ideal fit as a Day 1 starter for Miami at right tackle with 2020 second-round pick Rob Hunt likely to move to right guard. Eichenberg says he's willing to play all five positions if asked, though he's never played center. His game isn't sexy -- he's not overwhelmingly fast or strong -- but since the start of 2019, he has allowed a pressure on 1.1% of pass blocks, fourth best among 90 players with at least 400 pass blocks at left tackle.The hesitation in this move is the Dolphins gave up a 2022 third-round pick to move up eight spots from No. 50 to No. 42 when many NFL executives view next year's picks as very valuable given there will be more certainty in the scouting process. But if the Dolphins found a long-term starting offensive lineman, then nobody will worry about the cost.
Miami continues to prioritize building around Tagovailoa with a speedy playmaker in Jaylen Waddle in the first round and now a consistent NFL-ready offensive lineman in Eichenberg in the second round. It's a smart process.
Round 3, No. 81 overall: Hunter Long, TE, Boston College
My take: This is the first true surprise pick because outside of Kyle Pitts there didn't seem to be a reason for the Dolphins to select a tight end with four others essentially locked into a roster spot this season. It seems clear this move was made to provide insurance for if Mike Gesicki and/or Durham Smythe leave for free agency next year.
Long is a good player who led the FBS in catches, played for Dolphins' roster at the Senior Bowl and played at Boston College -- Flores' alma mater. But it's worth wondering if the Dolphins could have got more value taking available players such as center Quinn Meinerz, running backs Michael Carter or Trey Sermon, or linebackers Baron Browning, Jabril Cox or Ronnie Perkins.
What Long does provide is yet another playmaker for Tagovailoa, who will have no shortage of pass-catchers to target.
What's next: The Dolphins have a few more picks left on Day 3, including one in the fifth (No. 156) and two in the seventh rounds (Nos. 231 and 244). The biggest remaining holes would be adding a running back, which the Dolphins have passed on multiple times so far in this draft with general manager Chris Grier saying they won't reach for need and are happy with what they have in the room right now. It also wouldn't be a surprise to see Miami add a developmental center, an off-ball linebacker and/or a cornerback to develop behind current starters.