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Updated 1st Round Targets (following combine)

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Maybe this should be posted after the start of free agency, but following the NFL Combine here are my thoughts on Miami's targets at 21. Reports from Pro Football Focus (PFF).

T TROY FAUTANU, WASHINGTON

Fautanu has elite movement skills for an offensive lineman. As a college left tackle, his best position will likely be on the interior due to lack of length, but he’ll be able to play tackle in a pinch. He’ll need to add more power to be a full-time interior player, but the finesse parts of his game are to be coveted — his flexibility, foot speed, balance and hand quickness are all top-tier.

T AMARIUS MIMS, GEORGIA

Take one look at Mims, and the immediate takeaway will be, “They don't make many like this dude.” He has a massive frame, but he's athletic with it, too. His flexibility allows him to get a wide base while keeping his back flat to generate a ton of power and more leverage than one would expect. He's light on experience but will be coveted come draft time.

IOL GRAHAM BARTON, DUKE (slight trade down)​

Barton plays left tackle for the Blue Devils but is on the shorter side in regard to length for an NFL offensive tackle. This might cause a shift to an interior position in the pros, but wherever he ends up, he has starting-caliber strength and skill.

C JACKSON POWERS-JOHNSON, OREGON

Powers-Johnson has graded very well at several offensive line positions over the past three seasons and found a more stable home at center in 2023. His wrestling background gives him very good core strength and balance for redirection and maintaining blocks. His pas level is a bit high, which is the root of most of his negative plays. The rest of his game is well-rounded; he has a starting-caliber combination of power and movement skills for guard or center.

T TYLER GUYTON, OKLAHOMA (slight trade down)​

Guyton has very good movement skills for an offensive tackle of his size. He explodes off the ball and is a force when blocking in open space. Though he can move well in pass protection, his strike timing and hand placement need refining (stems from low hands). He is not a finished product, but he is an alluring athlete.

T JORDAN MORGAN, ARIZONA (slight trade down)​

Morgan could have been a draft pick last year but tore his ACL in November. He has starting-caliber movement skills in pass protection but could stand to be a more impactful run-blocker.

TE BROCK BOWERS, GEORGIA

Bowers has been the best tight end in college football over the past two seasons. He might not get picked as early as Kyle Pitts, but many will think he's a better prospect because of what he can do as a blocker in addition to his receiving ability.

EDGE JARED VERSE, FLORIDA STATE

No player in college football has elevated their stock more over the past two seasons than Verse, who went from the FCS to a first-round talent. He's a weight-room warrior who forces offensive linemen to use all their strength to stay in front of him.

EDGE LAIATU LATU, UCLA

Latu has the best pass-rush profile of any edge rusher in the 2024 class. His hand usage, reaction time and first-step athleticism are first-round caliber in all categories.

WR BRIAN THOMAS JR., LSU

Thomas is one of a handful of burners in this class who can really stretch the field. He's a major part of why LSU's offense is top-three in the FBS in passing yards per game, passing yards per attempt and passing touchdowns. His route tree isn't as diverse as Nabors', but he is improving in that area.

QB BO NIX, OREGON

The underwhelming Bo Nix we knew from Auburn seems long gone. Nowadays, Nix is seen as a good dual-threat athlete with a legit NFL arm. Most importantly, he's playing much better under pressure, even if he isn't pressured as often.

WR LADD MCCONKEY, GEORGIA

McConkey is one of the best route runners in this class. But, unlike some stereotypical expectations, he doesn't just have quick speed; he also has good long speed. He is a slot guy at the next level due to size, but a more versatile one because of that all-around speed.

CB QUINYON MITCHELL, TOLEDO

Mitchell has some of the highest ball-production numbers in the FBS over the last two seasons. His forced incompletion total and forced incompletion percentage are both top-10 in the FBS. He doesn't have much experience in press coverage, but he has great recovery speed in off-coverage to still make plays on the ball.

DI BYRON MURPHY II, TEXAS

T’Vondre Sweat gets most of the notoriety among Texas’ defensive linemen, but Murphy is also a future pro and showed that this season. He’s not a size monster like Sweat — Murphy is listed at 6-foot-1, 305 pounds — but his quickness and strength at the three-technique position yielded a 91.8 pass-rush grade in 2023. He also made Bruce Feldman’s “College Football Freaks List” for his strength, front squatting 455 pounds and power cleaning 375.

WR XAVIER WORTHY, TEXAS

The NFL will always covet speed, which is why we know the NFL will covet Xavier Worthy. He's a former track star who has some of the best getaway speed in the country when it comes to adding in yards after the catch. He's also getting more reliable using that speed to stretch the field before he gets the ball in his hands.

DT/DE Darius Robinson, Missouri​

Robinson is a powerful lineman who can line up anywhere from zero- to a seven-technique. He won't win with speed much at the next level, but he certainly can with power. His strength profile projects to a rotational role as a floor with starting potential if he can continue to hone in on his pass-rush plans.
 
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I have a feeling Grier is going to take the UW OT Fautanu and he will play OG as a rookie

I am hoping for one of the top DE's Verse or Latu but they will both probably be gone. I also like the C JPJ or the DB Mitchell but they will also both probably be gone. If they are all gone then I would look to trade down if we can. I suppose Barton would be a safe pick in the late 20s as he can play any interior OL position and I also like the DT/DE Robinson if we trade down, as he can play anywhere along our DL.
 
I have a feeling Grier is going to take the UW OT Fautanu and he will play OG as a rookie

I am hoping for one of the top DE's Verse or Latu but they will both probably be gone. I also like the C JPJ or the DB Mitchell but they will also both probably be gone. If they are all gone then I would look to trade down if we can. I suppose Barton would be a safe pick in the late 20s as he can play any interior OL position and I also like the DT/DE Robinson if we trade down, as he can play anywhere along our DL.
I feel like we are on the same wavelength here.

With the way things are looking right now, I'd really be surprised if Grier didn't trade down.
 
I feel like we are on the same wavelength here.

With the way things are looking right now, I'd really be surprised if Grier didn't trade down.
This is a mock draft I would like. I didn't trade down in round 1 since JPJ was available and thought he would be too good to pass up at a position of major need and a player who can start immediately and play at a high level.

I only traded down once in round 2 to pick up a 4th. I chose Wilkins replacement in round 2. My options werent great in round 4 so I chose Rice who I think will be very good as a WR3. Then I doubled up on DE's and took a DB and LB which are also huge needs.
 

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This is a mock draft I would like. I didn't trade down in round 1 since JPJ was available and thought he would be too good to pass up at a position of major need and a player who can start immediately and play at a high level.

I only traded down once in round 2 to pick up a 4th. I chose Wilkins replacement in round 2. My options werent great in round 4 so I chose Rice who I think will be very good as a WR3. Then I doubled up on DE's and took a DB and LB which are also huge needs.
Nice. Very solid draft.
 
I agree, if we trade down in round 1 and dont take a Center, those would be good 2nd round Center options.
If JPJ is available at 21 I would take him. Then trade down #55 to the 70s and take the OT from Yale ).

Its going to be a crazy/fascinating draft: What if QBs McCarthy or Nix are available at 21? That would be a true test of just how committed our team is to Tua. Or Grier might be tempted to take a QB to compete and have a lucrative trade piece of whichever QB came in 2nd. I'm not saying this will/should happen, but the potential scenarios are intriguing.

If I were Grier (we would be in trouble) I would focus on OL/an X receiver and an Edge. So many possibilities!
 
If JPJ is available at 21 I would take him. Then trade down #55 to the 70s and take the OT from Yale ).

Its going to be a crazy/fascinating draft: What if QBs McCarthy or Nix are available at 21? That would be a true test of just how committed our team is to Tua. Or Grier might be tempted to take a QB to compete and have a lucrative trade piece of whichever QB came in 2nd. I'm not saying this will/should happen, but the potential scenarios are intriguing.

If I were Grier (we would be in trouble) I would focus on OL/an X receiver and an Edge. So many possibilities!
That's really an interesting scenario. As much as I love Tua, I think I'd take McCarthy or Nix if they fall.

Both add athletic ability and can make off script plays, which means so much in today's game. I feel both would really fit McDaniel's system well. And I do wonder if Tua's fringy good athletic ability will return??

Probably not a popular opinion, but it would give Miami options. A reset if Tua doesn’t take his game to the next level, is injured etc. The benefits of a rookie quarterback contract.

A trade chip if Tua continues to improve.

Of course, you miss out on immediate help at 21 so that's a potential drawback.
 
That's really an interesting scenario. As much as I love Tua, I think I'd take McCarthy or Nix if they fall.

Both add athletic ability and can make off script plays, which means so much in today's game. I feel both would really fit McDaniel's system well. And I do wonder if Tua's fringy good athletic ability will return??

Probably not a popular opinion, but it would give Miami options. A reset if Tua doesn’t take his game to the next level, is injured etc. The benefits of a rookie quarterback contract.

A trade chip if Tua continues to improve.

Of course, you miss out on immediate help at 21 so that's a potential drawback.
McCarthy would be extremely tempting and I might pull that trigger. Nix slightly less so, but I'm still heavily considering it. Let Tua play out his option year and if he is who we all want/think/hope he can be then we have a young, cheap, first round QB as a huge trade chip. If Tua isn't the guy, then we have our plan B ready for the 2025 season after having sat and learned (like most rookie QBs should do IMHO) this 2024 season. I then go best Center (Frazier or Barton) in Round 2 and perhaps even trade a future 2nd rounder for a 3rd this year and draft the best OT available.
 
McCarthy would be extremely tempting and I might pull that trigger. Nix slightly less so, but I'm still heavily considering it. Let Tua play out his option year and if he is who we all want/think/hope he can be then we have a young, cheap, first round QB as a huge trade chip. If Tua isn't the guy, then we have our plan B ready for the 2025 season after having sat and learned (like most rookie QBs should do IMHO) this 2024 season. I then go best Center (Frazier or Barton) in Round 2 and perhaps even trade a future 2nd rounder for a 3rd this year and draft the best OT available.
This might actually be a higher possibility than we think. Especially if Miami loses Wilkins, Hunt and Van Ginkel. As much as I'm an optimistic, it could be a step back year.
 
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