Dolphins fans have plenty of reasons to watch this weekend's marquee conference championship games, with at least four potential quarterback prospects and many others on display. A look at some of the players to monitor:
_ Oregon vs. Utah in Pac-12 championship at 8 p.m. Friday (ABC):
Ducks quarterback Justin Herbert, who has been good but not great this season, remains a Dolphins possibility, and this will be one of only two remaining games to evaluate him.
At this point, he's widely projected in the 5 to 10 range in the first round. "He can be a maddening evaluation, though overall this season he has shown improved accuracy and better decision-making," ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. said.
But Pro Football Focus' Mike Renner noted that even though Herbert has a good completion percentage (66.8 percent), he has had 80 completions (31% of his completions) on screens, which is fourth most in the country. LSU's Joe Burrow, by contrast, has thrown 31 screens.
Among others to watch Saturday: Utah cornerback Jaylon Johnson (a potential option with one of Miami's two second-round picks), Oregon guard Shane Lemiuex ("a really solid player who has had a great year," according to Kiper), Utah running back Zack Moss (good breakaway speed; 1,246 yards rushing on 6.2 per carry this season and 15 touchdowns); Utah edge rusher Bradlee Anae (12 sacks) and safety Julian Blackmon.
Utah quarterback Tyler Huntley, a South Florida native with 16 touchdowns and two interceptions, could be a potential third-day pick. He was a former Florida Gatorade Player of the Year at Hallandale High.
_ Oklahoma vs. Baylor in Big 12 championship at 1 p.m. Saturday (ABC):
Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts remains a Dolphins option, but Kiper said: "Hurts' stock has dropped on my board. When (Todd McShay) and I discussed in early October, I was bullish _ if he kept up the same pace and showed improvement going through reads and seeing the field. That hasn't happened. After a hot start throwing the ball, Hurts has leveled off, putting up much better numbers with his legs. Taking care of the ball was his greatest strength, but he has put out some bad tape lately (with five recent fumbles)."
Other Sooners to monitor: receiver CeeDee Lamb (a potential top-10 pick), Creed Humphrey (Kiper's second-ranked center), defensive tackle Neville Gallimore and inside linebacker Kenneth Murray.
Baylor, meanwhile, has an interesting receiver prospect in Denzel Mims (61 catches, 945 yards, 11 touchdowns; McShay calls him a Round 4 possibility) and defensive end James Lynch (10.5 sacks).
_ LSU vs. Georgia in Southeastern Conference championship at 4 p.m. Saturday (CBS):
The Dolphins will have their eye on at least 20 players in this game, including both quarterbacks (Burrow and Georgia's Jake Fromm, whose stock has dropped this season). Fromm would seem a reach with any of Miami's three first-round picks; he hasn't even completed half of his passes in any of Georgia's past four games: Missouri, Auburn, Texas A&M and Georgia Tech.
The teams are loaded with other high-end prospects. Among Georgia players, Miami will be eyeing left tackle Andrew Thomas (a possibility if Miami's first-round pick falls outside the top five), running back D'Andre Swift (a possibility with the Pittsburgh or Houston first-round picks due Miami) and guard Solomon Kindley.
Among LSU players beyond Burrow, Miami will be looking closely at safety Grant Delpit (a top-10 prospect but not a Dolphins priority position), cornerback Kristian Fulton (another possibility with the Dolphins' second of three first-round picks), center Lloyd Cushenberry and offensive tackle Saahdiq Charles, receiver Justin Jefferson and running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire.
_ Clemson vs. Virginia in Atlantic Coast Conference championship at 7:30 p.m. Saturday (ABC):
Clemson is loaded, as usual, with multiple first-round options: Outside linebacker Isaiah Simmons (a possibility if Miami's top pick falls in the 5-to-10 range), receiver Tee Higgins, running back Travis Etienne (a strong second-day option for Miami) and guards John Simpson and Tremayne Anchrum. Virginia's top prospect _ potential second-round cornerback Bryce Hall _ is sidelined after an ankle injury sustained against UM.
_ Ohio State vs. Wisconsin in Big 10 championship at 8 p.m. Saturday (Fox):
The Buckeyes have the draft's best prospect in defensive end Chase Young, who will likely go first or second overall. Cornerback Jeff Okudah is projected in the 5-to-10 range of the first round, and another Buckeyes cornerback _ Shaun Wade _ could go late on Day 2 or early on Day 3.
This game features the running backs Kiper rates second and third behind Georgia's Swift: Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor (1,761 yards, 6.3 per carry, 20 touchdowns) and Ohio State's J.K. Dobbins (1,657 yards, 6.6, 19). Both are legitimate second-round options for the Dolphins.
Miami _ which already has two Ohio State linebackers (Jerome Baker, Raekwon McMillan) _ will look at another (Malik Harrison, who has 40 tackles and 4.5 sacks). And the Dolphins _ who have two Wisconsin linebackers in Vince Biegel and Andrew Van Ginkel _ will look at another, Zack Baun (11.5 sacks, two forced fumbles this season).
Wisconsin's top prospect is center Tyler Biadasz, who's projected to go in the 20s.
Though general manager Chris Grier will lead Miami's draft efforts _ and make the final decision _ expect coach Brian Flores to be involved. Flores revealed Thursday that he has had a role in the selection of players plucked off waivers in the Dolphins' continuous roster churning this season. Flores, who has a scouting background with the Patriots, said he has checked the NFL's waiver wire every day for the past 15 years.
"When I was in personnel I knew pretty much all of them," Flores said. "I spent more time on the draft last year. Next couple years, I will know everyone hopefully. Having that background helps me a lot.... I feel confident in that area."
