Six. The Miami Dolphins are facing six possible and logical chances to draft a starting offensive lineman in the 2020 NFL Draft. With selections currently scheduled to come at 5, 18, 26, 39, 56 and 70, the Dolphins will see no shortage of opportunities to upgrade their offensive front.
There’s just one problem. The value isn’t always going to be logical and the Dolphins are ideally going to exit the 2020 NFL Draft with two starters on the offensive line. This team is almost assuredly going to draft a quarterback with their first selection and the team still has pressing needs at nose tackle, free safety and running back — plus a possible lingering need in the slot if Miami chooses to part ways with veteran WR Albert Wilson. With that in mind, the Dolphins must run through scenarios and decide when they’re willing to spend for what — and hope or be certain that there’s good value for their position of need in that spot.
What happens if Miami sees five offensive tackles come off the board before they pick at 18? Are they willing to draft USC’s Austin Jackson at 18? Do they trade down? Do they trade up? If it comes to that for Miami, they’ll likely tap into a backup plan; but doing so will create more urgency in how the team elects to handle their later picks. Miami has a tone of flexibility in this year’s draft but the offensive line isn’t negotiable — this team is invested in righting the ship with their line and as such they’ll need to walk with one starter at a minimum but ideally two.
They’ll have six shots to get them; and if we’re being honest with the looming quarterback decision, it’s actually five. The good news is Miami will have plenty of chances to run through scenarios in order to find a pairing they like and should be able to see come to fruition.
