The NFL Combine has come to a close, which means NFL Draft analysts everywhere are due to reset the deck and reassess their preconceived notions of what the 1st-round of the 2020 NFL Draft is going to look like. The inevitable shift in expectations will be significant — we’ll see new pairings of teams and players that were previously considered to be irrational or unlikely.
For the Miami Dolphins, that process has already begun. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah has released his second mock draft of the year — and there’s no shortage of new pairings, especially for the Miami Dolphins.
Jeremiah’s mock draft 2.0 starts out exactly how you’d expect — the Dolphins select a quarterback.
5th overall – Alabama QB Tua Tagovailoa
This selection appears to be a bit more in doubt than it was a few months ago — the Dolphins have done well to dispel the notion that they’re all in on a single quarterback. That should help this team stave off having to pay an arm and a leg in a trade up scenario. But more importantly, the Dolphins are staying put with the 5th pick in this draft, meaning they don’t have to concede any extra draft capital to land their quarterback.
18th overall – Alabama WR Henry Ruggs III
This pick is definitely a surprise. The Dolphins already have a number of capable wide receivers in the roster — this is a pick that wouldn’t make as big of an impact on the roster as perhaps landing a pass rusher or an offensive lineman. The thought process here is a good one — reunite Ruggs and Tagovailoa after so much success together in Tuscaloosa. But never the less, this is an unexpected twist to go skill player this early.
26th overall – USC OT Austin Jackson
Jackson has all the great tools needed to be a standout left tackle at the next level. But he’s also in need of getting his fundamentals refined — which makes him an understandable but yet unappealing selection in that you’d obviously prefer to land someone who can be a bit more “plug and play”. The Dolphins are going to need to do their homework here and figure out what Jackson can handle versus what he was asked to do.
