With day two of the 2024 NFL Draft about to start, it is time to take a look at the top positions of need – and the players available at them – for the Miami Dolphins.
The Miami Dolphins used their first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to boost their pass rush capabilities, adding Penn State edge rusher Chop Robinson to the defense. The move gives Miami a player with a ton of potential at a position that could be one of need early in the year as veteran edge rushers Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb continue to recover from season-ending injuries last year.
While the pick appears to be a match between best player available on Miami’s draft board and a need they had as the draft started, there are still needs that could be addressed on Friday and Saturday as the last six rounds of selections play out. What are Miami’s top needs heading into the second round?
Interior Offensive Line
This is probably the position most fans expected Miami to address when they were on the clock in the first round. The board played out with several linemen still available through the end of the first round, and Miami could look to be aggressive early in Friday night’s second round to move up to grab one of them. The Dolphins could also address the interior lineman with the selection of a tackle, giving them a player they could move inside to guard for a year with the plan to push him outside if Terron Armstead retires after the year.
Top Five Lineman Remaining:
Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon
Cooper Beebe, G, Kansas State
Kingsley Suamataia, T, BYU
Zach Frazier, C, West Vriginia
Roger Rosengarten, OT, Washington
Defensive Tackle
Adding an edge rusher was important for the Dolphins, but trying to find someone who can fill at least some of the holes left by Christian Wilkins and Raekwon Davis, both of whom left in free agency this offseason, could be high on the wishlist for Miami. If the Dolphins do want to land a player who was a common first-round mock pick to them this year, they are going to have to be aggressive and make a move early to target Johnny Newton. After that, there is a gap back to the rest of the defensive tackles.
Top Five Defensive Tackles Remaining
Johnny Newton, DT, Illinois
Ruke Orhorhoro, DT, Clemson
Mekhi Wingo, DT, LSU
Michael Hall Jr., DT, Ohio State
Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State
Wide Receiver
Miami’s wide receivers are headlined by Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but they need a third option to take some of the pressure off those two. There is a ton of talent left on the board as the second round gets ready to kick off, and Miami could find someone falling directly into their lap. A player like Ladd McConkey or Roman Wilson could be an excellent fit for Miami (Wilson is the sixth-ranked receiver remaining, just missing the list below).
Top Five Wide Receivers Remaining
Adonai Mitchell, WR, Texas
Keon Coleman, WR, Florida State
Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
Ja’Lynn Polk, WR, Washington
Javon Baker, WR, UCF
Tight end
Instead of targeting wide receiver, the Dolphins could look to acquire a pass-catching tight end to be the third option in the aerial attack. Miami has not done much with the tight end position the first two years under Mike McDaniel, but the head coach has said the next evolution in his offense is to increase the position. That could be done with a second-round pick on Friday.
Top Five Tight Ends Remaining
Ja’Tavion Sanders, TE, Texas
Theo Johnson, TE, Penn State
Ben Sinnott, TE, Kansas State
Tanner McLachlan, TE, Arizona
Jared Wiley, TE, TCU
Cornerback
Cornerback feels like a fringe need for the Dolphins, but with the talent that is still on the board, Miami could find themselves in the position to take a player despite maybe not necessarily having to make that pick. Jalen Ramsey will start on one side, and the assumption that Kendall Fuller will be the other starter. Kader Kohou and Nik Needham will battle for the nickel cornerback position, while Siran Neal and Ethan Bonner will be reserve cornerbacks and special teams contributors. The wildcard in the group is Cam Smith, now in his second year after essentially red-shirting his rookie campaign. Will he find more playing time under new defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver? A cornerback who can either push Fuller for the starting position, Kohou and Needham for the nickel position, or serve as a developmental player to take a starting role next year could be a solid move for the Dolphins this year.
Top Five Cornerbacks Remaining
Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa
Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama
Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
Ennis Rakestraw, Jr., CB, Missouri
Renardo Green, CB, Florida State
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