ESPN NFL Nation Mock Draft; Who did the Miami Dolphins select?

Miami selects impact interior defender in latest ESPN mock draft.

“With the 21st pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins select…”

The wait is almost over, Dolphins fans. The 2024 NFL Draft is just two days away, and with Miami possessing a 1st round pick for the first time since the team selected Jaylen Waddle and Jaelen Phillips in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft, excitement has reached a fever pitch.

With the draft roughly 48 hours from beginning, it’s time for each outlet to release their final mock drafts for rabid readers to consume ahead of selection day.

On Tuesday night, ESPN conducted their annual NFL Nation live mock draft, with the esteemed Marcel Louis-Jacques making the pick for the Dolphins. Who did he select?

With the Dolphins losing dominant defensive tackle, Christian Wilkins, in free agency to the Las Vegas Raiders, Louis-Jacques had Miami filling that hole by selecting concensus All-American defensive tackle out of the University of Illinois, Jer’zhan (Johnny) Newton.

Newton – just 21 years old – is one of the prime defenders in this year’s draft. In his four-year career at Illinois, the former Fighting Illini amassed 18 sacks, with 13 of them coming in his final two seasons.

Why would such a dominant interior defender be available so late in the first round, you may ask. Well, as is often the case, injuries can be used as the culprit.

Newton dealt with a foot injury during his senior season, ultimately getting surgery to repair the ailment.

Will the Dolphins draft Newton, or any other defender in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft or will they look to add riches on top of riches while going with an offensive weapon on Thursday night?

We will all soon know.