Dolphins 7-round 2020 NFL mock draft: Building around new franchise QB

Round 1, Pick 22: Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State

After taking offensive players with the first two picks, I wanted to look at defenders for the Dolphins’ final first-round pick of this mock draft. Luckily, an extremely talented defender still remained on the board, as the Dolphins landed Ohio State cornerback Jeffrey Okudah.

Assuming they do not trade him, the Dolphins already have a legitimate number one cornerback to build their defensive backfield around. Xavien Howard has grown into a top-tier NFL cornerback and will be an important piece of the Dolphins’ defense for years to come. If Miami can pair Howard with a guy like Okudah, their defense will dramatically improve right away.

Okudah is an extremely fast and athletic cornerback prospect who shows fantastic natural man-to-man coverage ability. He is an incredibly sticky defender who understands route combinations well and has the speed to break on the ball and make a play. He also has nice size and length at the position and shows impressive ball skills at the cornerback position.

In today’s NFL where the passing game is king, having a legitimate shutdown cornerback on the outside can be incredibly valuable. Having two potential shutdown cornerbacks can be an absolute game-changer.

The Dolphins have a lot of work to do on the defensive side of the ball, but adding an impact cornerback like Okudah to pair with Howard would undoubtedly be a step in the right direction.