Players the Miami Dolphins should target at the Senior Bowl
By John Blair
![MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 11: 2021 NFL draft prospect DeVonta Smith #6 of the Alabama Crimson Tide catches the ball during the College Football Playoff National Championship football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Hard Rock Stadium on January 11, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 52-24. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) MIAMI GARDENS, FLORIDA - JANUARY 11: 2021 NFL draft prospect DeVonta Smith #6 of the Alabama Crimson Tide catches the ball during the College Football Playoff National Championship football game against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Hard Rock Stadium on January 11, 2021 in Miami Gardens, Florida. The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Ohio State Buckeyes 52-24. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/b6cd06528bdfbe9b77d44739c59f7afd8308d14dbdf9580c03984647bd40be5b.jpg)
One of the biggest advantages in coaching the Senior Bowl is teams get an up-close look at the players they are scouting. They get several advantages from doing this which includes seeing how players are in meetings, seeing how they interact with teammates and coaches, and the ability to see them in situations they want to see these players in if they invest in them through the draft.
The ability to be so hands-on with players usually leads to that team filling at least one or two of their draft slots with players from the game. That easily could happen with the Miami Dolphins as several players in this game would make sense for the team. In this article, we will take a look at five players who could be good draft picks for Miami.
Miami Dolphins Senior Bowl targets: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
The first player we will look at is a prospect who would make a lot of sense for the Miami Dolphins’ number three pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. That player is Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who would give the Dolphins a much-needed weapon and be someone Tua Tagovailoa already has a connection with.
DeVonta Smith's Season Was Incredible
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) January 12, 2021
• Heisman Trophy Winner
• National Champion
• Unanimous All-American
• Led FBS in REC, REC YDS, & REC TD
• Set SEC Career REC YDS & REC TD Records
• Set SEC Single-Season REC YDS & REC TD Records pic.twitter.com/UVFnfr1xNi
Wide receiver is one of the biggest needs for the Dolphins this offseason for a couple of reasons. The first one being that besides DeVante Parker, the team has no other player worthy of a starting spot.
Jakeem Grant was the only other wide receiver on the team to have over 300 yards receiving and he finished fourth on the team in receptions. Not to mention Grant is due close to five million dollars next year, so it would not be a shock if the team moved on from him.
The other reason the team needs to add at least one wide receiver in the draft is to help with Tua Tagovailoa’s development. Last season, Tagovailoa struggled to throw the ball downfield as he only averaged 6.3 yards per attempt. This lack of success has some Dolphins fans already giving up on him, and if continues I would not be shocked if Tagovailoa started to lose confidence.
The best way to quiet the fans and build Tagovailoa’s confidence is to surround him with playmakers on offense.
The top playmaker in this year’s draft is DeVonta Smith. Last season, Smith won the Heisman Trophy after setting SEC records in receiving yards with 1,856 and touchdown receptions with 23.
Smith would also be a very good one-two punch with DeVante Parker, as Parker is more of your big-bodied wide receiver while Smith is more of your outstanding route runner who can win with quickness and technique.