Miami Dolphins: Prospects to trade up for in the 2021 NFL Draft
By Ian Higgins
By far the biggest movers thus far in the 2021 NFL Draft season, the Miami Dolphins have shown no fear when it comes to shuffling their draft selections and collecting assets from organizations desperate to leapfrog the draft order for one of the top quarterbacks of the 2021 NFL Draft.
Headed by the first-year combination of head coach and quarterback, the Miami Dolphins exceeded expectations with a well-coached defense and responsible offense in the hands of Tua Tagovailoa. Despite lacking the flash commonly carried among starting quarterbacks in the NFL, Tagovailoa bucked the trend of many rookie passers by emphasizing ball security over production. A tendency that has potentially landed him in the Miami Dolphins doghouse when contrasted with record-breaking rookie Justin Herbert in Los Angeles.
Having shown the willingness to trade down and move back in the order, what moves could Flores and the Miami Dolphins put together in order to get back into the upper-echelon of first-round prospects in the 2021 NFL Draft.
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Micah Parsons LB
Placing themselves back into the top ten in the 2021 NFL Draft order following their selection at sixth overall, the Miami Dolphins move up in the order to add a potential focal point to their defensive front. With some of the best athletic measurables within the entirety of the 2021 NFL Draft, Penn State’s Micah Parsons is a multi-purpose inside linebacker with the tools to slide across Flores’ multiple-front defensive scheme.
At six-foot-three, 246-pounds, Parsons is slightly larger than the average linebacker in the modern NFL, possessing a body type comparable to those of current stars Dont’a Hightower and Bobby Wagner. What splits Parsons from the previously named studs though is the raw athleticism packed within his frame. POsting a 4.39 forty, 34-inch vertical, and 19 bench reps of 225 pounds, Parsons has a combination of athletic measurables rivaling Seahawks wide receiver D.K. Metcalf.
WIthin Flores’ 3-4 defensive front placing an emphasis on the versatility of its linebackers in both coverage and rushing the passer, Parsons is a multi-dimensional threat that will encourage opposing offensive coordinators to gameplan for his potential uses and work around his ability to shut down opposing mismatches.