Miami Dolphins make major upgrades early in seven-round mock draft

With a top-heavy assortment of 2021 NFL Draft assets, the Miami Dolphins will be looking to add day one impact players to their roster within the first two days of the draft. With four total selections in the first two rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft, it is also not out of the question for Miami to move on from one of these selections in order to further bloat their war chest of draft selections.

With their current top selection residing at number six overall following trades with San Francisco and Philadelphia, the Miami Dolphins are in a position to take their choice of the 2021 NFL Draft’s top offensive weapons in order to elevate that play of game-managing franchise quarterback Tua Tagovailoa.

Despite opting out of the 2020 college football season, LSU’s Ja’Marr Chase has remained atop the 2021 NFL Draft receiver rankings with his dominant season as Joe Burrow’s top target on the Tigers’ run to the national championship. Despite only measuring in at 6-foot tall, Chase is an exceptional athlete with the tools to produce on all three levels.

Showing out at his pro day with a 4.38 40-yard dash, Chase displayed the deep-threat speed shown on tape in 2019. A favorite bailout for Burrow, Chase is able to create separation on long-developing routes thanks to this speed. Alongside this speed, Chase also posted a 41-inch vertical and had a measured hand size of 9.6-inches (comparable to NBA superstar Kawhi Leonard).

With a blend of athletic traits every NFL scout desires in a top receiver prospect, Chase is a well-rounded receiver who seems set to produce in the league from his first snap. With both route-running and deep-threat athleticism, Chase is the target Miami has needed for Tagovailoa.

After expending their first overall selection at the receiver position in order to elevate the production of Tagovailoa, the Miami Dolphins now return to the defensive side of the ball to address the depth of their pass-rush unit. Currently led by Andrew Van Ginkel and Emmanuel Ogbah, the Dolphins use a similar 3-4 front to the Patriots that demands versatility from their outside linebackers.

With eight sacks through ten games in the absence of Gregory Rousseau, UCLA-transfer Jaelan Phillips made the most of his time in the spotlight to place himself among the top-tier of pass-rushers in the 2021 NFL Draft. With foresight planning his pass-rush and a lengthy, explosive frame, Phillips pushed himself up draft boards displaying his athleticism at Miami’s pro day.

At 6-foot-5, 260 pounds, Phillips posted a blazing 4.56 40 with a 36-inch vertical and 21 bench reps of 225 pounds. If there were any doubts regarding Phillips’ ability to play in space as a defender in the flat, those questions have been quelled. Used as an all-around defensive asset in the Miami Dolphin’s defensive front, Brian Flores and company would have a field day finding all of the ways they could use Phillips in their scheme.