Miami Dolphins 2022 Mock Draft: Retooling the offensive line
The offensive line gets retooled and an explosive running back joins the fold in this Miami Dolphins 2022 Mock Draft.
To say the Miami Dolphins start to the season has been rough is probably an understatement. After hanging on to beat the Patriots in Foxborough week one, they have dropped four straight, including a pair of drubbings from the Bills and Buccaneers. In the process, they lost quarterback Tua Tagovailoa to fractured ribs, although he could be back this week for their London tilt with Jacksonville.
Still, this is a team that has just plain struggled. The defense hasn’t been able to generate a lot of pressure, and the offensive line has been a mess. They’ve tried to shuffle things around by getting rookie Liam Eichenberg out to left tackle and kicking Austin Jackson in to guard, but the results haven’t been too favorable.
It could be a wild offseason with all the rumors swirling about a quarterback from Houston, but we will wait and see on that. For now, in this Miami Dolphins mock draft, let’s look at how retooling the offensive line, adding an explosive running back, and adding more to the front seven can help them going forward to build a contender.
Miami Dolphins 2022 Mock Draft
Round 1, 11th Overall: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa
The retooling starts at the center position for the Miami Dolphins. Between Greg Mancz and newly signed Austin Reiter, center has become a position of stopgap for the Dolphins in 2021. Finding a starter for the long term makes sense here for Miami.
Yes, taking a center in the first hasn’t yielded great results recently. But, with a center as talented as Tyler Linderbaum, it’s worth it. Yes, Linderbaum is listed at 290 pounds which is a little light for the NFL, but adding weight shouldn’t be a problem. The talent is what’s important. Linderbaum has great initial quicks, explosion, and athleticism to function in a zone scheme while having the wrestling background and tenacity to handle power at the point of attack.
It isn’t the flashy pick, but Linderbaum makes the Dolphins better at an important position, especially with a young quarterback they’re hoping develops.