Here’s who the Sun Sentinel predicts Miami will select
The three-day NFL draft begins Thursday night (8 p.m.; TV: ESPN, NFL Network, ABC and ESPN Deportes), and the Miami Dolphins have six picks to improve their roster.
Here’s who the South Florida Sun Sentinel predicts the Dolphins will select in Thursday’s first round:
Dave Hyde, Columnist
UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu
He falls here because of health concerns, and the Dolphins have shown no concern in regards to players’ past injury history. He can step in and play and that’s what this team needs. If his career is only five or six years because of health issues? That’s a tomorrow concern on a team that is living for today.
Chris Perkins, Dolphins columnist
UCLA edge rusher Laiatu Latu
I think the Dolphins select an edge rusher and an offensive tackle in the first two rounds. However, I don’t have conviction on the order, and I’m unsure whether the Dolphins trade down and pick up an extra second-round pick, which is my preference.
David Furones, Dolphins writer
Duke offensive lineman Graham Barton
He can start at guard for Miami in 2024 and then possibly become a tackle once Terron Armstead retires. His athleticism as a blocker also bodes well for the wide-zone blocking scheme of the Dolphins.
Keven Lerner, Assistant Sports Editor
Georgia offensive tackle Amarius Mims
Mims (6-8, 240) is a mountain of a man who can play right or left tackle, but he needs time to develop, which is a good scenario because the Dolphins, who have left tackle Terron Armstead and right tackle Austin Jackson, would be grooming Mims to take over for Armstead next season.
Steve Svekis, Assistant Sports Editor
Florida State defensive end Jared Verse
I believe the team will trade down from 21, but if the Dolphins stay put, they desperately need a pass-rush injection. Neither Jaelan Phillips (ruptured Achilles on Nov. 24) nor Bradley Chubb (torn ACL on Dec. 31) will likely be at 100 percent until late in the season, if at all in 2024, and Miami lost Andrew Van Ginkel in free agency. Further, the signing of Shaquil Barrett is likely no panacea, with him turning 32 in November and having logged only 7.5 sacks in his past 28 games. In his 50 games before that, he had terrorized the NFL for 41.5 sacks.
In 25 career games with the Seminoles, Verse had 29.5 tackles for loss, including 18 sacks. Additionally, the 6-foot-4, 254-pound Verse dominated at the combine, with a massive 31 bench-press reps of 225 pounds and a fleet 4.58 40 time.
Poll: Who should the Dolphins pick in the first round of the NFL draft?
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