As the primary week of the 2024 NFL free company interval involves an in depth, ESPN’s Mel Kiper, Jr., launched his third 2024 NFL mock draft. Kiper’s projection takes into consideration the motion of free brokers across the league and, whereas there are nonetheless some top-tier gamers obtainable, together with former Miami Dolphins cornerback Xavien Howard, the push of participant actions appears to be slowing, offering the very best image of every staff’s draft wants to this point this 12 months. What did free company do to the Dolphins’ wants and the way does Kiper tackle these wants?
Kiper doesn’t embrace trades in his third mock draft of the 12 months, having every staff make a choose in keeping with the present draft order. For the Dolphins, meaning utilizing the twenty first total choice. As for the staff’s high want, Kiper’s ideas parallel that of a lot of the fan base: tackle the offensive line.
To that finish, Kiper tasks the Dolphins to make use of the twenty first total choice on Duke guard/middle Graham Barton. Of the choose, Kiper writes:
Miami has misplaced a number of starters over the previous few weeks because of its wage cap scenario, together with guard Robert Hunt, defensive deal with Christian Wilkins, linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel and Jerome Baker and cornerback Xavien Howard. The group might go a number of totally different instructions with this choose. I nonetheless just like the pairing of Barton and the Dolphins, although, due to the way in which he might enhance the center of this O-line. Barton performed principally left deal with in school, however he has the traits to maneuver inside and command the sport. Miami ranked thirty first in go block win fee (49.2%) final season, so it has to enhance.
Barton can be a very good choose for the Dolphins, giving them rapid assistance on the inside of the offensive line, with the flexibility to maneuver to wherever the staff wants him. He’s projected as the highest middle prospect within the draft and may very well be precisely what the Dolphins must solidify the offensive line.
Jackson Powers-Johnson, one other inside offensive line prospect and a Dolphins fan favourite for the twenty first choose, shouldn’t be included within the first spherical, in keeping with Kiper’s mock. He’s twice introduced up as a potential choice, talked about with the twenty fourth choose by the Dallas Cowboys and twenty seventh to the Arizona Cardinals, however he’s possible sliding into the second spherical in keeping with Kiper.
Would Barton be the precise choose for the Dolphins? Would you like Powers-Johnson? Ought to Miami have a look at one other place? Tell us your ideas on Kiper’s newest Dolphins choose projection within the feedback beneath.
