While the 2022 Miami Dolphins draft might not be as exciting as previous years, there’s still plenty to watch out for when the third round kicks into action on Friday.
Having spent big in free agency and given up a lot of draft capital on the Tyreek Hill trade, the Dolphins get to sit back on the draft’s opening night, and just enjoy the show. Some holes have already been filled with Terron Armstead and Connor Williams along the line, Chase Edmonds and Raheem Mostert solidifying the backfield, and of course Hill and Cedric Wilson in the receiving corps.
But there’s still plenty of work to be done. The linebacker group is very thin, depth at wide receiver isn’t great, and there’s likely still interest in adding to the offensive line and running back room. So let’s take a look at the Dolphins options with that first pick at 102.
MIAMI DOLPHINS DRAFT 2022: 102nd PICK
Option 3: Offensive Line > Cam Jurgens
The starting center of the future, and knowing Michael Dieter’s injury history probably the current as well. Jurgens is a three-year starter for Nebraska and PFF said this of him “The most explosive center prospect in the class, Jurgens has tools that suggest a limitless ceiling”. His lack of consistency has led to a low-third, early-fourth prediction for him.
If he is still on the board when the Dolphins rock up on Friday I think this pick is a no-brainer, which is ideal for Chris Grier.
Option 2: Linebacker > Darrian Beavers & Brandon Smith
Both Beavers and Smith are developmental prospects with good athleticism (Beavers is a converted WR) and while that’s kind of what you expect in a low-round-three pick I think that’s also the reason the Dolphins will stay clear of this position.
Having unloaded truck loads of money and picks in the early days of the league year, Miami is almost assuredly looking to add a potential starter with their only pick in the first two days.
Option 3: Edge > DeAngelo Malone & Dominique Robinson
Another intriguing idea is for the Dolphins to add another edge rusher. We don’t know for sure yet what the Miami Dolphins defensive scheme will be for next season, or how they will roll out players like Andrew van Ginkel so I wouldn’t be 100% surprised if the fins didn’t load up on edge.
Jaelen Phillips had a very strong second half of the campaign and the resigning of Emmanuel Ogbah on a monster $65m 4-year deal may make this seem a waste of a pick, but Ogbah could be gone in cap-hell cuts in two-seasons, and having a ready made replacement on board would make sense.
Robinson is another converted WR and the Dolphins definitely have a history of taking those in recent memory, although they don’t usually end well. Malone racked up 180 career pressures at Western Kentucky and would be the safer of the two picks in my opinion.
THE BETTING TAKE
For a little extra juice on our picks if we take a look at Betway NFL Draft Odds we see they have the Dolphins +200 to take an offensive lineman, and +300 for an edge rusher and the same +300 for a linebacker. There’s a sneaky outside chance of a corner in there at +400, but for me offensive line is the way this team heads.
With all the offensive line coaches on the team now, and no move made as yet to add a center that screams to be the pick for me. And with new HC Mike McDaniel being a run-game offensive guru it just makes too much sense for me to look any other way at it.
But what do you guys think. Drop us a comment letting us know who you would take.
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