Throughout the year and leading up to the 2021 NFL draft, we will update our Miami Dolphins Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the Miami Dolphins from several prominent sites and draft analysts.
For a more inclusive lists of mock drafts for the Miami Dolphins, check out our 2021 Miami Dolphins Mock Draft Database.
The following are picks in recent mock drafts for the Dolphins:
Rotoworld - Nystrom (8/21)
6. Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami (FL)
Shop local! Rousseau is no finished product, and yes, he has his share of frustrating reps on tape. But how much do we really want to nitpick a 6'5/260 plus-athlete who posted 15.5/19.5 sacks/TFL in a first-year rFR starter in a major conference? Rousseau played receiver and safety in high school! Sky's the limit, with the caveat that Rousseau isn't as close to it as his gaudy first season output would suggest (his 80.7/76.2 PFF pass-rushing/overall grades were good, not elite). With Rousseau planning to declare after opting out of the 2020 season, his NFL team needs to realize he'll be further away from making an impact than most recent top-10 overall EDGE players we've seen taken, with more inherent risk. But not every draft class offers a prospect with Rousseau's combination of length, build, bend and star-level college production. Will be a fascinating eval.
9. Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
Tua needs targets in the worst way. And if we know one thing about Tua, it's that he possesses all-world vision and anticipation. Receivers who create separation feast with him. Bateman may not test at the top of this class athletically, but he's one of the crop's top route runners, a technician with outstanding hands. He creates easy separation on the outside and wins at all levels of the field. He and Tua would work together.
PFF - Renner (8/19)
3. Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
He doesn't have to play another down of college football to be the first non-quarterback taken in the 2021 NFL Draft. Last season, Sewell earned the highest grade we've ever given to a tackle, at 95.8 overall. And when the 2019 season started, he was only 18 years old -- that's how special he is as a prospect.
9. Dylan Moses, LB, Alabama
Moses has the overall freaky athletic profile to excel in Brian Flores' man-heavy scheme. Whether it's as a blitzer or in man coverage, Moses has the type of explosiveness you want for the position. We just need to see him back healthy in 2020 after tearing his ACL before the 2019 season.
The Draft Network - Crabbs (8/19)
7. Gregory Rousseau, EDGE, Miami (FL)
The Dolphins are in a tough spot here -- their primary needs at interior offensive line, safety and wide receiver don't bring great value. If the team stands firm here, look for them to continue their trend of coveting versatile defenders to play in Brian Flores' multiple-front defense.
9. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
The Dolphins receiving group has plenty of size between DeVante Parker, Preston Williams and Mike Gesicki. What's missing? Run after the catch ability. WR Albert Wilson (opt-out for 2020) enters a contract year in 2021 and might be a cap casualty, whereas speedy WR Jakeem Grant has durability questions and has ended each of the last two seasons on injured reserve.
Pro Football Network - Hodgkinson (8/16)
5. Jevon Holland, S, Oregon
After three selections in last year's first-round, the Miami Dolphins follow up with two first-rounders in the 2021 NFL Draft. Surrounding Tua Tagovailoa with talented targets would appear to be the main priority, so it wouldn't be a surprise to see a wide receiver selected early on. Replacing the departed Minkah Fitzpatrick should be a defensive priority, although upgrading the edge rush could also be an option.
Jevon Holland is the epitome of a "do-it-all" player. Equally competent in pass coverage as he is at playing at the line of scrimmage against the run, Holland combines strong tackling ability with good ball skills to perfectly fit the requirements of a modern-day safety in the NFL. Described as a "special talent" by Oregon coach Mario Cristobal, Holland should be an early first-round selection.
Jevon Holland is the epitome of a "do-it-all" player. Equally competent in pass coverage as he is at playing at the line of scrimmage against the run, Holland combines strong tackling ability with good ball skills to perfectly fit the requirements of a modern-day safety in the NFL. Described as a "special talent" by Oregon coach Mario Cristobal, Holland should be an early first-round selection.
13. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Jaylen Waddle has had to wait for his opportunity to shine behind Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs, but even with those two to compete for playing time within 2019, there were reasons to believe that Waddle can be an explosive, game-changing playmaker at the next level. Incredible speed and catch ability, combined with the ability to make a man miss in the open field, Waddle could easily be WR1 by the time the 2021 NFL Draft kicks off.
ESPN - McShay (8/12)
5. Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU
I'll start by saying that if Sewell were available, he'd be the pick. Even after Miami drafted Austin Jackson and Robert Hunt with early picks in April, protecting Tua Tagovailoa is still the team's top priority. But with Sewell off to block for Burrow in Cincinnati, let's help Tagovailoa another way. Chase is the best available prospect here and a true No. 1 wideout, but he also fills a glaring need for the Dolphins. DeVante Parker had a breakout season with more than 1,200 receiving yards, but the next-most-productive Dolphins WR in 2019 was Preston Williams at 428. Chase had 1,780 yards and 20 scores last season with the Tigers, and he has the dynamic playmaking tools to be an elite producer at the next level for Tua for years to come.
15. Travis Etienne, RB, Clemson
After going with the talented Chase at receiver with its first pick, Miami might consider Jevon Holland (Oregon) here to address its safety woes. Tennessee offensive lineman Trey Smith is worth a look too. A big offseason certainly helped the Dolphins along in their rebuild, but there are still a lot of problematic areas. While I like Matt Breida's speed, he's a free agent next spring, and Jordan Howard hasn't shown much juice. Etienne would give Tagovailoa an explosive young backfield-mate with a great combination of initial burst and straight-line acceleration. He's a home run hitter in space, and nabbing him here makes for a scary Tagovailoa-Chase-Etienne offensive core.
The Draft Network - Reid (8/10)
6. Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
Making it official and throwing his name in the hat of players who have opted out in order to train early for the draft, Parsons is arguably the cleanest defensive prospect in this class. A prototypical MIKE linebacker at 6-foot-3 and 245 pounds, he plays violent and displays plenty of athleticism and awareness.
While this isn't an immediate need on the Dolphins roster, the right method should be to continue to take the best players on the board in order to stack talent. Raekwon McMillan has progressed every season to date, but he doesn't possess the upside of Parsons. Pairing the former All-American alongside Jerome Baker gives the franchise one of the more athletic young duos across the league on the second level.
While this isn't an immediate need on the Dolphins roster, the right method should be to continue to take the best players on the board in order to stack talent. Raekwon McMillan has progressed every season to date, but he doesn't possess the upside of Parsons. Pairing the former All-American alongside Jerome Baker gives the franchise one of the more athletic young duos across the league on the second level.
9. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Miami is once again in a position to continue to add talent to the roster. With there not being much value at their biggest positions of need, the team instead makes a luxury pick with the selection of Waddle. Providing Tua Tagovailoa with a familiar weapon, the Crimson Tide junior receiver provides lots of value to a team that enters the second season of their roster overhaul.
Essentially the fourth man on the totem pole as a sophomore, he now steps into a bigger role. Despite being down on the chain of command, he managed to shine when he was afforded opportunities. Waddle is a near-perfect complementary piece to a No. 1 receiver like DeVante Parker. Possessing unique run after catch ability, 401 of Waddle's 552 receiving yards from a year ago came after the catch. He also already has three career touchdowns as a return specialist on his resume.
Essentially the fourth man on the totem pole as a sophomore, he now steps into a bigger role. Despite being down on the chain of command, he managed to shine when he was afforded opportunities. Waddle is a near-perfect complementary piece to a No. 1 receiver like DeVante Parker. Possessing unique run after catch ability, 401 of Waddle's 552 receiving yards from a year ago came after the catch. He also already has three career touchdowns as a return specialist on his resume.
Pro Football Network - Valdovinos (8/9)
5. Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
The Dolphins have done a solid job building a competitive roster, but continue to have a massive need at edge rusher. Unfortunately, I don't see any edge rushers in this class as top 25 players, much less players worthy of being selected in the first five selections.
So, I gave Miami the best player on the board in Micah Parsons. Parsons would fit perfectly in Miami's defense playing as a linebacker/pass-rusher in Brian Flores' defense, a system in which he could really shine.
So, I gave Miami the best player on the board in Micah Parsons. Parsons would fit perfectly in Miami's defense playing as a linebacker/pass-rusher in Brian Flores' defense, a system in which he could really shine.
13. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
The Dolphins beefed up their defense with the 5th overall selection, and with this pick, they get Tua a weapon he's familiar with. Jaylen Waddle is one of the top athletes in the 2021 draft class. The definition of a "weapon," he's a threat to score whenever he touches the football and provides value as a receiver, rusher, and returner. Miami gets an elite offensive weapon.
The Draft Network - Marino (8/3)
6. Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
Brian Flores saw first-hand the value and importance of having a "quarterback of the defense" from his time in New England with the likes of Jerod Mayo and Dont'a Hightower. With Raekwon McMillan set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season, Parsons taking on that role moving forward represents a massive upgrade that can become the face of the Dolphins' defense for years to come.
Parsons is a high-level processor with exceptional quickness, size, and physicality. He's exactly the type of second-level enforcer with range that is needed to counter modern NFL offenses. He'll be tough to pass up for Miami in this scenario and he's one of the overall elite talents in the rising draft class.
Parsons is a high-level processor with exceptional quickness, size, and physicality. He's exactly the type of second-level enforcer with range that is needed to counter modern NFL offenses. He'll be tough to pass up for Miami in this scenario and he's one of the overall elite talents in the rising draft class.
9. Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
For offensive coordinator Chan Gailey's offense to reach its full potential, he's going to need more weapons that can create yardage after the catch to maximize the horizontal spread and RPO game. The thing about Waddle is that not only is he electric with the ball in his hands, he is also dynamic down the field as a vertical threat, making him a complete weapon.
Tua Tagovailoa is experienced throwing him the football from their time together at Alabama, making him the perfect pick in every possible way.
Tua Tagovailoa is experienced throwing him the football from their time together at Alabama, making him the perfect pick in every possible way.
Previous update: Miami Dolphins Mock Draft Roundup 1.0
MORE TEAMS: All NFL Team Mock Draft Roundups
More Miami Dolphins content:
Also, check out more of our content: