Dolphins draft class: Grier fills needs while following 2-year approach

Before the 2024 draft, general manager Chris Grier mentioned that he is always taking a 2-year look into the future on what his team could be. The Miami Dolphins followed this approach as well as addressing immediate needs to improve the team in 2024. 

 

1st Round (21st overall) 

 

EDGE Chop Robinson, Penn State:

 

You can tell Chris Grier and head coach Mike McDaniel were giddy about this pick. Both members of the Dolphins front office showed that with their body language in their press conference following the initial night of the draft. They were loose, confident, smiling, and joking with the media. Grier admitted Robinson was a player he not only selected but was targeting in this draft. 

 

Robinson has a quick first step which he realized was a talent he possessed back in middle school. He was also the 4th-highest rated EDGE player on CBS draft prospect rankings. 

 

Robinson’s sack totals and overall production weren’t impressive at Penn State, but Grier wasn’t paying attention to that as much as Robinson’s play disruption. Robinson runs a 4.48 40-time which is tied 7th all-time for defensive ends at the combine. He demonstrated elite traits, but his hand usage and other parts of his game need to be polished. One NFC scout compared him to Cowboys star pass rusher Micah Parsons, although the scout admitted that Parsons was more polished entering the draft. 

 

How he fits:

 

Starting EDGE rushers Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb may not be ready for the early portion of the regular season, so the Miami Dolphins needed depth to replace them until they can return. Shaq Barrett was signed as depth but he is 31 years of age, so the Dolphins could use more youth and talent at that position. Phillips 5th-year option is expected to be exercised by the team, but a longterm extension isn’t in the works yet, so the Dolphins have to be prepared for that scenario by 2026. Robinson should be getting enough looks, reps, coaching, and game experience in order to develop in the meantime. 

 

2nd Round

 

OT Patrick Paul, Houston:

 

Another selection that Grier and McDaniel were very happy about – and that Paul was very happy about too. Paul made it known to the Dolphins during their pre-draft visit that he wanted to be in Miami. His agent even texted the Dolphins all Friday and as Paul was falling in the 2nd round saying “‘The kid is driving me crazy. He wants to be here.’ (laughter)”.

The Dolphins were impressed by Paul’s size and wingspan (6’7”, 331 lbs, 36 ¼” arms–perhaps the longest arms in the draft), recovery skills, and his growth and desire to get better. 

 

Overall, Paul is more of a polished pass-protector than he is a run blocker. Pro Football Focus graded him in 2022 with a pass black rating of 91.1 and 91.5 in 2023. However, his run blocking grades weren’t as impressive – 60.4 and 69.4 respectively. His long arms allow him to get first-contact on defensive lineman, and he has the ability to quickly recover when he is out of position, but needs to get grittier in the run game. 

 

How he fits:

 

Paul played left tackle throughout his days at Houston and was a team captain during his final two seasons. So it’s expected that he will fill Terron Armstead’s role if he gets injured or retires after the season. 

 

However, Grier downplayed this angle saying that the team doesn’t draft with the philosophy of position chasing. That may be true, but the fact remains that the team will have a need a left tackle by this season’s end, and they just drafted one in the 2nd round. The Dolphins say Paul has the ability to swing to either side, and purely envision him playing tackle at this time.

 

Madman Mike’s Take: I think the possibility is still open for Patrick Paul to compete and have a chance at LG, I can’t see a 2nd-round pick sitting on the bench as a reserve swing when the team’s left guard spot is currently being filled by a career backup in Robert Jones. 

 

 

4th Round

 

RB Jaylen Wright, Tennessee:

 

Mike McDaniel has a type, doesn’t he? And that was proven by giving the Eagles a 3rd-rounder in 2025 in order to put up and select Jaylen Wright in the 4th round. This is just another weapon to add to a speedy backfield as well as an offense that is already the fastest in the NFL. 

 

Wright ran a 4.38 40-time, and averaged 6.0 and 7.4 yards per carry during his final two seasons at Tennessee with at least 135 carries in each year. NFL draft analyst graded Wright as a Round 3 value. 

 

How he fits:

 

Wright has good size and breakaway speed. At 210 lbs, he is tied with Jeff Wilson as the 2nd-heaviest back after Chris Books in the backfield. The upside with Wright is that Wilson and Brooks are buried in the depth chart, so Wright has a chance to be in rotation with Devon Achane and the aging Raheem Mosert for snaps, and possibly a larger role if anything happens with either of those two. Wright’s speed fits with McDaniel’s off-tackle running approach, and his size could bring the element of physicality the Dolphins need to convert for 1st-downs in short-yardage situations. His sticky hands and ability to run routes should also make him a fun target for Tua Tagovailoa.

 

5th Round

 

LB Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State:

 

If the Dolphins were ever sad that they missed out on Jared Verse in the 1st round, this pick should make up for it. Mohamed Kamara is the speed-to-power pass rusher that is a similar style to Verse but with 3rd round talent. The Dolphins said they were surprised he was still available and love his mentality.

 

Kamara’s statistical production increased each year at Colorado State and totaled 45.5 TFLs, 30.5 sacks and five forced fumbles. He was also named Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year. His positional production score was ranked 5th at the NFL Scouting Combine, but his athletic traits and measurables ranked him 20th out of the players at his position. Still, despite his athletic shortcomings, he plays with a relentlessness and ferocity which should help him find success with the right opportunity. 

 

How he fits:

 

As I mentioned before, with stars Phillips and Chubb expected to miss the early portion of the regular season, the Fins need all the passrushing help they can get in their absence. Grier addressed the problem in this draft and McDaniel said you can never have too many pass rushers. The addition of Kamara allows Miami to potentially start Barrett and Robinson while having Kamara as a rotational piece.

 

6th Round

 

WR Malik Washington, Virginia

 

If any of you were waiting for the Fins to address their slot WR position, you were finally granted your wish on Day 3. Lance Zierlein had a Round 3 grade on Washington when the Dolphins finally snatched him in the 6th round. McDaniel did a big fist pump in the war room during the moment to express his enthusiasm.

 

Washington has extreme production. In 2023, he was Second-team Associated Press All-American. First-team All-ACC. Led the FBS with school-record 110 receptions, ranked 4th with a school-record 1,426 receiving yards (13.0 per), 9th with 1,706 all-purpose yards. Led the team with 9 receiving TDs. Played in all 12 games with 11 starts (3-7-2.3 rushing).

 

Washington is not a tall receiver. He is 5’8 and runs a 4.47. He is ideal for the slot WR position, which the Dolphins are still trying to figure out. Washington brings a toughness, quickness, and urgency in his play. But he will need to learn how to separate better against press coverage in the NFL. 

 

How he fits:

 

In the latter part of the 2023 season, Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle dealt with injuries, and it seemed that if either one of those two receivers went down, so did the offense. Waddle was the team’s 2nd leading receiver in yards after Hill with 1,014 yards, but the 3rd leading receiver was tight end Durham Smythe with 366 yards. So there is a huge dropoff between Tua’s 2nd to 3rd option. The Fins are looking for a reliable outlet for Tua, especially since this offense is oriented to throwing over the middle of the field. Washington is an interesting option and could compete for that slot-WR position. However, he compares similarly to Braxton Berrios in stature, so it’ll be interesting to see if Washington can stand out. Washington has some return ability in his background, so he may start there. 

 

Round 6

 

S Patrick McMorris, California:

 

McMorris is a depth pick with the chance to play special teams if he stands out enough in that area. For the most part, McMorris knows how to play the position, but lacks the athletic traits to keep up with faster players. He brings an element of size and physicality, but has average speed in coverage. 

 

How he fits:

 

Although the Dolphins have a nice safety tandem entering 2024 with Jevon Holland and Jordan Poyer, there is not much depth behind them. Poyer is listed as the team’s strong safety but is 33 years old, and if he goes down, the team could be in trouble on the back end of the defense. McMorris has the body-type to play the SS position, but will have to show he can adjust to NFL speed, especially against the Miami offense. 

 

Round 7

 

WR Tahj Washington, USC:

 

The Dolphins found more depth and competition for the slot position. Washington is another productive, but smaller WR. He has average traits, but knows how to take advantage with his route running. He doesn’t make much separation but counters that with his contested catch-making. 

 

How he fits: 

 

There is too much competition for the slot WR position on the Miami Dolphins at the moment, so I can’t see Washington getting much playing time there. However, Washington flashes return ability which could make him a compelling player for special teams. The Miami Dolphins need to improve in their return game, and with the kickoff rule changes, he has a chance to carve out a role.