Tag Archive for: Tyler Steen

Miami Dolphins Mock Draft 2023

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For another year, it won’t be that difficult to put together a Miami Dolphins mock draft. The Miami Dolphins turn to the 2023 NFL Draft to re-tool and reload for the 2023 NFL Season. 

However, as the Dolphins organization looks forward to the 2023 season, the team still has some way to become a consistent playoff team and hopeful Super Bowl winner. General Manager Chris Grier brought in esteemed defensive coordinator Vic Fangio to improve their struggling passing defense. Furthermore, new names were brought in to shore up their biggest needs in free agency. 

Before the midseason trade deadline, the Miami Dolphins acquired edge rusher Bradley Chubb from the Denver Broncos, and before the start of Free Agency they traded pick 72 and Hunter Long to the Los Angeles Rams for Jalen Ramsey, a three-time All-Pro cornerback. Also, they inked a deal with David Long Jr. To help build depth in the linebacker position 

The Miami Dolphins addressed major needs through trades, free agency acquisitions and re-signing key players. While doing that, the team will need to fill holes and depth with four picks in the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.

Round 2, Pick 63– Zach Charbonnet RB, UCLA

*Projected Trade with Kansas City, Kansas City Trades Pick 63, Pick 95 and Pick 122 for Pick 52, Pick 238 and EDGE Emmanuel Ogbah*

In this Miami Dolphins 2023 Mock Draft, I have the Dolphins trading back to get more picks to increase their roster depth and save $11.19 million by trading away Emmanuel Ogbah. The PFF mock draft machine accepted the trade.

Former Michigan and UCLA alum Zach Charbonnet packs a punch in the running game. Charbonnet is a physical runner and excels at running between the tackles and in the outside zone scheme. He’s tough to bring down with the first hit and is a pinball bouncing off of defenders. The Bruin running back waits for holes to open in the run game and utilizes his vision on his cuts. 

Charbonnet can be a true three down back for the Miami Dolphin as a workhorse running back, he’s serviceable catching passes out of the backfield. The only concern is his breakaway speed. He’s not as fast as current Dolphins Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson but makes it up by breaking tackles and having the second highest rushing yards over expected (+1.34) in the 2023 NFL Draft class.

 

The Dolphins don’t have any running backs contracted through the 2024 season and selecting Zach Charbonnet with their first pick in this 2023 Miami Dolphins Mock draft paves the way for their RB of the future. 

The Dolphins don’t have any running backs contracted through the 2024 season and selecting Zach Charbonnet with their first pick in this 2023 Miami Dolphins Mock draft paves the way for their RB of the future.

Round 3, Pick 84- Tucker Kraft TE, South Dakota State

Mike Gesicki and Hunter Long are no longer Dolphins which leaves the Dolphins tight end room with Durham Smythe, Tanner Connor, and free agent pickup Eric Saubert. Enter in 6-foot-5, 255 pound tight end Tucker Kraft in this Miami Dolphins 2023 Mock Draft, who Lance Zierlen comps to Pat Freiermuth.

The Jack Rabbit alum is versatile, he can play in-line, from the slot and even out wide. He’s made really tough contested catches by using his massive frame and catches with soft hands to reel in passes. Kraft runs very well and is tough to bring down after the catch racking up extra yards. While Kraft is an average route runner, he excels on short routes to gain YAC. He can get off the line quickly in the tight end alignment and has been utilized as a seam threat over the middle.  

Furthermore the athletic tight end was a major contributor to the Jack Rabbit running game. Kraft is well versed as a run blocker and contains a powerful lower body and strong hands to sustain blocks out wide and to the second level. He will need to lower his pad level in the passing game as a blocker and that will be cleaned up with coaching. The SDSU product should see the field early on due to his run blocking to help spring up a middling Dolphins run game. 

While Kraft may be from the FCS and hasn’t played better competition, his skillset and traits on film have shown the ability to succeed at the next level. Pair this with his production and athletic frame, he could become the next Dallas Goedert, or as head coach Mike McDaniel has worked with in the past, the next George Kittle. Not to mention, Head Coach Mike McDaniel met with Kraft at the combine.

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Round 3, Pick 95- Tyler Steen OL, Alabama

Count on Miami Dolphins General Manager to draft an Alabama prospect. Alabama is one of the most popular schools that the Dolphins draft out of, with five selections since the 2016 draft. I project in thie Miami Dolphins 2023 Mock Draft for Chris Grier to select Alabama OL Tyler Steen. Steen, a Miami native, stands at 6-foot-6 and 315 pounds. Tyler Steen went to Vanderbilt for three seasons and transferred to Alabama for his senior year and started as a LT. 
 
As a pass protecter the Crimson Tide product is able to get out of his stance at the first step and shows lateral agility making him a scheme fit in a zone blocking team. For as big as Steen is, he attacks pass rushers rather than defending the QB to wash them out of the play. With his quick feet he’s able to adjust to pass rushers bends and resets his feet. However, Steen will need to clean up his technique and leverage to be more consistent against NFL opponents. 

In the run game, the Miami native utilizes his athletic frame to attack blockers and get up to the second level. Alabama ran a lot of backside runs where Steen was a cut blocker to seal off backside defenders from making a play. He’ll need to shore up his anchor and technique in the run game, focusing on zone blocks rather than focusing on a single player. 

At some point in the future, Steen will become a starting Left Tackle; however, Miami needs help at the Left Guard position and Steen projects to do well there early on, as he showed at the Senior Bowl. Especially if he is taken by the Dolphins and given a chance to develop alongside future hall of famer Terron Armstead.

Round 4 Pick 144- YaYa Diaby DL,/EDGE Lousiville  

YaYa Diaby stands at 6-foot-3 as a potential EDGE/OLB that provides rotational depth to a team’s pass rusher group.  
 
Diaby’s quick get off suggest he would be sutied to play as an EDGE in a 4-3 scheme and an OLB in a 3-4 scheme. Diaby’s is able to generate pressure through one moce and one move only, his bull rush. He displays his power to generate displacement, strength to shed blocks and pursuing the ball carrier.   

Diaby is a straight line rusher and needs to learn several different moves in his arsenal, pressure needs to be schemed up for him and will benefit learning from a solid group of pass rushers. 

He’s able to anchor his lower body to shed and climb blocks in the run game but needs for upper body strength to disengage offensive lineman and make the tackle against running backs on lateral runs.

Round 6, Pick 197- Ronnie Bell WR, Michigan 

Ronnie Bell is a tough, hard nosed wide receiver that makes tough contested catches with a frame of 5-foot-11 and 192 pounds. He plays bigger than his frame and playing in a run-oriented offense, Bell can do the dirty work in the run game. 
 
The Michigan Wolverines product is a former basketball player, and it serves him well releasing off the line of scrimmage, getting into his breaks and creating separation at the stem of his route. It allows him to catch the ball with ease. Bell has strong hands that helps him at the catch point. Bell is a pretty versatile receiver in terms of where he has lined up in college, he’s been in the slot, out wide and used on sweeps and motions.

Bell doesn’t have the speed like the rest of the Dolphins have on offense, he is a good route runner who creates separation which works well in a timing-based offense. He reminds me of a possession style wide receiver and someone that can come big on third and short plays. Surprisingly, Bell is a YAC monster, he fights for every yard against defenders and has experience returning kicks on special teams. 

In this Miami Dolphins Mock draft, the 2023 edition, Bell projects as a “big slot” later down the line in his career. Although Michigan manufactured his touches he was a reliable chain mover. He will need to add more play strength against physical defenders in the NFL and to help out in the run game. 

 

Hussam Patel is a Miami Dolphins contributor and Lead NFL Draft analyst at Five Reasons Sports Network, Director of Scouting at PhinManiacs and Editor at Dolphins ATB. Follow him on Twitter at @HussamPatel

2022 Senior Bowl midseason all riser team

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The Senior Bowl just released it’s 2022 midseason all riser team. It consists of offensive and defensive players that have risen two rounds or more on the Senior Bowl board from their Junior year tape grades.

Lets take a look at the offensive prospects.

Quarterback Hendon Hooker

The Tennessee quarterback is kind of like a mix between Young and Stroud physically. He has Stroud’s arm and size and Young’s athleticism and accuracy. He may win the Heisman. The only major flaw about Hendon Hooker is his age. It brings with it questions of how much upside is left?

Running back Chase Brown

The Illini product has the ability to see where holes are going to open up. Brown can twist his hips in between the blockers to squeeze through holes that aren’t there to the naked eye.

He’s capable as a receiver, a weapon on swing passes and in the screen game. His stats through seven games:

  • ATT: 192
  • YDS: 1,059
  • TD: 4
  • AVG: 5.5

All-riser Pass Catchers

Tight End Luke Schoonmaker

Senior Luke Schoonmaker has picked up where Michgan TE Erick All left off last year, becoming a key part of the Wolverines’ passing attack and a favorite target of J.J. McCarthy.

Through six games, the 6-foot-6, 250-pound tight end is second on the team in catches (23) and receiving yards (229). Schoonmaker has reliable hands and shows the willingness to make catches in traffic over the middle.

Wide Receiver Zay Flowers

Xavien “Zay” Kevonn Flowers has caught my eye for a while now and he’s been on the senior bowl radar for quite some time. The Eagles product is first or tied for first in the ACC in:

  • Targets (63)
  • Receptions (42)
  • Receiving yards (556)
  • Receiving TDs (5)
  • 40+ yard catches (4)

His stock hasn’t only rose in the senior bowl board, but also among NFL boards.

“He’s a smaller receiver, like a [Terry] McLaurin, that type of guy. He can fly. He’s a highlight reel. Probably a second-rounder, might sneak in first if he runs real fast [at the combine].”

NFC Scouting Director

Wide Receiver Charlie Jones

Purdue receiver Charlie Jones is coming of age, especially on the mid-season all riser team for the Senior Bowl. Although Jones is more of a possession target than a field stretcher, his fiercely competitive demeanor and run-after-catch ability make him a major threat in the middle of the field.

His play this season is even more impressive when you consider he had 39 career receptions coming into the year. Jones has become the most reliable target for Aidan O’Connell and consistently comes away with the difficult catch during the game’s critical moments. He has 62 catches for 735 yards and 9 touchdowns.

Wide Receiver Jonathan Mingo

Ole Miss Rebels receiver Jonathan Mingo was graded by Pro Football Focus as the No. 1 wideout in College Football. Mingo plays with a smoothness and balance, and Mingo shows a knack for setting up defensive backs. He’s equally dangerous in catch-and-run situations as he is taking the top off a defense.

Mingo transitions quickly from receiver to runner, and he has enough speed to threaten the seam and has a knack for getting open. Through six games, Mingo has amassed 22 receptions, 507 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. He is also now averaging 23.0 yards per reception, which is good for first in the SEC and second in the nation.

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All-riser Offensive Lineman

Offensive Tackle Tyler Steen

The development of Alabama offensive tackle Tyler Steen, a veteran transfer from Vanderbilt, has been critical for the Crimson Tide.

Through six weeks, he has been an anchor for the Crimson Tide at left tackle. He is a very instinctive player and leads by example along the offensive front. It will be interesting to see how he develops as the season progresses.

Offensive Guard O’Cyrus Torrence

Proving himself as Florida’s most impactful addition from the transfer portal this past offseason, Right guard O’Cyrus Torrence was recognized for his play twice through six games with the Gators as he lands on Associated Press Midseason All-American team and 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl Midseason All-Riser Team.

Torrence does a nice job working with teammates to build the pocket, anchoring against bull rushers and displaying good awareness against stunts and twists. As a result, he’s continued his college career-long streak of games without giving up a sack, up to 42 games between his three years at Louisiana and six appearances at Florida.

Center Alex Forsyth

The Oregon product is little known outside of the college football community but has slowly risen up the ranks. Forsyth is currently on the mid-season watchlist for the Lombardi Award. In the run game, he shows good burst off the line of scrimmage, with the ability to win at the point of attack.

Forsyth has enough speed and athleticism to move to the second level and land blocks. He’s a rock in the middle of the line as a pass protector, with the heavy hands and strong grip to hold his own against bigger defensive tackles.

Offensive Guard Matthew Jones

Matthew Jones’ name has not been a hot name recently as Ohio State’s high powered offense has names like C.J. Stroud, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Paris Johnson. However, Matthew Jones is a key contributor to keeping C.J. Stroud upright and have one of the best run games in the nation.

Jones consistently lands blocks at the second level, and Jones finishes strong. As a pass protector, he has violent, heavy hands. Along with a strong initial punch, he has the hand strength to grip and redirect pass rushers.

Offensive Tackle Darnell Wright

Last week Volunteers offensive lineman Darnell Wright stood out against Alabama. He had the task playing against an impressive EDGE rusher in Will Anderson Jr.

***This article was originally published on the ATB Network by Hussam Patel***

 

Hussam Patel is a Miami Dolphins contributor and Lead NFL Draft analyst at Five Reasons Sports Network, Director of Scouting at PhinManiacs and Editor at Dolphins ATB. Follow him on Twitter at @HussamPatel