Miami Dolphins should draft BYU safety Austin Lee

This column was written by Marcos Chisholm. Follow him on Twitter @marcosgchisholm.

In possession of the 18th and 26th picks in the first round of the NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins are expected to pursue an offensive lineman and a safety. But if they instead opt to target secondary talent after day one of the draft, BYU safety Austin Lee can emerge as a highly effective, under-the-radar pickup.

“I always dreamed and felt that I could play in the NFL,” Lee said. “It felt more a reality as I got to my senior year and my second game in versus Tennessee was a big-time game which I played well in. It was then I realized I’m getting closer to my dreams.”

Even in a talented draft class where Alabama’s Xavier McKinney and LSU’s Grant Delpit rank among the best safeties, Lee’s resume and skill set afford him credibility and indicate he could very well add to the chemistry in Miami’s hybrid defense.

The defensive standout’s clutch performance in an overtime victory against the Volunteers last September served as a turning point in his collegiate career. Lee was recently ranked 86th on PFF’s 101 Best College Football Players of 2019 list after finishing among the top twenty FBS safeties in categories such as overall grade (15th), coverage grade (16th), and yards allowed (7th). Most notably, Lee allowed zero touchdowns throughout last year, a rare feat for players on the field for more than 300 snaps in a single season. The Cougars only allowed 46 plays of 20 yards or more with Lee’s help last season.

While BYU’s system can potentially limit the duties of defensive backs by dropping eight players into coverage, Lee’s self-awareness and efficient movements help him make up for a lack of explosiveness that higher-ranked draft prospects tout. He becomes unpredictable on the field because his high football IQ does not require him to solely commit to either playing the run or deep passes.

“I feel like I have my own game. But I model a lot of what I do through seeing Eric Weddle and Jamal Adams. I love the instincts, toughness, IQ, and physicality that those guys play with,” Lee said. “They both are just competitors and play with such tenacity.”

Lee’s modern-day football role models play with strikingly different styles at the safety position. However, he takes the best from both worlds in a way that suits Miami’s positionless defensive scheme. Hybrid systems demand dynamic players, and his ability to teeter between the traditional roles of free and strong safeties as the game evolves can make him an invaluable asset.

Yet there’s no certainty of what changes to the Dolphins’ defensive scheme will come next season. Patrick Graham, Miami’s defensive coordinator in 2019, officially joined the New York Giants as an assistant coach last month. Former Dolphins cornerbacks coach Josh Boyer was internally promoted to Graham’s previous role, and safeties coach Tony Oden was fired from Brian Flores’ staff in January before being replaced by Curt Kuntz.

And Lee — who has never adhered to the traditional roles of a two-man safety dynamic — has strategically modeled his game for the 2020s and beyond. In spite of his mediocre athleticism, his focus on fluidity and adaptability have allowed him to fit into every scheme he has played for. But considering Dolphins safeties Rashad Jones and Bobby McCain already have uncertain futures in Miami, scouts and draft analysts may question what Lee would bring different to the table.

Ultimately, it’s his life off-the-field that encapsulates why he can bring value to many NFL teams. After initially signing to play for BYU rival Utah in 2012, Lee went on a multimonth LDS mission to Oklahoma that forced him to miss an entire season. He then fell in love with his wife, Kortnie, and married her in 2015. And in between transferring schools and playing Division I football, the couple parent their two kids, Ledger and Romee.

The selfless approach that comes from starting a family is the same one that fuels his ability to be a leader for his teammates. “I feel like my leadership capability can be high,” Lee said. “I lead through example and when something needs to be said I say something. The best teams are player-led and leadership is huge.”

Above all else, Miami has lacked leadership on defense that can help build a new culture under Brian Flores. When considering Miami’s off-the-field issues in the last decade, it will be imperative that the Dolphins draft talent for reasons beyond a prospect’s athleticism and playmaking abilities. Not only can Lee’s proven habits foster the growth of a locker room that lacks a dependable player voice — but they have an opportunity to provide him the chance to last longer than the average NFL player.