Dolphins: NFL Draft primer as team builds around Tua Tagovailoa

Three targets for the Miami Dolphins with the 6th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft

Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

One of the most intriguing questions of the 2021 NFL Draft is “Who is the top wide receiver of the class”? Largely it’s a matter of preference. A lot of teams are going to have Alabama wide receiver DeVonta Smith as the top dawg in the class. Others are going to have his teammate, Jaylen Waddle, at the top. I wouldn’t be surprised if a couple even had Purdue product Rondale Moore at the top.

For the Miami Dolphins, I believe the top wide receiver of the 2021 NFL Draft class is former LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Chase opted out of the 2020 college football season, but I don’t think people have forgotten the amazing season he was able to put on tape with future #1 overall selection Joe Burrow. Blowing up his pro day certainly helps remind anyone who may have, too. Chase would come in and immediately give the Dolphins a true threat at the position.

He can do everything you want from your top receiver. He’ll threaten defenses deep, is adept at contested-catch scenarios, and will help open things up underneath for the rest of the team. He’s likely the top option for the Dolphins. I believe he would have been the pick had the Dolphins stayed at 3, and I definitely think he’ll be the selection at 6 if he’s still on the board.

Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

The Dolphins need help along the offensive line, but not necessarily at the tackle position. They took former USC offensive tackle Austin Jackson in the first round of last year’s NFL Draft. They later took Louisiana product Robert Hunt, who would eventually assume the role of starting right tackle. Both players performed admirably in their roles, and the Dolphins don’t have to upgrade from either.

However, if Penei Sewell doesn’t go to the Bengals at 5, the prospect of grabbing a generational talent at the position may be too much for them to overlook. Some will point to Sewell’s short arms and his tendency to occasionally get “over his skis” and say he needs to move inside. He would excel as a guard in the NFL, but he’s also going to be an excellent tackle. Tackle is his natural position.

Should Miami take Sewell at six, it would leave the offensive line in an interesting spot. Sewell would likely slot in at the left tackle position. That would mean a move to the right side for last years’ first-rounder Jackson. Jackson taking over the right tackle position would push Hunt to the inside, allowing him to play a more natural position at guard. It would be a massive improvement to the line, and do wonders for keeping Tagovailoa protected for years to come.

Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida

Florida tight end Kyle Pitts is the wildcard of the 2021 NFL Draft. He’s arguably the best player available. In a draft that has the likes of Trevor Lawrence and Penei Sewell — among others — that’s some pretty high praise. He’s a combination of size, speed, and athletic ability that comes along so rarely it’s truly something to marvel at. He’s very likely to develop into one of the better players in the league sooner rather than later.

However, he plays a position that is notorious for being slow to develop in the NFL. He’s not as strong in the blocking aspect of the position as you would like from a top-flight tight end. And as for the Dolphins in particular, they already have their own version of Pitts in Mike Gesicki. Taking Pitts with their top pick in the draft would be the very definition of a luxury pick.

And yet, it’s a luxury they should at least consider indulging in. Pitts may not have the speed of a top-flight receiver, but he has an incredible combination of size and speed. He isn’t necessarily what most people have in mind when they think of an “explosive” pass-catching option, but he would absolutely bring that element to the Dolphins offense. Coupling Pitts with an offensive lineman at 18 may be the best use of the Dolphins first-round assets.