The 2023 NFL season has come to a close, and there’s still a month left until the 2024 league year officially begins, so until then, there’s a lot of time to reflect on the past year and prepare for the future.
In just over two months, all 32 teams will head to Detroit, Michigan for the 2024 NFL draft where they’ll have the opportunity to add some talented young players to the rosters with the hopes of improving their team for years to come.
While there are still so many things that can happen before then, we’ve decided to run our first seven-round mock draft through the Pro Football Focus mock draft simulator. Here’s who the Dolphins ended up with.
No. 21 - C Jackson Powers-Johnson, Oregon
Miami has three interior offensive linemen (Isaiah Wynn, Connor Williams and Robert Hunt) set to enter free agency. If they don’t re-sign them or find their replacements before the draft, Powers-Johnson is among the best options.
He received the Rimington Trophy in 2023, which is awarded annually to the best center in the nation, and according to Pro Football Focus, he allowed just four pressures and zero sacks in 758 pass-blocking opportunities at left guard, center, right guard and right tackle.
No. 53 - S Kamren Kinchens, Miami (FL)
It’s always cool when the Dolphins bring in someone who spent their collegiate years as a Hurricane. The most recent to have success is Jaelan Phillips, who spent his final collegiate season with Miami before being selected by the Dolphins in the first round of the 2021 draft.
Kinchens was an All-American in 2022 and was All-ACC the last two seasons.
From 2021-23, Kinchens appeared in 33 games for Miami, recording 16 tackles (five for a loss), 15 passes defensed, 11 interceptions, two forced fumbles, two recovered fumbles and one sack.
With DeShon Elliott and Brandon Jones also hitting the market, the Dolphins may look to a rookie to fill in as a starter in 2024.
No. 155 - WR Isaiah Williams, Illinois
Cedrick Wilson Jr., Braxton Berrios, Chase Claypool, Robbie Chosen and River Cracraft are all set to be free agents in March, leaving the Dolphins with just Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Erik Ezukanma (NFI), Braylon Sanders, Anthony Schwartz and Matthew Sexton on the roster. That’s not exactly the deepest room.
Williams, 23, could come in and be another weapon for Tagovailoa behind the incredible starting duo.
The 5-foot-10 wideout played in 47 games for the Fighting Illini over the past five years, recording 214 receptions for 2,304 yards and 14 touchdowns as well as 509 rushing yards and three scores on 4.9 yards per carry.
Williams also helped a bit on special teams as a punt returner the last two seasons, which could be a role that’s up for grabs with the Dolphins next year.
No. 186 - TE Jaheim Bell. Florida State
Bell split his collegiate career between South Carolina (2020-22) and Florida State (2023), and in 43 career games, he recorded 95 receptions for 1,260 yards and nine touchdowns and well as 303 yards and four touchdowns on 3.6 yards per carry.
He’s questionable as a blocker, but that’s something that could develop later on.
The Dolphins didn’t get much out of their tight end room in 2023, with Durham Smythe really being the only one to make any impact whatsoever. They targeted Elijah Higgins in the sixth round last year, but he was claimed by the Arizona Cardinals during roster cuts, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see them look for another tight end again.
No. 199 - DL Myles Murphy, North Carolina
Murphy appeared in 47 games for the Tar Heels from 2020-23, recording 99 tackles (17 for a loss), seven sacks, four passes defended and one fumble recovery.
The Dolphins could be losing three (Christian Wilkins, Raekwon Davis and Da’Shawn Hand) of their top four interior defensive linemen to free agency, which would leave just Zach Sieler and Brandon Pili (reserve/future). It probably wouldn’t be ideal to have Murphy take on a starting role right away, but he could certainly be a rotational piece.
No. 239 - QB Taulia Tagovailoa, Maryland
How fun would it be to have both Tagovailoas in Miami?
The younger Tagovailoa started his collegiate career with Alabama back in 2019, but he transferred to Maryland the following year and has spent four years as a Terrapin.
In 46 collegiate games, he’s completed 67.1% of his passes for 11,356 yards with 77 touchdowns and 37 interceptions while earning Second-team All-Big Ten honors twice. His 11,256 yards and 67.1% completion percentage with Maryland are Big Ten records.
Obviously, the older Tagovailoa will be the starter in 2024 and Mike White will be the backup, but the third spot could be a competition. Skylar Thompson is the incumbent, but he didn’t play at all this past year, and he didn’t look great in his opportunities as a rookie, which was to be expected considering he was a seventh-round pick.
