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2018 NFL Draft: Miami Dolphins 7-round mock draft in November

By Chris Spooner

CLEMSON, SC - NOVEMBER 11: Hunter Renfrow #13 of the Clemson Tigers tries to make a catch against Derwin James #3 of the Florida State Seminoles during their game at Memorial Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
CLEMSON, SC - NOVEMBER 11: Hunter Renfrow #13 of the Clemson Tigers tries to make a catch against Derwin James #3 of the Florida State Seminoles during their game at Memorial Stadium on November 11, 2017 in Clemson, South Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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Round 2: Roquan Smith, LB, Georgia

Last season, the Dolphins made the playoffs in spite of the linebacker group not being able to get the job done in rush defense. The team finished as one of the worst defenses in the league, and in team history, against the run. In the off-season, the team overhauled the position. In came free agent linebackers Lawrence Timmons and Rey Maualuga. The team also invested some draft capital at the position, taking former Ohio State linebacker Raekwon McMillian in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

This season, the Dolphins are likely going to miss out on the playoffs, and once again the defense is falling short. Once again, the biggest weakness on defense is in the linebacker group, this time against the pass. The Dolphins linebackers have been laughably bad defending the middle of the field this season. As of Week 11, Dolphins linebackers were allowing a league-worst 79 percent completion percentage and nearly 10 yards per completion. If you want to know why the Dolphins are getting shredded week after week, it begins in the middle.

The hope is that getting McMillan back next season will improve what has been an atrocious group. But McMillan alone isn’t enough of an upgrade. The Dolphins should again be looking towards the NFL Draft for an upgrade at the position. Last season it was McMillan, this season it’s Roquan Smith, from Georgia.

Much like with the first round selection, I wanted to draft another Alabama defender here, linebacker Rashaan Evans. Unfortunately Evans was already off the board when the Dolphins came back on the clock. And for good reason. Evans should be the top linebacker prospect in this draft class before all is said and done. But Georgia’s Smith isn’t far behind him. Smith is a rangey linebacker who has the athleticism to get sideline-to-sideline in a flash. That kind of athleticism is exactly what the Dolphins linebacker group is missing.

Athleticism alone isn’t enough to be a star at the position, though. It takes a cerebral linebacker to really make a difference in the group. Smith excels in this aspect as well. He has the reaction time to adjust to the play as it’s happening, and he is adept at being able to read-and-react. His coverage skills are still developing, but he’s already an upgrade in that facet as well. Smith is an upgrade across the board, period.

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