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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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AUBURN, AL – NOVEMBER 25: Jarrett Stidham #8 of the Auburn Tigers rushes during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Jordan Hare Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
AUBURN, AL – NOVEMBER 25: Jarrett Stidham #8 of the Auburn Tigers rushes during the fourth quarter against the Alabama Crimson Tide at Jordan Hare Stadium on November 25, 2017 in Auburn, Alabama. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Round 7: Larry Allen Jr., G, Harvard; Jarrett Stidham, QB, Auburn

With the first of their two picks in the seventh round, I have the Dolphins once again addressing their needs along the offensive line. Frank Ragnow from Arkansas is a great addition to the line who can play both center and guard. But he’s only one man, and the Dolphins need at least two new offensive linemen who can play. Drafting someone in the seventh round isn’t likely to produce a starter, but almost anything is better than what Miami currently has.

I’m not going to spend a lot of time on this pick, because I don’t know much about Larry Allen, Jr. Harvard is a school that is difficult to find tape on, and I’ll be the first to admit that this selection is more about name recognition than anything. If the junior Allen is anything like his dad, he’ll be an animal on the line once he gets some more coaching and time to develop. Will he become a Hall of Famer like his father? Almost certainly not. But hopefully he inherited at least some of that all-world skill.

With their second selection in the seventh round, the Dolphins round out this mock draft by selecting Auburn quarterback Jarrett Stidham. Ryan Tannehill is going to be this team’s starting quarterback next season. As long as he’s healthy, that’s not up for debate. But if this season has taught us anything, it’s that Matt Moore can’t be relied upon to step in as the team’s starter. He’s performed very well when he’s been asked to come in off the bench and lead the team in the middle of a game. But for some reason he is unable to put it together for a full game. Miami needs an upgrade at the back-up QB spot, and Stidham can be that guy.

Stidham is declaring early for the NFL draft after only one full season as a starter at the collegiate level. Stidham had one season at Baylor in which he played well before suffering a season-ending injury. After the injury, and much turmoil within the Baylor athletic department, Stidham made the choice to transfer, sitting out a season per NCAA rules. This season Stidham has led the Auburn Tigers to a potential National Championship Game berth, a la Cam Newton.

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Stidham, however, isn’t in the same stratosphere as Newton as a quarterback prospect. And I wasn’t high on Newton when he came out, either. I believe Stidham would have benefited from another year of development at Auburn. But there are likely a bunch of factors that led him to declare early. He’s a project quarterback. He does have some traits that, if developed properly, could give the Dolphins a spot-starter who can go out and win games.

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