Miami Dolphins: Future begins with 7-round 2020 mock draft
Make no mistake, the Tua Tagovailoa situation is shrouded in uncertainty. We don’t know if he’s going to return to school, what exactly his recovery timetable is from his devastating hip injury will be or what the long-term effects of that injury will be. But assuming the best and that he does enter the draft, he’s been the Dolphins’ top target and remains worth being so.
Tagovailoa is everything you want as the new face of the franchise both on the field and in the locker room. He’s a terrific leader who has the skills to back it up. Tua may not have elite arm strength, size or athleticism but he’s above average across the board, particularly with his accuracy and decision-making. He has star potential and will put the Dolphins in good hands moving forward.
One thing that I mentioned is that the Dolphins have the luxury of playing the draft as it comes to them. Looking at my big board and team needs, it would seem that Miami is not going to be able to take a high-end offensive tackle unless they take him with their own first-round pick. But in this simulation, Jedrick Wills fell right in their lap and they’d have to jump at giving Tua his right tackle back.
Because Tua is left-handed, getting a stud right tackle would be critical to protect his blindside. Wills has been one of the breakout stars in college football from a draft perspective this season and deservedly so. He’s a terrific player in the run game but has all the tools necessary to be an elite pass blocker, though he’s serviceable already. Wills is an offensive line cornerstone that Miami would be lucky to bring in.
After whiffing on the Charles Harris pick in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, the Dolphins have been hurting in terms of their pass rushers. They may have come up with a diamond in the rough by signing Taco Charlton off of waivers after the Cowboys let him loose but Miami’s defense very much needs more than just him.
That’s where Yetur Gross-Matos from Penn State enters the equation. While he still lacks refinement in terms of his technical prowess as an edge pass rusher, Gross-Matos is a physical freak that is going to light up the NFL Combine. He has immense potential and could provide some flash for the Dolphins defense moving forward, making him well-worth a first-rounder.