2020 NFL Draft: Dark horse teams to address each position early

Defensive Line: Miami Dolphins

It’s difficult for the Miami Dolphins to fly under the radar when it comes to any draft need, as they have the most holes to fill of any franchise and an abundance of picks to fill them. Yet, the defensive line isn’t high on many analysts’ list of needs for the team. While I fully expect Miami to address the quarterback position with their first pick on Day 1, I think they are a dark horse candidate to select a defensive lineman with another first-round pick.

Miami did a fine job of addressing this need in free agency. They signed Shaq Lawson away from Buffalo and agreed to a two-year contract with Kansas City’s Emmanuel Ogbah. While those two players bring a combined 44 tackles and 12 sacks with them to South Beach, they are not game-changing pieces that will force double-teams.

Both players either reached or tied career highs in sacks in 2019; before that, they were mainly role players who struggled in one-on-one battles. Brian Flores understands he will need to pressure the mobile Josh Allen and Sam Darnold if he wants to compete next year, so extra talent on the defensive line is a bigger need than realized.

I can easily see the Dolphins trading up in the first round to grab a pass rusher, then taking their chances on the other positions given the depth of this rookie class.