2021 NFL Mock Draft: Trevor Lawrence, Justin Fields are golden tickets
Scouting Report. Clemson. 9. player. 59. Pick Analysis. EDGE. Xavier Thomas
(Pick via Texans) Back on the clock thanks to the Laremy Tunsil trade that landed the Dolphins two first-round picks from Houston, they turn their attention to the defensive side of the ball. That’s where this team put a lot of their focus in free agency and it should pay dividends in the upcoming season.
From paying cornerback Byron Jones and linebacker Kyle Van Noy big-money to inking veterans such as Shaq Lawson and Emmanuel Ogbah at defensive end, the Dolphins defense should take a step forward. But the thing about the players they added, specifically on the defensive front, is that they aren’t cornerstone-type pieces.
Xavier Thomas out of Clemson has the physical tools and overall profile of a player who could be that for Miami. There is unquestionably a lot of projection to put him at the No. 9 overall pick in this 2021 NFL Mock Draft given that he failed to meet expectations in the 2019 season. But as a 5-star recruit who now has more experience, the talent necessary to rise to the occasion is there.
Dealing with injuries and inconsistency as a sophomore, Thomas only had 1.5 sacks for the Tigers, giving him just 5.0 overall for his career. However, he does have 16.5 combined tackles for loss in college but could be in line for a monster season if he can put it all together and, most importantly, stay healthy. Assuming he does, he could be the defensive piece the Dolphins can hang their helmets on for the next decade with elite burst and the ability to convert speed to power.