Miami Dolphins: Early 2021 NFL Mock Draft nets top-10 defensive studs
By Zach Cohen
The Miami Dolphins will continue building in the 2021 NFL Draft.
It’s never too early to look at the 2021 NFL Draft, especially if you’re the Miami Dolphins. It’s no secret that the Dolphins are heavily invested in their future. In the past year, the team has shipped off multiple players in exchange for draft picks. A part of those hauls will directly influence Miami’s 2021 NFL Draft as well as they received extra first- and second-round picks from the Houston Texans.
While that gives the team nine picks, anything can happen from now until the 2021 NFL Draft. The Dolphins are currently projected to hold the No. 7 and 10 picks (per The Draft Network’s mock draft machine). That will almost certainly change. There is also no chance that the draft board stays the same, either. Players’ stocks will rise and fall, they’ll return to school and/or COVID-19 could cancel the season and draft altogether.
The point is that no one knows how the draft will shake out, whether it’s 10 months out or 10 hours out. So skip the unnecessary complaining; mock drafts are supposed to be fun! And the way this mock draft played out for the Dolphins, you could expect some fun times ahead in South Florida.
(Editor’s Note: Zach Cohen is currently working as an intern with The Draft Network. This mock was simulated using The Draft Network’s mock draft machine.)
Miami Dolphins address defense in the top 10 of this 2021 NFL Mock Draft.
EDGE. Miami (FL). 7. Gregory Rousseau. player. 834. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
As of now, Gregory Rousseau could easily be a top-five pick. Some may even say he’s the best non-quarterback in the draft. Of course, now is a time to remind you of what was previously said in the introduction: Things will change!
But if things don’t change that much, Rousseau could be a steal at seven. The redshirt sophomore out of Miami (FL) wouldn’t need to go very far if the Dolphins selected him.
What Rousseau would need to do is expect a learning curve. As talented as he is, Miami runs a 3-4 base defense and Rousseau is a 4-3 edge rusher. Weighing at 260 pounds, he’s too light to play inside. However, his talent is too good to pass up at seven and head coach Brian Flores is known to play with his schemes on defense.
LB. Penn St. 10. 806. Micah Parsons. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis
If you thought the Rousseau pick was unrealistic, you certainly won’t like this pick. Forget Rousseau, Micah Parsons may be the best defender in the 2021 NFL Draft class. Yes, this is just an early outlook but the Dolphins would probably rush to send in the card if Parsons was available. Keep in mind, this was originally Houston’s selection, which could easily be lower than No. 10.
Parsons is a better fit schematically for Miami as he’s able to rush the passer and drop back into coverage very well. Imagine a group of Parsons, Jerome Baker, Kyle Van Noy and Raekwon McMillan — if McMillan re-signs. Hate to break up the daydreams, but Parsons’ stock right now is way too high for the 10th pick. Then again, once again, you never know.