2021 NFL Mock Draft: Zach Wilson rises to Jets at No. 2 in 3-round projection

(Pick vis Houston Texans): The Miami Dolphins landed this pick in a trade with the Houston Texans, where they gave up Laremy Tunsil, Kenny Stills, and a fourth-round pick in exchange for two first-round selections and a second-rounder. Tunsil is a very good left tackle but considering how much Miami got back, this seems to be a very lopsided deal. It looks to be even more tilted in Miami’s favor following the poor season Houston had in 2020, which gives the Dolphins the third overall pick in this draft.

Since making that move, the two teams have gone in opposite directions. Houston has fallen apart, which was interesting given how they had hoped Tunsil would be the missing piece to help them get over the hump. As for Miami, they’re fresh off a 10-win season and seem to be a team on the rise. Now, they move their growth along even more since they land the No. 1 wide receiver in the draft with this pick, Ja’Marr Chase.

Chase, who opted out of the 2020 NCAA season due to COVID-19 concerns, didn’t need his final year of eligibility to prove to the NFL that he should be a very high pick. He has the size at 6-foot-0 and 208-pounds as well as the speed to be an elite playmaker. In his final collegiate season, he had 84 receptions for 1,780 yards and 20 touchdowns. What was most impressive about those numbers is the yards per reception, which was 21.2 per grab.

Miami has a decent receiving corps led by DeVante Parker but he took a step back this past season. Parker finished 2020 with 793 yards and four touchdowns after recording 1,202 yards and nine touchdowns the prior year. Part of the reason for the dip in production was the fact that he missed two games but another was the lack of threats around him to take the pressure off. Adding Chase will not only give them a potential elite wideout, but it can also help Parker get back to the form we saw in 2019.